BACTERIA AND DISEASE. 
The group of cells from which the muscular 
system is made up, by their united action, called 
into play by nerves, produce our movements. 
Another group of cells forms the liver, and har¬ 
monious action of this group is necessary in 
order that impurities be removed from the blood. 
Certain fluids which are essential to the welfare 
of the body are also manufactured by this 
group. The brain is composed of another group 
of cells of a different type; from these thought 
and intelligence emanate, and from still another 
group is composed the nerves which convey mes¬ 
sages to and fro between the brain and the outer 
world and so on. 
As nurses, then, let us grasp this thought that 
“disease is a derangement of the structures or 
functions of the body,” and in order that the 
human structure remain healthy, there must be 
harmonious action between separate types or 
groups of cells. If one group fails to work har¬ 
moniously, then comes a disturbance of the har¬ 
mony of the other groups, and because of this 
disturbance there comes disease. For example: 
If there is trouble in the nervous system then, 
too, we find the digestive system is affected, and 
vice versa. So we may go on through the other 
systems and find them all more or less dependent 
one upon another. 
The causes of disease are many and varied. 
One of the most serious causes, as revealed 
by scientific research, is the invasion of the dif¬ 
ferent organs and systems of the human structure 
by a species of bacteria; these it has been proven 
produce the so-called infectious diseases. So 
much has been said and written on “the relation 
Action of 
Various Cells. 
Brain and 
Nerve Cells. 
Definition of 
Disease. 
Bacteria a 
Cause of 
Disease. 
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