3l)2 THE PRESERVATION OF HEALTH 



of the town or city, shall do their duty. No man can 

 be a really good citizen who is ignorant of the condi- 

 tions which threaten the general health, or who neglects 

 to use his influence to keep the health officers watch- 

 ful and active. The subject of sanitation should there- 

 fore receive attention in our schools, and may properly 

 be considered briefly in connection with , the study of 

 physiology. 



521. A Healthy Town or City is one in which the poorest 

 inhabitants have pure air to breathe, pure water to drink, 

 wholesome, unadulterated food to eat, and opportunities 

 for cleanliness in person and dwelling. These conditions 

 can be supplied only by the strong arm of a central power 

 supported by an enlightened public opinion. And having 

 provided these prime necessities, the central power of 

 government should require all citizens to make use of 

 them. A man should not be permitted to use the foul 

 water from a filthy well, even on his own premises; nor 

 to keep his own dwelling in so uncleanly a state as to 

 endanger the health of his own family and that of his 

 neighbors; if public washing conveniences are provided 

 he should even, if necessary, be obliged to have the cloth- 

 ing of his family cleansed and his own body bathed. 



522. Cleanliness the One Essential. The conditions of 

 general phvsical well-being may after all be reduced to 

 one, viz. cleanliness, taken in its broadest, fullest .sense. 

 That would include clean air, clean water, unadulterated 

 food, cleanliness of person and clothing, and adequate ex- 

 ercise by which purity of blood is promoted and removal 

 of the poisonous waste of the body is secured. 



523. Pure Air. A man can live for a considerable time 

 without food or water, and he may within certain limits 

 safely select what he will eat and drink. But he cannot 



