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Sanborn. -- Married people should be advised to occupy separate sleeping-apartments, except, perhaps, semi-annually. And children should be kept so busy at work or play, that they would be tired enough to sleep soundly through the night. They should be furnished with suitable employment, a portion of the time, with pleasant reading, music, light, games, &c, so as to leave no time to learn, or learn of, pernicious habits and customs until they arrive at maturity, and then taught to avoid them as they would a tiger. Tobacco is another cause of consumption; worse, if anything, than rum.

Allanson. -- Yes; also by onanism.

Bullard. -- According to my observation there is almost always a hereditary influence; but that solitary pollution and inordinate sexual indulgence have as much, if not more, to do with its development than any, or perhaps all, other causes.

EIGHTEENTH QUESTION.

IS CONSUMPTION EVER CAUSED OR PROMOTED BY CONTAGION OF INFECTION?

Under the light of modern investigations as to the inoculability of tuberculosis, the question of communication of the disease from one person to another, becomes a vital question. Dr. Budd, of Bristol, holds that the dried sputa have particles in them of the real "contagium" of this disease, and that they must be floating about in every atmosphere in which a consumptive is living. He lays great stress on this matter of communication of the disease in that numerous class of cases, usually attributed to a hereditary tendency, and where the disease runs through many members of a family.

Deeming the question thus important, the views of our correspondents become deeply interesting. Their answers, let it be always remembered, are grounded on their own everyday experience, and not on books.

The table runs thus, and we are at a glance struck with the difference between the views of correspondents on this and on the preceding question. These views are less decided. There are less in favor of, and more against the proposition, while the number of skeptical has increased.

One hundred and ten out of two hundred and ten, or 52.38 per cent., answer affirmatively; while forty-five (21.42 per cent.) answer "Nay." Twenty-seven (12.85 per cent.) are doubtful; twenty-eight (13.33 per cent.) make no reply.

Evidently those who believe in the contagion or infection are not so numerous or so sanguine as they are upon some other questions submitted to them. May not the fact of the hitherto great prevalence of the opinion of the non-contagiousness of this disease among English and American practitioners, and our strong belief in the hereditary character of it, have led us all to ignore what may, after all, prove a potent cause, and which we shall recognize oh more close inspection? The question is of much importance. Physicians should be prepared to give directions as to the use of the same bed or chamber by consumptives and members of their families, or by their friends. I must defer a more elaborate statement on my own part, to a subsequent paper; but I will say that I have, for years, always endeavored to prevent any one from sleep- ing with a consumptive. If possible, I prefer the patient should be in one room, the attendant in another; with the door open between them, perhaps; but I never allow any one to sleep in the same bed with the consumptive. I direct that the attendant should not only thoroughly ventilate the room or sleeping-chamber, but that, each day, the attendant should walk or drive out a sufficient length of time to enable him or her to get pure air in abundance.

Extracts from letters from Correspondents relative to this question.

Chase. -- From inhaling the breath, of another, &c.

Hathaway. -- Yes; after measles, typhoid diseases, &c.

Wilcox.-- Healthy husband or wife by continued exposure from the other.

Nichols. -- I think a child, free from all hereditary taint, might contract the disease by sleeping with a person having consumption.

Chapin. -- I think in two families hereditarily disposed that it was produced by contagion, in some of the members of each family and their kindred.

Brown. -- I have sometimes thought it contagious or infectious, particularly in members of the same family living together, and exposed to the same influences.

Gott. -- A husband, not predisposed by hereditary taint, died of the disease apparently caused by taking care of his wife during her sickness. The wife also apparently contracted the disease while taking care of a brother. I have seen several similar instances appearing to originate from contagion.

Breed. -- I have seen cases where the disease seemed to be developed by close contact, as in cases of husband and wife, or sisters habitually using the same bed, while in one of them the disease was fully developed.