478 CERTAIN OTHER BACTERIA 



Common foci of infection in the body are diseased tonsils, 

 chronic infections of the ear and nasal cavities, which may spread 

 to the sinuses, pockets of pus about the roots of the teeth, and a 

 diseased appendix. When the focus of infection is removed, the 

 symptoms tend to disappear. Regular and systematic care of 

 the teeth by a competent dentist, with the use of X-rays when- 

 ever possible, will bring to light pus pockets in teeth. Avoidance 

 of, and proper care of colds will prevent sinus and ear infections. 

 Regular periodic health examinations will usually detect these 

 foci of pus before they cause disease in the body. Once a focal 

 infection is started, it may be very difficult to cure it. 



Measles, whooping cough, and chicken pox. These diseases 

 are common among children because they are spread through the 

 unhygienic habits that are prevalent among all children. When 

 a little girl hugs another one, takes a bite of her apple, borrows her 

 pencil, or performs endless other acts that result in personal con- 

 tact, disease germs may be passed from one child to the other. 

 In some households, if one child contracts one of these diseases, 

 all the children of the family are purposely exposed to it. It is 

 easier to take care of all at the same time. This is a very wrong 

 procedure. These diseases, in themselves, are not very serious 

 and seldom fatal. But they are frequently followed by secondary 

 infections such as pneumonia, deafness, rheumatism, heart disease, 

 or kidney disease. The after-effects are far more serious than 

 the original disease. When one child gets a disease from an- 

 other, the second child may get it in a more severe form than the 

 first. In growing in the first child's body, the disease germ seems 

 to acquire greater virulence and, consequently, affects the second 

 child more seriously. Either this is the case or weaker strains of 

 bacteria are killed in the first child's body and only those virulent 

 organisms that are resistant to the defenses of the child's body are 

 passed on. Children who show any signs of illness should remain 

 home from school until they are again perfectly well. Because 



