CHAPTER XXVII 



HOW TO PROTECT JACK'S HOUSE FROM CONTAGIOUS 

 DISEASES CONSUMPTION 



IN a previous chapter we learned how minute plants 

 are destructive to foods. There are also tiny plants 

 and animals that are injurious to our bodies for 

 the reason that they cause disease. Consumption, 

 pneumonia, diphtheria, typhoid fever, malaria, in- 

 fluenza, and colds are some of the common diseases 

 that are due to these tiny plants or animals. These 

 minute organisms do not thrive, as a rule, in healthy, 

 vigorous body tissue. But if they get into an organ 

 or some part of the body, when, on account of ex- 

 posure, over exertion, lack of nutrition, loss of sleep, 

 or any other cause, it is not able to resist, then, mul- 

 tiplying rapidly, they produce disease. 



The rapidity with which certain of these organisms 

 can multiply under favorable conditions is most re- 

 markable, specialists estimating that one can increase 

 to a colony of several millions in twenty-four hours. 

 In consumption, pneumonia, influenza, and colds, the 

 organisms are in the lungs or air passages, and so 

 are ejected with expectoration. In typhoid fever they 

 are present in the intestines, and pass out with the 



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