The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1908-02-19

synopsis Of Address 70 Normal stu
dents on Bseterloloay and Germ
Life, by prof. c. Harry sehef, Head
Of the Department Of Science.
(Reported By Oliver shurteffl

(Reported by Oliver Shurtletf)
The possibility of taking germs into
our systems is made plain to every
body by the statement that each par
ticIe OF air is full of and teeming with
life. germ life, and when foods come
in contact with air they become load
ed with some Of these germs.
Germs and disease are taken into
the system in three distinct ways
through the air that we breathe, the
liquid food that we drink, including
water. and through the solid foods.
The most dread disease taken into the
system through the air is tuberculosis
or consumption. Through water most
any disease can be taken into the sys'
tenn, and IT is a prevalent means by
which the typhoid fever germs attack
the system.
The modern habit or custom In Am
erica of disposing of the sewerage OF
a town. about a mile below the city
into the river, and obtaining the wat
er supply about mile above the city
Tor Iess) very specifically aids the
typhus germs in their work. because
by this method what one town throws
away. the next town on the river gets.
The possibility Of sickness through
water can very largely be remedIed by
boiling and altering. AS matter of
fact, germs in both air and water are
easily killed.
The third way in which germs force
an entrance into the system is by
means of the solid foods. It might be
we'll to state that all solid foods, more
or less, are infected with, little ami
mails, microscopic in size to be sure,
but that great many OF them are
harmless, since there may be and Of
ten is in the same foods germs that
are antagonistic to each other. This
includes the meats and fruits and such
foods as come from these. butter,
cheese, etc. Germ life is most favor.
able to growth in summer. or where it
is warm. in winter time they are more
or less inactive. Things spoil" in
summer time quicker than in winter.
not because 1t is warm. but because of
the activity of the germs which in
fest the food. The taking in OF the
germs into the body produces heat
or fever called toxin. In these mod
em times we have remedies for these
in the different anti-toxins which are
much in vogue. The body itself also
tends to combat this toxin.
Hearing. as We do, all the advice
about infected air, infected water. in
fected food, etc. one is apt to believe
perhaps. 81 shall drink no water.
breathe no air. and eat no food. that
might get healthy"
We will not need to follow out this
regime, but by adherence to two sim
pie rules we may largely overcome the
effects of germ life. First, have care
as to what we take into the system
through food and drink. and, second,
keep the body In good physical condi-
ton by means OF exercise. If the body
is in good physical condition one is
more able to Withstand the ravages OF
disease. or even to ward them OF. The
value of the exercise lies in that fact
that through the physical activity en-
gagged in the dross and unreasonable
is burned up and ont of the body.
When breathing the air, let us be-
ware that our rooms have air in them
and not atmosphere; use good ventila.
tlon. Good clean air can only come
by sensible sanitation indoors by
clean room and homes: outdoors by
clean pavements. streets and lots. II
a city has in its center a vacant lot
Or a raVine, and the raviue between
the Third and Fourth wards of our
city of Fairmont might be mentioned
as an example, do not use 1t as con-
venient place to dump all sorts of
garbage during the winter months, be.
cause in the warm days of summer
they will rapidly decay and become