Bacteriologv op" tHE Household. 727 



live upon both living and dead material. They are only partly parasitic 

 and are capable of producing disease. These microbes that cause disease 

 are said to be " pathogenic." It is now known that microbes are the 

 cause of many of the contagious or infectious diseases, such as tubercu- 

 losis, diphtheria and typhoid fever. The better the conditions for the 

 propagation of these injurious germs if they should gain entrance, the 

 greater is the chance for disease. 



Germs may be carried by insects. It is now known that excrement- 

 infesting insects, as flies, may carry disease germs on their legs and 

 bodies. House-flies may be a menace to health as well as to comfort. 

 One way to get rid of them is to prevent the accumulation of piles of 

 horse manure, as they breed in this. 



Malaria is caused not by bacteria but by animal organisms called 

 " protozoa." These are found in the blood of persons suffering with 

 malaria. It is now known that the organism causing this disease is car- 

 ried and transmitted to the person by certain kinds of mosquitoes. 



Germs may be carried on articles of food or clothing. One should be 

 careful to make a change in clothing in going from a sick-room in which 

 the patient is ill with a contagious disease, such as scarlet fever, diph- 

 theria or smallpox. Disease-producing bacteria may be carried in the 

 clothing from a person ill with an infectious disease and given to a 

 healthy person. This necessitates the utmost precaution on the part of 

 those caring for persons sick with contagious diseases. They shall 

 always thoroughly disinfect the hands and the clothing worn in a sick- 

 room before going among other persons. If possible, it is well to burn 

 all articles which have been in closest contact with persons who are ill 

 with contagious or infectious diseases. Articles too valuable to be de- 

 stroyed may be disinfected. 



Practical Application 

 The knowledge of germs is becoming general among housekeepers, 

 yet we are guilty of little habits which we should drop very quickly 

 if they were brought to our attention in connection with the danger 

 from bacteria. Thoughtfulness, with a knowledge of the results of 

 these habits, brings many things to our notice to which we have pre- 

 viously closed our eyes. We are too prone to object to dirt without 

 stopping to consider whether it is harmful dirt. Our natural sensitive- 

 ness makes us worry if a neighbor calls and sees dust on the shelves. 

 However, it may be better there than flying in the room. Probably 

 the guest who sat on an upper balcony of a hotel and saw an employee 

 come into the kitchen, remove his pipe, lift a spoonful of preserves to his 



