COMMUNITY SANITATION 42o 



and clothing. In this way the disease may be passed on 

 long after quarantine has been lifted. 



When the diphtheria germ enters the body, it produces 

 a poison (toxin) which causes the severe illness. Imme- 

 diately the body begins to produce a substance which is 

 called antitoxin. If the body is able to produce sufficient 

 antitoxin, the patient does not succumb to the disease. 

 In cases where the antitoxin produced by the patient is 

 not sufficient to counteract the toxin, a liquid called 

 diphtheria antitoxin is introduced into the blood. With 

 this help the disease is made much less severe and if tjte 

 antitoxin be taken as soon as one is exposed, theydisease 

 is often prevented entirely. Since the use of/antita 

 has become general the percentage of fieaths/rom cfiph- 

 theria has been very much smaller. 



Pneumonia. Pneumonia, one of our most fatal dis- 

 eases, spreads in practically the same way as colds and 

 throat infections. Its action is quite rapid. Pneumonia 

 germs may be found in the throats of almost all people ; 

 but as long as the body is strong and vigorous, it is able 

 to resist them. It is when the system is weakened by 

 cold or some minor disease that the germs are able to 

 do their work. Keeping our bodies in the best possible 

 condition is the only effective means of preventing this 

 disease. 



Tuberculosis. " The Great White Plague " costs the 

 United States many lives each year, and millions of dollars 

 in caring for its patients. Tuberculosis or consumption 

 is caused by germs which lodge in and attack any part of 

 the body, bony, muscular, or mucous. Those that 

 affect the lungs probably reach them through the ali- 

 mentary canal and the blood. 



Most of the people in the world are attacked by the 



