Prof. Koch's Method to Cure Tuberculosis Popularly Treated

by Max Birnbaum

For every one will prefer to remain exempt from consumption although it may now be possible to cure those afflicted. The lately published and popularly treated precautionary measures, especially with reference to the expectoration of consumptives retain their full value.

Henceforth the sputum is also to be thrown in a spittoon which is either entirely empty or on account of easier cleansing has the bottom covered with a thin layer of water. It should not be permitted to fill the spittoons with sand or sawdust as the tubercle bacilli can be easily thrown up with the dust.

In the case of a sudden attack of cough a cloth should be held to the mouth to hinder spreading of the fine spray, the same should also be used for wiping the mouth. However the cloth must soon be dampened and cleaned.

As bits of the sputum easily stick to the beard especially the moustache overhanging the lips, therefore lung consumptives are advised to wear a short or no beard.

Glasses, spoons, etc. used by consumptives must only be used by other persons after a thorough cleaning with hot water.

The lungdiseased person should abstain from all active and passive kissing, in unavoidable cases kissing should be done on the forehead or cheek only, or hold out those parts only to be kissed. In the same way he should avoid to touch objects with his mouth that may possible be put in the mouth by other persons, especially children, for instance toy-trumpets.

In the case of death from pulmonary consumption, the walls of all rooms and apartments used by the deceased should be rubbed down with fresh baked bread, which is a sure method of removing the bacilli. The bread crumbs that may have dropped on the floor may be removed by a thorough scrubbing with soap, brush and lye.

Upholstered furniture, beds, clothes and wash should be cleaned in a disinfecting place.

Do not wait with precautionary measures till some member of the family has been attacked by pulmonary consumption, but make preparation to prevent the infection while everybody is still sound and healthy.

This care ought to begin in a measure with the birth of a child. The same should not be nursed by a mother with diseased lungs nor by a wet-nurse with like affections. Generally wet-nurses are only tested for syphilis; scrofula and tuberculosis receive altogether too little attention.