The Protection of Health 597 



checked. It should be considered a crime to endanger, know- 

 ingly or not, the public health. 



d. No material media of communication between a patient 

 and the public should be allowed. This is usually restricted 

 to letters, books, common utensils, and the like, but it should 

 include insects, as flies, fleas, mosquitoes, and animals, as mice, 

 cats, and dogs, all of which may be carriers of infectious diseases. 



How to keep well. So much may be said of the infective 

 individual and his share of the responsibility. Those who 

 enjoy health have a duty to fulfill in order to retain health. 

 The natural defensive organs and elements of the body play 

 a large role in the maintenance of health, but they need 

 assistance to operate effectively. The skin, which requires fre- 

 quent and thorough cleansing, is, in normal condition, a protec- 

 tive organ that no germ unaided can penetrate. The mucous 

 secretion of mouth and nose passages and the gastric secretion 

 have a limited germicidal power ; the phagocytes and chemical 

 substances in the blood and tissues are relentless in defending 

 the organism against disease germs and their products; but 

 favorable conditions are necessary to enable these to perform 

 their work. 



Some of these conditions are to keep clean all the parts or 

 organs of one's body, mouth and teeth, throat, nose, and skin, 

 and especially the hands, through the daily routine. Hands 

 may be contaminated by anything, as door knobs, hangers 

 in street cars, money, books, papers, telephones, and public 

 utilities of all sorts. After handling, one may well be careful 

 about touching the hands to the face or mouth before they are 

 thoroughly cleansed. Mouth and teeth must be kept clean by 

 frequent washing. Ordinary germicides are not usually strong 

 enough to be useful without injuring the delicate mucous 

 linings of nose and throat. Perfect cleanliness is the safest 

 means of defense. 



Disinfection of parts of the house and surroundings where 

 conditions become unsanitary is sometimes necessary. It is 



