Transcriber’s Note:
The cover image was created by the transcriber and is placed in the public domain.
To tuberculosis, more than to any other infectiousdisease, the parable of the seed and thesoil is strictly applicable. Without the tuberclebacillus there can be no tuberculosis, but fortuberculosis to develop, many factors of greatcomplexity and as yet but little understood mustfacilitate the implantation of the bacillus andaugment its growth. It is true that though we mayemphasize the rôle of the bacillus, still we cannotcompletely ignore those personal factors thatcontribute to make the infection fruitful, and likewisethough we focus our attention upon individualresistance, still we cannot keep out of sight theinvader that is being resisted. The two viewpointsmeet and run together, but are sufficiently separateto lead to different methods in our efforts to eradicatetuberculosis.
On the one hand are those who direct theirefforts toward the annihilation of the tuberclebacillus. We are sufficiently instructed about thelife history and habits of this organism to lay ourviplans upon a firm, scientific basis—a basis so firmand at first sight so simple and so plausible thatover-enthusiasm led to predictions that have beensadly disappointed. The principles are soundindeed, but in practice their application has metwith insuperable difficulties. These obstructionshave sharpened our wits to find new avenues thatnow promise a more ready approach to the goal.To put the matter briefly, the tuberculosis campaignof the past fifteen years has taught us twoimportant lessons: first, that the tuberculouscannot be isolated in their homes; second, thatthey cannot be cured in or out of sanatoria. I amshocked myself to read these bald statements,particularly the second, and still I am convincedthat they are true. Some patients can be isolatedin their homes, and many patients recover fromtuberculosis and remain well. Tuberculosis isvery amenable to treatment and under