DIGESTION OF FOOD: THE MOUTH 87 



who have had the disease until the germs have disappeared 

 from their throats; sometimes other children from the same 

 family are kept at home, in quarantine as it is called, to pre- 

 vent them from carrying the germs to others in school. In 

 all cases the patient should be isolated; that is, he should be 

 kept in a room by himself and no one should be allowed to 

 see him except physicians and nurses. By such means the 

 spread of the germs can be prevented and many lives saved. 

 So dangerous is this disease that any precaution which will 

 prevent its dissemination is justifiable. 



Mumps. Mumps is another disease of the organs around 

 the mouth, being primarily a swollen condition of the parotid 

 glands. The face swells on one or both sides, swallowing is 

 painful, and for a day or two the patient is very uncomfort- 

 able. The cause of the trouble is not known, and it usually soon 

 passes away. It is a contagious disease and can be avoided by 

 keeping away from those having it, but a person rarely has it 

 more than once. 



Whooping Cough. Whooping cough is a disease charac- 

 terized by violent paroxysms of coughing. It is believed to be 

 caused by a bacterium that clings in the air passage. The 

 disease is certainly contagious, and is easily caught by another 

 person when the patient is coughing. At such times the germs 

 are scattered from the patient and may find their way into 

 another person in the vicinity. The only method of avoid- 

 ing the germs is by keeping away from those who have the 

 disease, and especially by avoiding their breath at times of 

 coughing. The chance of. contagion by other means is slight 

 and, while the safest plan is to avoid patients entirely, a per- 

 son may frequently associate with one who has the disease 

 without catching it, if he is careful to avoid the breath. As long 

 as the coughing continues, usually several weeks, the danger 

 of contagion remains; although it decreases in the later stages 

 of the disease. Whooping cough is chiefly a disease of children 

 although adults frequently have it. Second attacks are rare. 



