424 GENERAL SCIENCE 



Colds. - - The spreading of infectious diseases may be 

 prevented more easily if we understand something of the 

 nature of each. A cold, considered quite harmless by the 

 majority of people, is one of our serious diseases, and is 

 brought on by bacteria. It lowers the resisting power of 

 the body and often leads to more serious infections of 

 throat and lungs such as tonsillitis, bronchitis, pneu- 

 monia, diphtheria, etc. Bacteria of colds are found in 

 the nose, mouth, throat, and eyes. They are communi- 

 cated in tiny drops by coughing, sneezing, and blowing 

 the nose. They may be carried on handkerchiefs, or on 

 anything that comes in contact with the secretions of 

 mouth and nose, such as towels and drinking cups. One 

 of the most dangerous spreaders of nose and throat affec- 

 tions is the disgusting habit of spitting in public places. 

 The multitude of germs thrown out in spitting, dry and 

 become mingled with the dust and are able to live in that 

 state for several months, to the great danger of those who 

 must breathe the dust. 



Diphtheria. One of the most dreaded diseases, espe- 

 cially for children, is diphtheria. If a child has a croupy 

 cough which persists during the day, and on examina- 

 tion the throat shows small grayish white patches, a 

 physician should be summoned at once. The danger 

 is too great for home doctoring. Membranous croup, for- 

 merly considered an entirely separate disease, is now known 

 to be diphtheria which has invaded the larynx. 



Diphtheria germs are scattered by coughing and by dis- 

 charges from the nose and throat. Too great care cannot 

 be taken in disinfecting or burning all garments and cloths 

 used about the diphtheria patient. In the throats of 

 patients who have recovered from diphtheria the germs 

 may be active for months and infect food, dishes, towels, 



