HEALTH COLUMN.

Otago Witness, Issue 2437, 28 November 1900, Page 62

HEALTH COLUMN.

; The Cnre of Cousiuaption. _. . LECTURE BY A DUNDEE DOCTOR. Dr Beattie Bain delivered a lecture in Dundee recently on " Consumption : Its Nature, Prevention, and Cure; with^Special Reference to Home Management." Ihe ■ doctor began by saying that consumption was in the air at present. It .was in many people's mouths- and buzzing in their ears. fle emphasised the fact that the highest Mortality occurred among "poor workers in dirty, overcrowded districts in large manufacturing towns. One out of every four of! these died of consumption. Sanitation in its different forms had in 30 years reduced the mortality to one-third of what it was. Coming to the fa-esh knowledge gained from Koch's discovery of the origin of the disease in the bacillus, he stated the four important facts about the disease which, had now been quite clearly established. Taking them in their order, he first noted that although it did look very, like as if the disease was hereditary, it "was not so, though as a matter of fact it did "run in ! families." This was noc because the children were born with the disease, but because their tissues were of lower vitality, which ■made them more liable to disease, and that they were singularly and for prolonged periods exposed "to the specific infection. As to infection, this was the root of the 'matter. Once get to the cause and be able to control it was more than half the battle. • He described the bacillus and its evil ways, % showing an enlarged drawing of the micro- - scopic appearance of sputum. He likewise showed a culture of bacilli in a glass- tube. L The fact that- the bacilli escaped from the' body only by one channel — viz. , the sputum—made it much easier to control the: disease, and made it perfectly safe for people to be 'closely associated "with a consumptive if proper precautions were taken. He referred to the virulence of the sputum, teeming with bacilli, and their dissemination as dust into the air and walls and clothes and furniture of a room. Fresh. air and sunlight were not 'beloved by the bacilli, for they die in them. The great object was to get rid of the bacilli, and to foster in every way as high a standard of personal health as possible. He divided this into three parts. Personal and individual precautions should be taken, as regards both patient and attendants, and most scruplous attention to cleanliness must be given, and he gave in detail the necessary points, the chief being the absolute control and destruction of the sputum.^ Then the precautions as to surroundings, l rooms, furniture, open windows, and dusting with a damp cloth were minutely insisted upon. As to the cure of consumption, there was no direct one as yet, but open air, sunlight, rest, modified exercise, and proper feeding •promised the best results. This treatment 'was more than 2000 years old, for it was recommended by Hippocrates. But now we had better methods of carrying it out, and more precise and fuller knowledge. At present between 30 and 40 per cent, of apparent absolute recoveries were the- average result of sanitoria, while between 50 and 60 roer cent, were very much improved. A short description of sanitoria treatment was given. He s.aid that in many houses of the poor it was absolutely hopeless to expect recovery. Therefore special sanitoria were a necessity. Treatment "should be begun as soon as possible. Sanitary and municipal and other agencies, combining with philanthropic and insurance and sick anct friendly societies, could find a possible combination of interests so as to establish, sanatoria for the cure of this disease. The most digestible -of meats is boiled tripe, the average time occupied in its dit gestion being one hour. Next in order in . point of digestion are soft-boiledv eggs, 'boiled mutton, chicken, and raw oysters ; while the least digestible meat is roasfc pork, the average time occupied in its digestion being from five to five and a-hal£ hours. * Other meats difficult of digestion ar roast veal, bullock's heart, and lobsters. Among the most digestible vegetable foods are boiled rice, sago, tapioca, and boiled, •b'arlef. The vegetables difficult of digestion are cabbage, beans, turnips, carrots, and Brussel-sprouts. Digestions, however, differ, and no rule can be laid down which is applicable to everybody.