COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES AND HEALTH 353 



The contamination of wells, rivers, and lakes with the germs of dis- 

 ease can be brought about only by discharges from persons harboring 

 the parasites (see Fig. 164). Wherever there is a sewerage system, the 

 law should require that every house be properly connected with the 

 sewer. There is unmistakable evidence that the general health is better 

 among people who use modern toilets than among those who do not. It 

 is also certain that the latter are frequently sources of danger to others, 

 since the contaminations work their way through the ground to poison 

 the water supplies upon which others are dependent. Thus again we see 

 the interdependence of people, living, it may be, at considerable dis- 

 tances from each other, or in different states. We cannot be secure while 

 others are in danger. 



266. Food protection. A large part of our food comes to us in 

 sealed packages ; we do not know where the food is made, or of 

 what materials. Growing commerce has brought us food prod- 

 ucts of foreign lands, in regard to which we have no standards 

 and no judgment. As individuals we cannot tell anything of the 

 nutritive value or possible dangers of these wares. We cannot 

 tell from the looks or the taste whether any of it contains harm- 

 ful preservatives or coloring matter, or whether it contains any 

 adulterants. It has become altogether too easy for unscrupu- 

 lous dealers or manufacturers to mix cheaper materials with 

 those that already enjoyed a good market, or to substitute 

 cheaper materials for more expensive ones. Spices and coffee 

 were thus among the first things to be adulterated. . 



The scientists have been increasing their knowledge about 

 the relation of food to bodily health and efficiency, and our 

 civilization has separated people more and more from the 

 sources of their everyday needs. It has therefore become neces- 

 sary for the public, through its official agents, to extend the 

 protection of the buyer still farther. It is not sufficient that we 

 get full measure. It is not sufficient that we get goods correctly 

 labeled. We must be assured (i) that what is offered is suitable 

 for our purposes, and (2) that it is harmless. 



267. Danger from action of bacteria. Because we are increas- 

 ingly separated from our food sources, in time as well as in 

 space, new dangers have arisen. These have to do (i) with the 



