Bivalves in Relation to Disease 171 



hours in fresh water to undergo what the oystermen 

 term the drinking process. Oysters sold in the shell as 

 well as those that have been shucked are usually sub- 

 jected to the fresh water treatment. To make delays 

 and the cost of transportation as slight as possible, the 

 localities selected for this are almost without exception 

 in harbors or river mouths near large markets. In very 

 many cases such waters bear the sewage of cities of hun- 

 dreds of thousands of inhabitants. 



It should be recognized that this source of danger to 

 the public health could easily be removed. A strong 

 popular sentiment against the process of freshening 

 oysters might lead to its voluntary discontinuance by 

 dealers, or to legislative prohibition, and the enforce- 

 ment of laws against the practice would largely do away 

 with the danger. The end might perhaps be attained if 

 intelligent health officers were empowered to forbid the 

 sale of such as are taken from, or stored in, contam- 

 inated waters. The State Board of Health of Massa- 

 chusetts is the first to prevent the sale of shell-fish from 

 certain dangerous bottoms. 



It is a curious fact that many persons who may be will- 

 ing to accept the truth of statements on the nature of in- 

 fectious diseases and their transmission, yet regard the 

 dissemination of such knowledge almost with resent- 

 ment, apparently because it is disturbing to peace of 

 mind, and may have a tendency to interfere with careless 

 habits. Who has not heard remarks of this nature : — 

 " Our fathers lived in comparative safety, but science has 

 surrounded us with deadly germs. We are afraid of 

 the crystal water from the old oaken bucket, and drink 

 what comes through the mains with protesting fears. 

 We are worried because we do not know the source of 



