Evening star., 1913-12-07


stock with tuberculosis and the other
animal diseases communicable to man.
Metchnikoff's life prolonger-that famed
milk ferment which. according To his
claim. gives great longevity 10 the Bui-
garian peasants being studied by the
dairy division of the bureau OF animal
industry. According TO this great Rus
sian chemist. in Paris. the germ or bacll-
lus causing this ferment produces in mills
something antagonistic TO the putrefac-
tive bacilli forming ferlnents in the in
testinee OF man and causing processes
which hasten old age. The bacteriologists
OF the dairy division are growing this biz
bacillus in milk and are preparing IL &C
cording TO the formula 80 Metchntkor
They are also studying the various other
milk ferments now IN vogue and In de-
mand a. soda fountains. but as Yet they
do not recommend thee use for increas-
ing longevity.
What they do regard life prolong-
er at least a LIE conserver. Is pas
teurized milk. which they have lately
made the subject of thorough study The
chief arguments against pasteurized milk
hitherto have been that while not sour
ing IL would putrefy and then be drunk
by innocents who noting no sour favor.
would think il good Rut these bacteriol-
ogists have proved that properly pasteuE-
ized milk does solr. but undergoes no
other chemical changes In their opin-
ion many lives would be saved in this
We're pasteurized at a temperature OF
40 degrees Fahrenheit for thirty min
utes.
How the lives of many Of us arc being
shortened annually by discase-earrying
insects is being brought more and more
to our attention each year by local
health authorities. To systematically
combat these foes TO human longevity
DR.. L. o. Howard. cfef OF the national
bureau of entomoloEy. has mapped out a
strenuous campaign which NJ will
soon put in force and which he outlined
TO me. This will include studies To de-
wise methods OF controlling the disease
transmitting stable fy: to determine ex-
act requirements for the protection of
individuals plantations against ma
larial mosquitoes: 10 control the tick
which transmits spotted fever. 10 search
for an insect which may transmit pei
lagra, and to study the tick which
causes North American cattle fever.
Pamphlets instructing our people how
best to eradicate from their homes the
flies and mosquitoes which spread ty-
phoid, malaria and yellow fever. and
instructing towns and cities in methods
of fighting disease-carrying insects Of
all sorts have been written by pr. How
ard and distributed broadcast over the
country.
All OF these Iife-prolonging agencies OF
toned, with the exception of the bureau
of public health are bureaus of the De-
partment of Agriculture. That depart
ment through its bureau If publications,
is making a further campaign Tor the
longevity of our people by issuing for free
distribution through congressman of val
liable guides to health in the form or
booklets full and running over with odd
hints on hygiene to householdcrs and
housewives.
The housewife is taught. in one of these.
how to guard her husband and children
against deadly ptomaines and other food
poisons by proper arrangement aud treat
ment of her ice chest. her water cooler
and her cellar She is also taught the
dangers brought by flies. cats and dogs 70
the kitchen; the necessity OF caution In
the use of raw foods, the danger OF
dust in food, and the wisdom of looking
into the condition of the shops, markets
and bakeries which supply her with edi-
bles Another such booklet teaches the
moor mother how to better nourish her
children by more wisely selecting certain
foods higher in nutrition, Yet no more
expensive than those which she now ous
and how to avoid, through false economy.
the dangers of a one-sided diet that Viii
keep her charges thin and weak, and Yet
which will not cut down the food bill.
For the man Of the house similar book
lets give practical hints on methods or
disinfeStng stables. Of building sanitary
outhouses. and of installing home water
supplies and sanitary plumbing where
they can be afforded.
In other words, Uncle Sam is doing al
in his power to force us to be clean and
long-lived And wherever the law OF the
land prevents his improving US BY force.
he has instituted a systematic campaign
of free education.
Copyright, 1913, by John Elfreth Watkins.l