COMMUNITY SANITATION 



411 



and carried throughout the body, thus poisoning many 

 other parts besides those at first affected. The cells of 

 the body immediately begin to secrete a substance to 

 counteract this poison, an antitoxin. If the patient is 

 vigorous and of sufficient vitality, enough antitoxin will 

 be secreted to overcome the disease. 



The power of these natural foes of the germ depends 

 on the healthy condition of the body. This fact and 



FIG. 362. An Out-of-door Gymnasium. 



others lead us to these conclusions : that we must keep 

 the skin, all openings of the body, and all food and drink 

 entering the body, clean ; that we must keep the body 

 well fed, rested, and vigorous that it may act naturally 

 against disease (Figure 362). It is only when the body 

 is weakened in some of these respects that the germ is 

 able to thrive sufficiently to bring about disease. 



