448 MICROORGANISMS 



spherical bacterium is the cause of this disease but we may 

 not yet consider the matter finally settled. The disease is 

 extremely contagious and in many cases quite serious. 



524. Infantile Paralysis. This disease is not entirely con- 

 fined to children as its name implies but it is true that children 

 are much more frequently attacked by it than are grown 

 people. It seems to be spread from person to person by 



, contact and there is strong evidence that the little black horse 

 ^ fly which resembles the house fly very closely in appearance 

 is also instrumental in its spread. It is an extremely serious 

 disease and has lately been called the GREAT RED PLAGUE. 



IV. PUBLIC HEALTH 



525. Our Duty Regarding Public Health. It is perfectly 

 evident that in matters that have to do with health, no one 

 lives unto himself alone. One may do much for his personal 

 health through proper attention to personal cleanliness, to 

 food and clothing, to fresh air and exercise but in the matter of 

 contagious diseases, no one person by his own efforts can 

 guarantee his own safety. Those who supply us with milk and 

 other foods may bring infection to us, we may get it from those 

 with whom we associate, or we may get it from the strangers 

 with whom we mingle as we travel. The city water supply 

 may give us disease, or flies may carry it to us from garbage or 

 sewage which are not properly disposed of. We may be en- 

 dangered by the failure of public officials to properly enforce 

 quarantine. In all these ways, we are dependent on others for 

 protection against disease. If these others on whom we de- 

 pend for protection are ignorant or careless, we are bound to 

 suffer. Consequently, if we would seek to better our condi- 

 tions with reference to contagious diseases, we must rely mainly 

 on our efforts to raise the general level of intelligence and 

 sense of responsibility in regard to these things on the part of 

 the whole people. Every one who has the grand privilege of a 

 high school education and who learns concerning matters of 



