120 KANSAS CITY REVIEW OF SCIENCE. 



children had died in that city, during the thirty years of his practice there, from 

 short sleeves, short pants, and other kindred imprudence in the dressing of 

 children. And I am fully convinced that as large a proportion are sacrificed, in 

 towns ' at least, in this country, from the same cause — all for a wicked fashion. 

 And from careful observation in this country and abroad, I am confident that at 

 least as many more are carried off by improper food and irregularity in taking it, 

 together with poisonous candies and other unwholesome and indigestible trash, 

 that no child or person should eat. 



Many of these, it is true, do not die of diphtheria. But it should be re- 

 membered that all this goes to predispose those not actually killed by depraving 

 the blood and lessening the powers of vital resistance. And hence, when ex- 

 posed to the contagion of diphtheria, or to putrid animal and vegetable exhala- 

 tions, they are the first to take and most liable to die of it. 



Children on attaining the age of accountability, and all other persons, should 

 take plain, nourishing, and digestible food, with strict regularity, and nothing 

 between meals or late at night. Trash, tobacco, intoxicating drinks, cosmetics, 

 hair dyes, dime novels, etc., should be avoided by all. And while the amount 

 of clothing should not be in excess, care should be taken to keep the arms, legs, 

 and feet well protected, and all dress should be adapted to the season. 



The person should be kept clean, without too much fretting of the skin by 

 unnecessary washing, lest the urinary or other excretions should be called to the 

 surface, thereby increasing personal filth, and injuriously deranging the various 

 functions of the body. Sleeping rooms should be as far from the ground as 

 possible ; water should not be allowed in cellars, for a day even ; and no decay- 

 ing vegetables should be kept there. 



Pure air should be allowed to pass into, and foul air out of, sleeping and all 

 other rooms, without admitting dampness, or exposing the occupants to chilly 

 night air more than can be helped. 



No stagnant water should be allowed about a dwelling. And the back 

 yards, where children play, should be kept exquisitely clean. Drains for sinks 

 should be kept in order; and privy vaults should be cleaned out as often as 

 twice a year, lime thrown in at least once a week, and if convenient, dry earth 

 each day. 



Heaps of filth should never be allowed about barns or out-houses. Hen 

 coops, pig-sties, and rabbits' cages, if allowed, should be as far from the house 

 as possible, and kept exquisitely clean ; and no water should be used that could 

 possibly contain decaying animal and vegetable matter. 



Children should not be put to such kinds of labor as would expose them to 

 injuries from filth, damp air, or other injurious influences. And adults should 

 avoid such exposures as far as possible. 



Now, as it was a deviation from all these rules of propriety which has pre- 

 disposed to and kept up diphtheria, and all other kindred diseases, it is only by 

 a return to these laws of health and rules of propriety, in every minute particular, 

 that they are to be prevented and exterminated. And, while all this cannot be 



