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or conveyed by the contact of flesh, perspira- 

 tion or saliva and how cautious, how prudent 

 and how circumspect we should ever be in gov- 

 erning the intercourse of ourselves and of our 

 children with other persons or creatures, no 

 matter whether the latter appear to be clean 

 and healthy or not. If the system is in prop- 

 er condition one will go as safely through any 

 contagion as a diver in H alley's suit through 

 the water of the sea, but who is so wise as to 

 know when he is absolutely hale and hearty ? 

 one fatal moment of inviting vi'eakness, and 

 wo ! the insidious germ has found a foothold. 

 Then comes the difficulty of dislodgment. 

 These creatures floating numerously through 

 the entire atmosphere and only able to thrive 

 in a congenial harbourage : just as the Tobacco 

 Worm can subsist but on the foliage of the 

 plant from which it receives its name — once 

 having effected this subtle lodgment in our 

 systems, are there protected by phlegmatic or 

 viscid excretions partly emanating, perhaps, 

 from their own organisms and partly consist- 

 ing of corruption thrown out by the irritated 

 tissues for the purpose of resisting the invas- 

 ion; as observed in putrid sore throat and in 

 catarrh ; and then withstand many substances 



