The Tuberculosis Nurse

Synopsis

To tuberculosis, more than to any other infectious disease, the parable of the seed and the soil is strictly applicable. Without the tubercle bacillus there can be no tuberculosis, but for tuberculosis to develop, many factors of great complexity and as yet but little understood must facilitate the implantation of the bacillus and augment its growth. It is true that though we may emphasize the rôle of the bacillus, still we cannot completely ignore those personal factors that contribute to make the infection fruitful, and likewise though we focus our attention upon individual resistance, still we cannot keep out of sight the invader that is being resisted. The two viewpoints meet and run together, but are sufficiently separate to lead to different methods in our efforts to eradicate tuberculosis.

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