PERSONAL AND CIVIC HYGIENE 347 



while the third, a young lady of seventeen, was epileptic and had always 

 had poor health. May the father's habits have had anything to do with 

 these facts ? 



5. Can you think of any instances where families have a tendency to 

 gout, consumption, or epilepsy ? Is there any noticeable effect on the 

 children ? 



Note. While these diseases may not be inherited, yet it is no longer 

 doubted that the tendency to acquire them, or a weakness in such respects, 

 may be transmitted. 



6. What general conclusions can you make concerning the necessity 

 of good general health of future fathers and mothers, either plant or 

 animal ? 



e. Hygiene 



Note. Since the inheritance of vigorous qualities of father or both 

 parents may be impaired or totally destroyed, it would seem wise to con- 

 sider how such qualities may be kept at their best, for the happiness of 

 individuals and the good of the race. 



Considerations. 1. What conditions lower the vitality of the body ? 



2. What habits are injurious to the body ? 



3. Name some germ diseases that are very harmful to the race. 

 Note. Some germ diseases are especially difficult to fight, particularly 

 those producing blood poison. 



4. How may disease germs enter the body? (See Prob. LVI, I.) 

 Note. Any opening in the body, or even a break in the skin, may permit 

 the entrance of most deadly germs. 



5. What might happen to the egg if disease germs should be carried 

 to it with a growing pollen tube ? 



Conclusions. 1. What part of a flower would be most probably seri- 

 ously injured by bacteria should they attack it ? Explain. Note. The 

 sexual organs of all forms of life are very delicate, more so than even the 

 eyes, ears, and nostrils. 



2. Why should all living things exert great protective oversight of any- 

 thing concerning the future of the race ? 



3. Is it wise to use public drinking cups, towels, napkins, etc. ? Ex- 

 plain. 



4. Even if germ cells are not killed by the action of bacteria, 

 their future development will be most certainly seriously crippled. Many 

 cases of idiocy, insanity, epilepsy, etc., are undoubtedly due to diseased 

 germ cells. 



5. Study the reports in the monthly bulletins of the new State De- 

 partment of Health. What do you conclude regarding the prevalence of 



