TRANSMISSION OF DISEASE THROUGH THE AIR
[Sidenote: Disease germs in the air]
We take germs into our bodies with the air that we breathe. Since
we cannot stop breathing and live, we must see to it that the air
we breathe is kept pure.
[Illustration: FIG. 47. (a) Prevalence of germs in air of thickly
populated districts. (b) Prevalence of germs in air of sparsely
populated districts.]
There are always more germs in the air of places in which people
live closely crowded together than where there are only a few
people. This is proved by Figure 47, which shows that many more
germs were found on a culture plate exposed in the downtown part of
New York City than on another plate exposed far uptown, where there
are not so many people. Remember, however, that all germs are not
disease germs.
[Sidenote: How we may keep disease germs out of the air:]
How do the disease germs get into the air? When one sneezes, a
spray of droplets is thrown into the air. If the person sneezing
has the grip, these droplets contain the germs that cause grip.
Whenever a person with consumption coughs, he sprays droplets which
contain the germs that cause consumption.
[Sidenote: (_1_) When coughing or sneezing]
If a person would hold a handkerchief before his mouth when he
coughs or sneezes, these droplets of moisture would not be sprayed
into the air, and the disease germs in them would not be scattered
about. You ask, "Shall everyone who is sick hold a handkerchief
before the mouth when sneezing or coughing?" Everyone, whether
sick or well, ought to hold a handkerchief before the mouth when
sneezing or coughing. Learn to do this at once, and never forget it.
[Sidenote: (_2_) When spitting]
Another way by which disease germs get into the air is from the
sputum. People spit on the floor or the sidewalk, and the sputum
becomes dried; it is then blown about as dust. The germs of disease
are not killed by drying, and when they get into our bodies with
the dust which we breathe in, they immediately begin to grow.
Disease germs get into the air chiefly through careless habits of
coughing, sneezing, and spitting, and these careless habits can
easily be prevented.
[Sidenote: Why well people should not spit on floor or sidewalk]
A boy once said that if he saw a consumptive spit on the sidewalk,
he would want to hit him, and to emphasize his remarks he spat
on the floor of the room, just as you have seen boys spit on the
ground when they were thinking of fighting. There might have been
some germs of consumption in the sputum this boy left on the floor.
Of course he was very positive that he did not have consumption,
but this was no proof that his sputum was free from the germs of
this disease.
Remember that it is not only the sick who should never spit on
the floor or sidewalk, but that no person should ever spit on
any floor or sidewalk, or into any place except into a cuspidor,
handkerchief, or spit-cup of some kind. If you spit into a
handkerchief, a paper napkin, or a bit of cloth, be sure to burn it
as soon as you can, before it becomes dry.
=Questions.= 1. In what places do we find germs most abundant in
the air? 2. How do well-bred people avoid putting disease germs
into the air? 3. Why is it important for well people to take the
same precautions as sick people?
=Remember.= 1. Every person should hold a handkerchief before
the face when coughing or sneezing. 2. Never spit except into a
cuspidor, handkerchief, spit-cup, or other special receptacle.
3. If well people will practice clean habits, the sick will be
helped and encouraged to follow their example. 4. Remember: No
spit, no consumption.