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141
person to person is also peculiar. In most cases, in certain stages
of the disease, the patient suffers from distressing cough with more
or less expectoration. This expectoration at times contains the
active agent of this disease, and it is chiefly by means of the expectoration
and the spray or droplets, projected from the mouth
during coughing, that the disease is conveyed to other persons.
The more advanced the disease is, the more abundant is the expectoration,
and the more frequent and distressing the cough. By
carelessness, indifference, or ignorance on the part of the patient,
sputum or spit may be scattered about floors, furniture clothing,
bedding, &c., and there left to dry and to disintegrate and get
into the air of the dwelling, or on the hands of healthy members
of the same family, whence it may be conveyed into the system
by inhaling or swallowing.
It is clear that this mode of infection lends itself readily to
preventive measures:—
1. If every patient is taught to receive the sputum in proper
receptacles, containing some germicide, and to dispose of it so that
it cannot harm.
2. To so guard his mouth during the act of coughing as to
prevent the spray or droplets passing into the atmosphere, much
will be accomplished to prevent the spread of infection, especially
if these measures are observed both at home as well as when tiavelling,
or in the workplace.
3. If in addition, these precautions are supplemented by the
provision of sufficient ventilation and air space in both living
and bedrooms, so that accidentally infected air may be largely
diluted, the preventive measures becomes more effectual.
From these remarks it is evident, that preventive measures
must form a considerable part of any scheme dealing with Tuberculosis,
which has for its object the diminution of its prevalence.
Indeed, if the amount of this disease is to be considerably reduced