424 A YEAR IN SCIENCE 



isolate or quarantine them. If a house is quarantined, 

 persons can not go into or out of it for fear that they 

 may carry the germs to others. We now maintain 

 strict quarantine for such diseases as smallpox, diph- 

 theria, and scarlet fever. 



Quarantine frequently causes great personal incon- 

 venience, but we should all be public spirited enough 

 to be willing- to make whatsoever sacrifices are neces- 

 sary to keep from spreading diseases to those around 

 us. 



Food. It is impossible for us to supervise personally 

 the production or even the preparation of all of our 

 food. The food which we eat has in most cases passed 

 through the hands of many individuals, and in some 

 instances through many processes before it is taken 

 into our bodies. The possibility of germs entering the 

 food is thus very great. In our homes we can protect 

 ourselves from infection by being careful in its prep- 

 aration. Cooking sterilizes food. If eaten raw, foods 

 should be carefully washed. In purchasing our table 

 supplies, it is advisable to patronize only those 

 markets, bakeries, and fruit stores which are kept 

 clean. Our only .means of protection from infection in 

 restaurants or hotels is to select those which are clean 

 and sanitary. 



Insects and disease. We now know that many 

 diseases are carried by insects, the most common of 

 which is the common house fly. To this little insect 

 with its filthy habits may be traced the spread of 



