[INFECTIOUS DISEASES 211]
TUBERCULOSIS. (CONSUMPTION).—Tuberculosis is an infectious disease caused by the bacillus, tuberculosis, and characterized by the formation of nodules or diffuse masses of new tissue. Man, fowls and cows are chiefly affected.
Indians, negroes and Irish are very susceptible. The disease is less common at great altitudes. Dark, poorly ventilated rooms, such as tenements and factories and the crowding of cities favors infection, as do in-door life and occupations in which dust must be inhaled. Certain infections such as measles, whooping-cough, chronic heart, kidney and liver diseases and inflammation of the air tract are predisposing factors. Inhalation is the chief mode of transmission. Hereditary transmission is rare.
Forms. The Lungs.—Consumption. This is caused by a germ. Some have the form called galloping consumption. This person is attacked suddenly, wastes away and dies, in a very short time. There is rapid loss of strength and weight, high fever, night sweats, fast breathing, pains in the chest, cough and profuse expectoration, and rapid loss of strength.
Ordinary Consumption.—Begins slowly and the patient is not aware of the danger. He may have loss of appetite, dyspepsia, diarrhea and distress after meals. He looks pale, is weak and loses flesh. Soon he has a hacking cough, worse in the morning, with a scanty, glairy sputum. His weight continues to decrease, his heart is weak and beats faster. He has pain in his chest below the shoulder blades. He may have a slight bleeding from the lungs. His cough becomes worse, the expectoration gets thicker and more profuse, with night sweats, high fever, and shortness of breath. The eyes are bright; the cheeks are pale or flushed. Chronic looseness of the bowels may be present. Bleeding from the lungs may occur at any time, but it is most frequent and profuse during the last stages. The patient becomes very weak, thin and pale, emaciated. The brain action remains good, and he remains hopeful almost until the last. Tuberculosis may exist in almost every part of the body and we have many forms. It is not necessary to discuss all. It would tend to confusion. I will name the most of them:
1. Acute Miliary Tuberculosis.
(A.) Acute General Miliary Tuberculosis.
(B.) Pulmonary (lung) type.
(C.) Tubercular Meningitis.
2. Tuberculosis of the lymph nodes (glands). This was formerly called
Scrofula. This is more curable and will be treated more fully elsewhere.
3. Tuberculous Pleurisy.
4. Tuberculous Pericarditis.
5. Tuberculous Peritonitis. (Of this there are a good many cases.)