MOLDS. 37 



the body tissues through some break in the skin. 

 Fairly strong acetic acid 40 per cent is one of the 

 best remedies for moth. 



They sometimes penetrate quite deeply into the tis- 

 sues, causing irritation, inflammation, or sores very 

 difficult to heal because there can be no healing until 

 the plant is killed. 



Food fully penetrated by mold growth would bet- 

 ter be destroyed. When the growth occurs only on 

 the surface, as on jelly, olives, pickles, etc., the mat of 

 cells protects the food beneath and most of it is un- 

 harmed. Such foods, however, are often softened 

 by the products of mold and bacterial growth, when 

 no sign of mold appears on the fruit itself. If eaten, 

 various intestinal disorders are liable to occur. 



Moist cloth furnishes favorable soil for mold when 

 warm and not open to fresh air. The folded gar- 

 ments laid away gather moisture ; dust containing 

 mold spores is usually present on them, and in time, 

 soon or late, the garments grow musty even if there 

 be no visible mold. Mustiness is the proof of mold, 

 and mold the proof of dampness and dust. We call the 

 mold growing on the cloth mildew, but called by either 

 name it is the same dust-plant. The plant must be 

 killed to stop its growth. If it has grown only on 

 the surface of the fibre, the stain may sometimes be 

 removed without serious injury. If it is of long 

 growth or has penetrated the fibre, a hole will result, 

 because of the weakened or actually destroyed fibre. 



So far as the healthful house is concerned, there 



