TUBERCULOSIS. (CONSUMPTION)
Categories:
Infectious Diseases
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
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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.)
6. Tuberculosis of the Larynx.
7. Acute Pneumonia (Pulmonary Tuberculosis) or "Galloping Consumption."
8. Chronic Ulcerative Pulmonary Tuberculosis.
9. Chronic Miliary Tuberculosis.
10. Tuberculosis of the Alimentary Canal.
11. Tuberculosis of the Brain.
12. Tuberculosis of the liver, kidneys, bladder, etc.
13. Tuberculosis of joints, this will be treated more fully elsewhere.