Remember. 1. It is a proved fact that diseases are transmitted to man by the bites of mosquitoes and wood-ticks. 2. It is possible to do away with both the mosquito and the wood-tick almost completely, although it requires a great deal of work and the expenditure of a large amount of money. 3. Health is the most valuable thing we have, and it is foolish to hesitate in giving the work and money necessary to exterminate disease-bearing insects, as well as the many other causes of sickness.
[CHAPTER XXII]
HOW TO KEEP GERMS OUT OF WOUNDS
How germs get through the skin
Germs get into our bodies through breaks in the skin. These breaks may be made by a cut or a scratch, by the bite of an insect, or even by the pulling out of a hair. There are some special germs, such as those which cause yellow fever, which are introduced by the bite of an insect; but at present we will consider only those germs that would naturally enter through any break in the skin.
Fig. 50. Small, deep wounds are very liable to become infected.
Effect of germs in wounds
The skin of the human body acts as an armor against certain germs that are constantly trying to get through it. There are several germs of this class. Some of them cause white pus, or matter, but this is the least dangerous kind of all. Another kind causes boils or even blood poisoning, and another kind causes erysipelas.