Is consumption contagious? : and can it be transmitted by means of food?

  • Clapp, Herbert C. (Herbert Codman), 1846-
Date:
1882
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Is consumption contagious? : and can it be transmitted by means of food?. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Harvey Cushing/John Hay Whitney Medical Library at Yale University, through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the Harvey Cushing/John Hay Whitney Medical Library at Yale University.

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    On Sept. 23, No. 2 (six months old) had a foetid diarrhoea, but soon recovered. On Oct. i, it seemed in good health, likewise No. 3, of the same age. At this time No. 1 (a year old) seemed to have failed in flesh and strength, and its respirations were increased in frequency. On Oct. 5 and 7, Nos. 1 and 3 were made to swallow some tubercular material from the lungs of a cow not so far advanced in the disease. By Oct. 9, No. 1 was reduced to a remarkable degree of emaciation, and coughed badly morning and even- ing, especially after drinking, and its coat became very rough. Soon after, No. 2's coat assumed the same appearance, and it coughed and lost flesh, still, how- ever, preserving its appetite. No. 3 remained in good health until Oct. 25, after which, however, the disease progressed, with such fearful rapidity, that in eight days it could scarcely be recognized. It coughed con- stantly, and the left submaxillary gland was as large as a goose's egg. During all this time No. 4, who, except that he had not been made to swallow any tubercular material, had been treated exactly as the rest, remained in per- fect health. At the beginning of the experiment he was the puniest of all, but after fifty-two days, on Nov. 10, when it was determined to bring it to a close, his healthy condition was in striking contrast to the utterly miserable appearance of his unfortunate com- panions. Nos. 2 and 3 were now killed, and No. 1 was re- served to kill at a later date, when the disease should be more advanced. In No. 3 the autopsy revealed