CIVIC BIOLOGY 443 



As a result, we are becoming a longer lived and healthier nation. 

 Dirt, vermin, and disease are recognized as alien enemies and are 

 being removed or controlled. 



Factory and Housing Conditions. The strongest constitution 

 cannot endure dark, ill- ventilated or crowded homes and factories. 

 Laws, inspection, and information are being combined to bring 

 about better conditions. 



In most states child labor is forbidden or restricted, housing 

 conditions are looked after to some extent and fire protection is 

 usually well provided. 



To carry out these many lines of civic biology, cities and towns 

 usually have a Board of Health, inspectors, and the assistance of 

 the police. In large cities public laboratories are maintained where 

 examinations of food, milk, water, and disease cultures are made. 

 There may be one or more city physicians, city chemists, and visit- 

 ing nurses who help enforce and carry out the regulations. 



The street cleaning and fire departments perform their obvious 

 part as well as the city engineers who look after the drains, sewers, 

 and parks. 



The Federal government devotes much of the work of the De- 

 partment of Agriculture and the Department of Commerce and 

 Labor, to matters pertaining to national health and the conserva- 

 tion of natural resources. They distribute quantities of valuable 

 literature, and carry out investigations along varied lines of civic 

 biology. 



The Federal " Pure Food and Drugs " law was enacted in 1906 

 and regulates 



1. Inspection of all food animals. 



2. Standards of purity for food products. 



3. Freedom from adulteration. 



4. Prevention of harmful preservatives. 



5. Proper labeling of drugs and medicines. 



6. Proper labeling of package goods. 



Patent Medicines. The consumption of patent medicines costs 

 the people of the United States $200,000,000 per year. This would 



