CHAPTER LXXII 

 CONTROL AND USE OF BACTERIA 



434. Health and the public. As fast as we realize that our 

 health depends upon the control of outside conditions, we 

 extend public regulation to many matters that were formerly 

 considered purely private and individual. A bare list of the 

 points in regard to which public and official action has been 

 taken will indicate how widespread are the influences of bac- 

 teria, and how far progressive communities have gone in the 

 attempt to control public health. 



Not every town has adopted regulations in regard to each of the 

 matters mentioned in the lists below, but on each point several towns 

 and cities (or states) have adopted definite regulations calculated to 

 protect the public health. 



In regard to food in general, the methods used in preparing, 

 handling, and exposing for sale have been regulated. In addi- 

 tion there are special regulations regarding the following : 



1 . Bakeries : conditions of work, ventilation, lighting, clean- 

 liness, etc. ; the wrapping of each loaf of bread before removal 

 from the factor)'. 



2. Slaughterhouses. 



3. Ice cream. 



4. Soft drinks : conditions of sale, cleaning of glasses. 



5 . Restaurants : condition of kitchens, cleaning of dishes, etc. 



6. Drinking cups in public places. 



7. Milk, butter, and other dairy products. 



8. Public water supply, 



9. Compulsory vaccination of school children, 



10. Marriage of persons suffering from certain diseases. 



394 



