HOW TO PRKTENT DISEASE. 169 



Exposed to infection or contagion takes the particular disease, 

 not because the germs do not enter the system, but because 

 they were too weak, or because the powers of life enable^ the 

 cells attacked to successfully resist the enemy, to destroy him 

 and cast him out. Polluted germs sometimes enter the body, 

 and instead of attacking a particular part, contaminate the 

 whole system. This is seen in intermittent fever and low 

 fevers, caused by living in malarial districts. 



The lesson these facts afford is easily learned. The force of 

 the maxim, "Prevention is better than cure," is to be applied 

 to every-day life. High authority has declared that clean- 

 liness is next to godliness. But the matter of cleanliness 

 must be applied, not only to the person, but to his surround- 

 ings as well. If this rule be observed, no soil for impure 

 germs to grow in will exist about the dwelling, the office, 

 the work-shop, or especially the kitchen. 



The most efficient means of dealing with all refuse material 

 is always at hand. All refuse organic matter that can be 

 burned, should be thus destroyed. Filth in fluid form may 

 be burned by mixing sawdust with it. If not burned, the 

 material should be far removed from every p]ac*e of habitation 

 or be properly disinfected. Pure air and sunlight are valuable 

 disinfectants, and should be let into every hole and corner of 

 the house and premises. Beside air and sunlight, nature has 

 provided another disinfectant in common earth, which will 

 absorb fluids, and by chemical action convert offensive mate- 

 rial into soil. 



4. Antiseptics and Disinfectants. An antiseptic is an 



agent which restrains or absolutely prevents decomposition ; 

 a disinfectant oxidizes the dead matter as it decomposes, but 

 the best disinfectants are those that destroy the germs of 

 disease. The use of an antiseptic, as common salt in curing 

 meat, prevents the necessity of using disinfectants, and the 

 timely use of a disinfectant destroys the soil in which germs 



