308 HUMAN PHYSIOLOGY CHAP. 



Public bathing and washing conveniences are provided 

 in many cities. They should be kept clean and whole- 

 some, for if they are not in good hygienic condition, 

 they may be the means for spreading diseases. All 

 who are careless or indifferent about the cleanliness of 

 their person or clothing should be compelled to patron- 

 ize such public necessities. No one has a right to 

 endanger the life and health of those with whom he 

 may come in contact, because of personal indifference 

 to sanitary laws, or ignorance of them. 



217. Diseases. One of the great problems that the 

 health officers have to deal with is that of communicable 

 diseases. A city must prevent the importation of com- 

 municable diseases as far as possible. Of course quar- 

 antine can be successfully used only at seaports, except 

 in a very few diseases. The health authorities should, 

 however, attempt to keep the sanitary conditions excel- 

 lent, so that the city as a whole may be immune. Each 

 individual must do his part to keep himself and his 

 premises in a good sanitary condition. If it were pos- 

 sible for the health officers to have the intelligent 

 cooperation of every citizen within their jurisdiction, 

 cities might become immune to most of the communica- 

 ble diseases. 



Diseases should be reported to the health officers 

 immediately, so that means may be taken to prevent 

 their spread. This is such an important matter that 

 most of the states give the state board of health full 

 authority to make all needful regulations relating to 

 communicable diseases. Usually the physician and the 



