290 Life and Health 



milker, unclean methods of milking, the addition of typhoid- 

 infected water, the use of unclean utensils and milk cans. 



Typhoid fever and other infectious diseases have been 

 traced to eating raw oysters that were fattened in salt 

 water contaminated with the sewage. Disease-producing 

 bacteria, as the typhoid bacillus, have been found in ice, 

 and even in ice cream. Milk and meat from tuberculous 

 animals have not unfrequently produced disease. Persons 

 are occasionally poisoned from eating canned meats which 

 have been contaminated with bacteria or their products. 



Other foods and beverages are often contaminated with 

 injurious bacteria, generally due to uncleanly manufacture 

 or unprotected storage. 



451. Some Common Diseases caused by Bacteria. The 

 malign results brought about by certain bacteria vary greatly 

 in kind and severity. Thus the bacteria of Asiatic cholera 

 and diphtheria may destroy life in a few hours, while those 

 of consumption may take years to produce a fatal result. 

 Again, bacteria may attack some particular organ, or group 

 of organs, and produce mostly local symptoms. Thus, in a 

 boil there is painful swelling due to the local effect of bacteria, 

 usually accompanied with slight general disturbance. 



The epidemic disease known as influenza, or la grippe, 

 or the "grip," is due to a specific germ. It attacks the 

 mucous membranes more commonly than any other parts 

 of the body, although hardly any organ has escaped. 



452. How Bacteria gain Access to the Bodily Tissues. 

 There are several possible ways in which germs of disease 

 may gain access to the tissues. First, by contact between 

 diseased and healthy persons ; in brief, by contagion. 

 Thus, ringworm, often called barber's itch, is a familiar 

 example of bacteria " caught " from the germs on a razor 

 or a soiled towel. 



