68 VEGETABLE PAEASITES 



one to another. Thus the following has been ob- 

 served : a rat or mouse gets a vegetable fungus 

 growing upon its skin and hair ; this is commu- 

 nicated to the cat, which catches and plays with 

 the animal ; the child handling the cat becomes 

 thereby affected, and finally the parents or nurse, 

 from the infant. The peculiar contagious charac- 

 ter of parasitic disease is, as we have said, best 

 shown by children's schools, foundling hospitals, 

 and the like institutions. 



Finally, we hear some one ask how do any of 

 us escape the planting, germination, and ravages 

 of these vegetable parasites, since, when present, 

 they are so contagious and so readily transplanted, 

 and moreover are so innumerable in earth, air and 

 water. It is in truth difficult to answer this, 

 otherwise than as we have above : namely, that, 

 like all other seeds, few find a suitable place to 

 develop; i. e., quiet, warmth, and moisture to- 

 gether. Moreover, the continual throwing off of 

 effete material from the surface of the skin must 

 rid us of thousands of spores which are ready to 

 germinate. The most potent means of preven- 

 tion, however, is the continual brushiug, combing, 

 and shampooing the hair, and of scrubbing the 



