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need of observing the laws of health is all the
greater, and special care must be taken to guard
against infection with zymotic diseases, such as
measles, enteric fever, etc., for after these there is a
liability to tuberculosis, even where the predisposition
has not been inherited.
It has been observed that, even under conditions
which do not appear to infringe the laws of health,
tuberculosis spreads from person to person, say
from husband to wife. In such a case it will generally
be found that the second individual has been
living in very close communion with the patient,
perhaps sleeping in the same room, or even the
same bed, or kissing has been indulged in. Under
these circumstances it is possible that the bacillus
is transferred by direct contact between the persons.
A little carelessness in attending to the patient's
mouth or nose would suffice where kissing occurs;
or the bed-linen may be soiled ; or, in a fit of severe
coughing, some of the sputum may be sprayed on
to the floor, to be stirred up in dusting.* Such
cases do not vitiate what has been just said.
Having sketched out the subject as far as it
relates to the spread of infection from man to man,
there remains that of the spread from animals
* "Dry" dusting, under any circumstances, is a pernicious habit, and
especially so when there is a tuberculous patient in the house. All dusting
should bo by damp dusters, which may be followed by dry, and all sweeping
should be done with damp tea leaves or other damp dust-absorbers.