256 AGRICULTURE ON THE PACIFIC SLOPE 



purpose. Carbolic acid is dangerous, because people 

 may use it on the skin in too great strength. As it 

 causes no pain at the time, they do not find out until 

 too late that they are badly burned. 



Corrosive sublimate is a very powerful poison, too 

 dangerous for household use if there are children about. 

 It may be obtained in small tablets. 



Are there bacteria in the air? We will now open one 

 of our tumblers or bottles, and expose it for tenor fifteen 

 minutes to the air. At the end of this time we put the 

 cotton back in place and set it in a warm place for a 

 day or two to see whether any signs of growth (spots) 

 appear. The bacteria which cause tuberculosis (con- 

 sumption) float about in the air. For this reason people 

 who have consumption should not spit except on a 

 paper or rag, which should be burned as soon as possible. 

 Sweeping, especially in schoolrooms, should be done so 

 as to get rid of as many bacteria as possible. Moist 

 sawdust should be sprinkled on the floor. The room 

 should then be swept and left with doors and windows 

 closed until all the dust and bacteria have settled. 

 Then the floor and furniture should be wiped with a 

 moist cloth, which should then be well washed and dis- 

 infected. A feather duster should not be used where 

 a damp cloth can be employed, for it merely scatters 

 bacteria into the air. When the feather duster is used, 

 windows and doors should be opened wide. Carpets 

 hold bacteria and are, therefore, not as good as bare 



