512 GENERAL SCIENCE 



to pick them up and dispose of them in a safe place, to insure the 

 safety of the community. 



Electric Wires. Electric wires which are not well insulated cause 

 many fires. We should be sure that all wires which lead to lamps, 

 vacuum cleaners, etc., are well insulated, and are not left near 

 material which would take fire if a short circuit occurred in the wire. 

 When leaving the home for a period of weeks or months, the elec- 

 tricity should be turned off from the house, since the wires might 

 cause fire during this time. 



Open Holes, Pits, Cellarways, etc. Many accidents have been 

 caused by leaving manholes open, around which no iron railing has 

 been placed. Cellarways with entrances to the sidewalk should be 

 carefully guarded when open. Only those who are working about 

 manholes and open places in the street should be allowed to stand 

 near them, for frequently plumbers will be found there using their 

 small gasoline furnaces. Children have been hurt or seriously 

 injured by the explosion of one of these furnaces, or have accidentally 

 overturned the furnace and been terribly burned in the eyes and 

 elsewhere by the molten metal. 



Obstacles in the Path. All boxes, sticks, boards, pipes, wire and 

 other obstacles in the path where people walk should be picked up. 

 Such things may cause very serious injury. Broken knee-caps, 

 ruptured blood vessels in the leg, concussion of the brain, and bad 

 cuts on the face and scalp have been suffered by people who tripped 

 over such material. 



Flying Objects. Care should be taken to see that all tools used 

 have the handles securely fastened on. A hammer head flying from 

 the handle may cause a terrible injury. A loose axe-handle may 

 mean the loss of someone's life. A little attention to these things 

 which are used every day will prevent a great deal of pain and 

 suffering. 



QUESTIONS 

 



1. What should be done if the stopcock - on the gas fixture turns 



too easily? Why? 



2. Why should the gas always be turned out beyond the rubber 

 or silk hose? 



