Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1919-08-29
Must Defend Against Them
With Weapons Science
Has Given Us
TO PREVENT DISEASE
Clean Life, Careful Observance Laws
of Hygine Affords Armor That is
Almost Invulnerable.

There is no royal road to health
Eternal vigilance, not only is the
price of liberty but also the price OF
health. We are at all times sur
rounded by invisible, though none the
less deadly enemies, in the form OF
disease germs or bacteria, as we call
them. These organisms are simply
single-celled microscopic plants, the
smallest form of plant life we know
of. So minute are they, that it is on
ly by magnifying them million or
more times, we are able to see them
at all. Not all germs are patho-
genie, that is, able to cause diseases
It is a good thing for the human race
that this is so, otherwise we would
not have even chance. There are
many thousand kinds of bacteria
found in the air, water and earth and
in the blood, secretions and juices OF
all forms of animal and plant life.
No life could exist without their aid.
It is, however, only with such Of the
forms that cause disease that viii be
dealt with here.
If it were possible for the human
race to scatter and each individual
go away off and live entirely alcne.
the germs causing typhoid fever, tu-
berculosis, pneumonia, diphtheria,
syphilis and other communicable dis
eases, would soon die out. But as we
cannot do that, we must defend our
selves the best we can with the weap-
ons science has provided, and which
experience has proved effective
How little thought we give to tn'
care of our own bodies. The man with
a 'tin. Ilizzy" will spend a good por-
ton of his time trying to learn just
how the thing works. He will strain
his gasoline, and use only the best
uualty of lubricating oil; he will soon
become: able to talk gibly about 'the
carbosretor, magnetic. universal jo.int
and differential. But; just ask him to
tell something about the; :1construc-'
ton and functions of his own body,
and its principal organs and what will
he say?:ssAssmanswiH stuff anything
that looks like food into his inteI:or'
and drink ! old any thing that locks ,.aI
like liaufd-more particularly if he
thinks. it has, a kick-and go on his
way rejoicing, at least until some or
gan gives ways under the abuse, theE
he wonders what could possibly caus
the. trouble, and is firmly. convinced
thst be is living in a hard cruel world
and has never been given fair deal
He is very particular about the breed
/. ing and care! of his horses, cattle
hogs and dogs, but if his daughter
has the chance to marry sclal
sion with plenty of money, band leg;
and a narrow chest, not to mention
as constructed intellect; he thinks;,it is
alright; and. "a fine catch for the girl
Most disease. producing germs arc
able to, gain a foothold. in the hnma,
body, only. when its normal vitality
is reduced: below the safety poin:
from one cause or another. Our nor
NAL powers of resistance are in mos;
cases, reduced by our own careless.
ness in. eating and drinking, loss o.
sleep ard general nervous strain III
cident to modern social and business
life, and our personal habits in gen
eral. A clean life, the careful obsarv.
ance of the simple laws of santa
tion and personal hygiene, affords
an srmor that is almost invulnerabls
to the shafts of disease. Never use :
common towel, common drinking, cuI
pr any article in eomon use, tha
may transmit disease germs, unles:
1t has been thoroughly cleaned sine;
last used. Germs are passed from en-!
Individual to another either by dircc
contact, or indirectly by contaminatc,
articles or infected food or drink
Self preservation is natuce's firc
law. Keep tla- veil in Minis
The man who laughs at these things
deceives no body but himself!