Tuberculosis in Massachusetts . can be no doubt that the dangerof contagion from bone tuberculosis is greatly exaggerated, if anydanger at all exists. It is not conceivable that a patient sufferingfrom a tuberculous focus in one of the vertebral bodies, that is, inthe anterior portion of the spinal column, without a dischargingsinus, can serve as a source of infection. There would appear tobe no danger in the admission of such patients into the wards ofa general hospital or convalescent home. All these affectionsdiffer entirely from pulmonary tuberculosis, where the sputumis a ready carrier of
Tuberculosis in Massachusetts . can be no doubt that the dangerof contagion from bone tuberculosis is greatly exaggerated, if anydanger at all exists. It is not conceivable that a patient sufferingfrom a tuberculous focus in one of the vertebral bodies, that is, inthe anterior portion of the spinal column, without a dischargingsinus, can serve as a source of infection. There would appear tobe no danger in the admission of such patients into the wards ofa general hospital or convalescent home. All these affectionsdiffer entirely from pulmonary tuberculosis, where the sputumis a ready carrier of contagion. It is to be remembered that inbone tuberculosis, where abscesses have developed, with discharg-ing sinuses, the tuberculous process is usually accompanied by thecomplication of streptococcic bone involvement, which largelytransforms the tuberculous osteitis into a septic is possible that the pus-forming organisms in septic osteomye-litis may destroy the virulence of the tubercle bacillus to such an. BRADFORD. Ill extent that the danger of contagion is small. If any danger doesexist, it can be easily overcome by the use of ordinary surgicaldressings. In fact, it may be said that where common surgicalcare is provided there can be no danger to the inmates of an insti-tution from the admission of patients suffering from bone tuber-culosis. It is undoubtedly of advantage in most institutions to separatechildren from adults, especially from those with pulmonary tuber-culosis; and it is for these reasons that the surgical treatment ofbone tuberculosis properly falls within the province of the chil-drens hospitals, as by far the greater number of patients sufferingfrom bone tuberculosis are children, and need different surround-ings from those necessary for adults. Home Care Versus Institution Care. — As the majority of thesecases occur in childhood, there can be no doubt that home sur-roundings, when favorable, furnish the best environment forchildren an
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