DISEASE GERMS IN THE AIR.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 419, 19 October 1889, Page 3

DISEASE GERMS IN THE AIR.

Contagion rw Tuberculosis Debated by French Scientists. A Paris telegram of August 13th states : Thp, Academy of Medicine is' continuing' its debates oh the reports of the Tuberculosis Congress. Dr. Lancereaux today spoke on the subject, and protested against the easy admission . of , the, theory of con-* tagion in tuberculosis, and expressed his doubts as tfo contamination by milk. The transmission of tuberculosis even by expectoration implies in an absolute manner hereditary or acquired predisposition to the disease. This predisposition is acquired by bad hygienic conditions, bad ventilation, Bedentary habits of life, and intemperance. it is this predisposition that must be combated and modified, and this is quite as important as the destruction of the bacillce. The great J defect of the instructions of the Congress ip that they do not take into account this important factor of tubeiculosis, and that they do not indicate to the public means of defending themselves against it. Dr. Lane^reaux proposes to modify the instructions, and he lead to the Academy of Medicine the drattot a newset ot regulations, in which the repression of intoxication and a strict system of .public hygiene are the most important features. Dr. Villemin, one of the authors of the instructions, has attempted to defend' them He admitted that they do not perhaps represent the last word of science in the matter, and that in some particulars they are evidently open to discussion ; but, he added, it we are to wait until science has said its last word, when will the public have anything upon which it can rely with ■ confidence V The medical profession is convinced that tuberculosis is contagious by contact, and that the spittle of those attacked by the disease, dried and reduced to the state of dust, renders the air c ntagious. Dr. Villemin admits that contagion through food is very rare, but since it exists how can physicians venture to ignore it? As for milk, that it forms a good vehicle for the transmission of the disease when the cow that produces it is attacked by tuberculosis, is indisputable. The ordinary milk of commerce comes from the accumulation of milk derived irom many different sources. If a single cow among tho&e that supply this milk is attacked by tuberculosis all the milk from the establishment is contagious. As to the recommendations of the instruction concerning meats, they are only applicable to the meat of animals attacked with tuberculosis. Finally, the Committee has found that bronchitis constitutes a predisposing cause to tuberculosis, and this upon the testimony of the clinics and upon that of Herr Koch. The discuf-sion terminated with a proposition by the President to the effect that a committee composed of Drs. Villemin, Cornil, Germain See, Verneuil, and Dujardin Beaumetz should be appointed to examine the proposals of the Congress, and to amend them so as to bring them within the limits indicated by those who took part in their discussion. The debate became ai< times so violent that for a while it seemed as though Dr. Villemin would have no alternative but to withdraw the instructions from the consideration of the Academy, which certainly manifested no little hostility to them. M. Germain See insisted energetically that if any instructions were prdmulgated they jjhpuld, ,be,the^exact expression of the trutbyand" al«o fch'at fctiey should %q practicable, otherwise they would always regain a>dead letter. ■ • Dr. Verneuil remarked that the divergencies of opinion between' the Congress and the Academy are hot-enormous. Tho end aimed at is to show the public the sources of danger ; and all of these sources, even the most insignificant, ought to be pointed out to the public. The instructions do not contain any serious scientific heresies. A vote was taken, and a committee was appointed composed of the members already named. Science and the public have good reason to approve the decision arrived at by the Academy. There are some very good things in the instructions prepared by the Congress, but the critical scientific examination to which they have been subjected will give them a greater authority.