296 IMPROVEMENT OF AIAX'S ENVIRONMENT 



pests, such as the roach, staj^ onh^ where thej^ find dirt and food 

 abundant. 



Use of Ice. — Food should be properly cared for at all times. 

 During the summer, especially where children live, iceboxes are a 

 necessity, in order to keep milk fresh. Experiments made with 

 good fresh milk, which at the first observation contained about 

 30,000 bacteria per ctibic centimeter, showed that twent^^-four hours 

 later, if kept at the tem- 



perature of the average 

 icebox (about 50° Fahren- 

 heit) there were about the 

 same nmnber of bacteria 

 present ; while some of the 

 same milk exposed to a 

 temperature of 68° Fah- 

 renheit showed 500,000,000 

 bacteria to the cubic centi- 

 meter. 



Home Water Supplies. 

 — We have already learned 

 why water which comes 

 from a shallov\' well or im- 

 protected spring should be 

 carefull}^ tested and pro- 

 tected against pollution. 

 City water supplies like- 

 wise need to be tested at 

 regular intervals. Ice to 

 be used in drinking water 

 should be carefulh^ washed, for experiments show that although 

 nearly all bacteria in ice are killed after storage of a few weeks, yet 

 some disease germs are occasionall}^ found on the outside of pieces 

 of ice because of careless handling. Water coolers and filters are 

 usually traps for bacteria and are often dangers rather than aids in 

 sanitary living. ^Moreover, a water cooler in a house usually is 

 accompanied by a common drinking cup, which is imsanitary. 



Disposal of Wastes. — In country homes where cesspools receive 

 human wastes, care should be used in selecting their location and 



Tne wrong and the right kind of garbage cans. 



