VmiAND THE GOOD 



nearly exterminated by tuberculosis, the 

 scourge of this coast. At first sight it seems 

 strange that, in a country where the air is so 

 pure, tuberculosis should be so common, but 

 the cause is not far to seek. The houses are 

 small, the rooms crowded, and the doors and 

 windows are tightly closed for reasons that 

 appeal very forcibly to the people. In sum- 

 mer the mosquitoes swarm, and nettings are 

 practically unknown on the coast; in winter 

 the cold is severe and warmth must be con- 

 served. All ignorant people prefer to crowd 

 together and dislike all ventilation. The an- 

 cestors of the most hygienic people in the 

 world followed the same methods a short time 

 ago. The habit of spitting is, however, the 

 chief offense and a cause of the prevalence of 

 this disease. Dr. George W. Corner has vividly 

 described the situation. He says: "Spitting 

 is the national sport of the fisherman, both 

 indoors and out; and, when practiced by an 

 infected man, in a tight, overheated, one-room 

 shack, among a family of underfed children, 

 the result may be imagined." He also says 

 that "in the absence of statistics it has been 

 estimated that one death in three in Newfound- 



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