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Haskell. -- Those I have seen were eases of apparently incipient phthisis, and from the extreme suffering of the first three months, attended by a cough, &c, they certainly did better for a time. In other cases, doubtful effect.

Knight. -- Checked during pregnancy, but developed rapidly afterward.

Carbee. -- The disease is seemingly transmitted from the child to the mother.

Bullard. -- No; but promoted.

Condle. -- It is a curious circumstance to how great an extent in a female with confirmed consumption upon her becoming pregnant the symptoms of the disease will assume a favorable aspect, foreshadowing, as' it were, a speedy convalescence, but rapidly after parturition the disease will assume an unfavorable aspect, running on quickly to a fatal termination. (I would refer you to two papers of mine in the "American Journal of Medical Sciences," April, 1871, page 365; July, 1871, page 119.) I have prepared a paper which may appear in the October (1871) number of the "American Journal," it is on " spurious or simulated consumption."

Eaton. -- Many of the causes, &c, in the list of questions might be connected. Thus marriage might promote phthisis, from sexual imprudence in either sex; while in the female during pregnancy it might be, and usually is, checked, but after the child is born the tubercular deposit is increased, and also the softening.

SEVENTEENTH QUESTION.

IS CONSUMPTION CAUSED OR PROMOTED BY ONORDINATE SEXUAL INDULGENCE?

This question is one which, from its very nature, must be very difficult to answer. We must depend for its perfect solution upon not only the utmost skill and penetration on the part of a physician, but, likewise for perfect certainty, upon the voluntary confession of sufferers, and confession, too, on a point which is rarely alluded to by any one, even to his most intimate friend.^ In fact, a perfect knowledge on the subject presupposes not only a species of confessional such as, it is true, sometimes exists between physician and patient, but likewise it requires great wisdom on the part of the practitioner, not to be led by the self-accusation of the patient into a belief of the influence of this cause as a chief element in the production of the disease actually existing. Believing as I do, that there are very rare cases in which there can be little or no doubt of the importance of this cause, I hoped to obtain some facts to elucidate the whole matter, and therefore the general question was asked.

The table resulting is as follows, and certainly it seems to prove that the question was not without point in the estimate of our correspondents.

One is struck with the small percentage of correspondents who are doubtful, -- 11 out of 210, or 5.23 per cent.; and also of those who do not vouchsafe a reply; 31 out of 210, or 15.23 per cent. The few who categorically answer "nay" is small, viz., 16 out of 210, or 7.61 per cent. And finally, we may notice the large proportion who believe that this over- indulgence or a vicious habit are promoters of consumption, viz. , one hundred and fifty-two out of two hundred and ten (72.38 per cent). I cannot help commending this result to the serious consideration, first, of the wild, thoughtless and licentious; and, second, of all who think that marriage absolves from careful attention to the laws of health in this particular. And here may be laid down one general rule that must be true, viz., first, that when there is no healthful vigor of body and mind, but rather the reverse, after indulgence, extreme prudence should be the guardian of the family relations; and, second, that when extreme lassitude, nervousness or any special malaise follows such indulgence, either great abstemiousness or total abstinence for a time should be inculcated, until by proper regimen or treatment the healthy condition of system is regained.

Extracts from Correspondents' letters relative to this question.

Stone. -- Overwork or mental trouble, or immoderate sexual indulgence, especially self-abuse, may at times be a cause.

Greene. -- Onanism is a cause.

Harlow. -- I am well satisfied that inordinate, or even moderate, sexual indulgence has a tendency to develop tuberculosis.

Packard. -- Consumption is a mental disease arising from the improper relations and bad conditions of our social marriage system, -- the same as all the forms of intemperance. It is the result of an overactive cerebellum excluding the higher faculties of soul, life and will-power. Hence a premature decay of the whole being. It is preeminently a hereditary disease, -- self- begetting and self-sustaining.

Hammond. -- I think this a cause of the disease. Whatever tends to debilitate the general system exposes the individuals to those diseases to which he is predisposed. There is a vital elasticity in the animal system which causes the system to recover itself from abuses, but the elasticity is greatly impaired by too frequent use. There are many of those causes mentioned in your circular that seem to act no part in the production of consumption, but, to those hereditarily disposed, would act a very important part. Hereditary predisposition to any disease does not necessarily doom the individual to death from the disease to which he is predisposed. For, by avoiding those causes that would tend to develop the complaint to which he was predisposed, he would die of some other disease. That some persons are hereditarily disposed to consumption there is no question in my mind. Although there may be no particular indication in early youth, yet, when the system becomes developed; and the functions of the organs of generation come into operation, then a drain is produced upon the system that brings with action the latent disease.