221 



coiivalesciiii;'. or tiu> lifiilthy ■"(•nriicr"' of (Uiilil !icii;i, scarlet Icvci'. lubcr- 

 eulosis. [iiicnuKiiiiii. toiwililis. imnups. \\li<)(i[)iim-i-(>imii. iin'aslrs. iiifautilo 

 paralysis, coinnioii colds or otiier infectious iliseases into tlic luonth of the 

 healthy, williut; susceptible. 



The noruiai functioiiini; of the body is absolutely dependent upon 

 a])undanl water beiiiir furnished the system, and a dedciency leads t<i 

 general ill health and lowered resistance. .Vimndance of watei' is almost 

 as inii»oi-tant as puiat.v of water. Suliicient and attractive facilities as well 

 as clean water olfereil fron; sanii.-ir\" devices should be furnished the laibli'-. 



The war against ])ublic siiittin.LC lias been vigorously and elheiently 

 waged for some time now and with \indoubted good results. Just what the 

 relative imi)ortance of large masses (if sputum thrown into the environ- 

 ment is when contrasted with saliva exchiinges that take place in more 

 obvious and direct wa.vs (in things smeared either directly by the lips or b.v 

 the fingers moistened with saliva. I do not venture to state. Our epidemio- 

 logical evidence and oui- laboratoi'y findings seem to be opposed to the 

 theory that disease is Mn-y gener.-iliv spread tlii'ongh the medium of the 

 air. Sputum thrown upon the sidewalk or in the hotel lol»by drys slowly 

 as a rule and tends to adhere to the surface upon which it is dried. The 

 dryness, light, time and other factors ai'e gernncidal and the disease germ;, 

 present, especially, tend to (juickly perish. Saliva deposited on food by the 

 cook or waiter, on pencils exchanged by children In school, on street-car 

 checks b.\- conductors, (m soda glas.ses. trolle.v straps, the leaves of books 

 and a multitude of things that we come in contact with in the daily routine 

 seems to find a more direct route and gives ami>le room for explaining 

 obscure endemic cases of disease of the respiratory tract. For my part, I 

 had rather have the car conductor spit on the floor than deposit a lesser 

 amount on the check he hands me. I believe it is high time our antl- 

 .spitfing league took on a new, broader work and began an anti-saliva cam- 

 paign. Spitting ma.v. and undoubtedly does spread disease. It is a vile 

 habit and should be prohibited. Tlie camiiaign aaalnst It will raise the 

 public opinion of cleanliness and civic resjionsibility and will tend to ini 

 prove the sanitary tone of a conniuinlt.v. 



The phenomemin of improved municipal hetilth following the substitu- 

 tion of a pure or pui'lfled water supply, foi- a iioUuted sup]>ly is too connnon 

 to neecl illustration. Othei- sanita.i-y iaiprovenients, as installation of ;; 

 proper sewage or garba-^e dlsjiosal ]ilant or a clean milk campaign, like- 



