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72
THE PREVENTION OF TUBERCULOSIS.
This subject has been brought somewhat prominently
before the public by the issue of the Report
of the Royal Commission on "The Effect of Food
derived from Tuberculous Animals on Human
Health," in April of last year. It is a matter of
such vital importance that it will be well to enlarge
somewhat on it.
Tuberculosis is an infectious disease due to the
invasion of the body by the bacillus tuberculosis,*
first discovered by Koch. This bacillus is derived
from two sources, viz., the human body, and from
cattle, etc., affected with the disease. To prevent
the spread of the disease it will, therefore, be
necessary to work on two lines—(a) to regulate the
lives of patients known to be ill with the disease,
and (b) to prevent the flesh, etc., of diseased
animals being placed on the market for consumption
as food.
As regards the former part of the question,
there has been much discussion as to notifying the
disease when once known to exist in the individual,
as to isolating him to a greater or lesser extent, as
is done in the case of leprosy, and as to compelling
him, if allowed to mix with the rest of his fellowmen,
to observe and do many things which would
* There most be some non-specific (i.e., non-tuberculous) injury to a
raucous surface of some organ of the body before the bacillus can secure
a footing.