854 MICROBIOLOGY OF DISEASES OF MAN AND DOMESTIC ANIMALS 



trolling infectious'diseases are very simple^ but in practice the individual 

 cannot be trusted to avoid spreading his discharges, partly from ignor- 

 ance, partly from carelessness, often from mere ingrained bad habits 

 regatrding the disposal of discharges, especially those of nose and mouth, 

 indulged unconsciously by those who both know how and mean to be 

 careful. 



This would matter little were the infected persons always so sick as 

 to be confined to the house or to bed, especially if during such confine- 

 ment their discharges were under strict surveillance by scientific trained 

 nurses. 



But since many, perhaps half, of the infected persons are not sick 

 enough (if sick at all) even to remain at home; since, also, even severe 

 cases, under surveillance in bed during the height of the attack, have a 

 prodromal stage and a convalescent stage during which they are going 

 about although infective, it is not hard to see that the population of 

 any community is Ukely to embrace at any time infective persons at 

 large — ^persons who may or may not be aware of their own condition. 



Theoretically and practically, then, the official control of infectious 

 diseases must begin with the blanket assumption that the discharges 

 of every individual must be confined to himself and especially prevented 

 from reaching, through any public utiHty, the mouths of other citizens. 

 Official control of the exchange of discharges by the individual within 

 the family and in the absence of any specific proof that the discharges 

 are infective, is impossible, although through various agencies the indi- 

 vidual ftiay be urged to that end. The moment, however, that the 

 individual or the family engage in any occupation which permits them 

 to inflict their discharges upon others, especially through food or milk, 

 that moment should the individual or family come under official 

 cognizance, their methods be inspected and their infectiveness esti- 

 mated. The same arguments apply to aggregations of individuals 

 from different famihes. So long as private meetings are held, it is 

 difficult to supervise or prevent exchange, of discharges. But public 

 and especially compulsory meetings, at school, at church, at theatre, 

 etc., should receive official attention. Provision should be made con- 

 cerning all such meetings that they be held only in suitable places, 

 without overcrowding. The exclusion by the officers, attendants, or the 

 general public of all known to be infected or suspedted [of infection 

 and of all who more openly disregard ordinary rules of decency in the 



