The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1903-11-13
Precautions to Be Observed in Com
municabIe Diseases.

municable Diseases.
In Michigan the most dangerous
communicable diseases, named in the
order of their Importance as causes OF
deaths during the ten years ending In
1897, were consumption, pneumonia,
influenza ia grippe), diphtheria, ty-
phoid fever, scarlet fever, measles,
whooping- cough and smallpox.
The direct causes Of the diseases are
microorganisms found in sputa and
nasal discharges. That it is usually
the sick alone who'are bearers of these
microorganisms, but that the Sputa
and nasal discharges OF the we'll some
times contain them. That they may
be harmless until certain meteorologi-
Cal conditions arise which enable them
to obtain access to the bronchial tubes,
the tonsils, the meninges, or other
organs where they produce abnormal
conditions of the tissues, or fluids, and
elaborate poisonS which may destroy
health or life. The organisms are in
the infected air breathed into the
mouth. This air and these substances
may have become infected by means
OF the sputa or nasal discharges not
only of sufferers from these diseases,
but also sof those apparently well.
The atmosphere is liable to contami-
nation from these sources, for 1T is
continually taking up and waiting
through homes, schools, public halls
and conveyances, shops and stores, the
millions of organisms which may be
contained in each drop ofsputum with
which 1t comes in contact.
Our present knowledge leads to the
belief that the organisms Of these dis
eases contained in sputa and nasal dis
charges are The most frequent cause of
each case of consumption, pneumonia,
influenza, tonsilitis and diphtheria,
and Indirectly OF many other diseases.
Gould these dangerous sputa and dis
charges all be destroyed as soon as
elected, a great portion OF these dis
eases would soon disappear. Believ-
ing this to be true, we are confronted
with the practical problem OF how this
may be done either wholly or in some
large degree. Probably these diseases
are not usually caught or contracted
except through some break in the skin
or;in the mucous membrane llDing
some cavity. Such breaks or ulcera'
tiops occur not infrequently in the
throat at those seasons OF the year
when the atmosphere is what is known
as "raw," that is, when it contains the
throat irritant ozone, and when it Is
irritating by reason Of lis drying effect
in cold, windy weather. The nose is
so constructed, and so guarded by the
exhaled breath and by secretions, thai
very little dust among which disease:
producing organisms may be present
is permitted to pass beyond 1t, so Ions
as that organ is In its normal condi
tion. knowledge of the dangers which
may Turk in sputa and In the dis
charges from the nose should go fal
UOWdlu ubC DOluuiO1 w UllC pIODlCAh "
how people may be induced to refrain
from communicating air with these dis
charges. In the solution Of this prob
lem the influence OF the teachers IN
our schools should be most potent
They may and should impress upon tn,
minds Of thu youth who are unde
their charge that splitting upon floors
sidewalks or other places where gar
ment5 or the atmosphere may thercb
become injected is not only a filth,
habit but 1t Is, besides, dangerous t,
health aud life The common use b.
pupils Of pencils, chewing gum, drink
ing cups or any other articles likely II
be placed ia their mouths should b
DISCOURAGED, and the danger OF sucl
practices explained.
What's the secret of happy, vigol
ous healthH Simply keeping the bowel.