disease germs enter. Thus tuberculosis is
especially prevalent among stone cutters, felt workers, and others
engaged in dusty trades. Metallic dust is especially harmful, because it
is harder and sharper than dust from organic substances like wool and
cotton. Furthermore, presence of dust indicates a low standard of
cleanliness. People who tolerate it generally tolerate uncleanliness in
other forms, more serious though less apparent.

Cleaning would not be so great a problem if most houses were not
littered with such dust catchers as carpets, so-called ornaments, carved
and upholstered furniture, banners, draperies, and a vast collection of
articles that can only be classified as Christmas presents. In actual
practice things that are difficult or expensive to clean seldom are
cleaned; carpets for example are considered unhygienic, not because they
cannot be cleaned, but because they are not. William Morris' advice to
exclude from houses all articles not known to be useful or believed to
be beautiful would, if followed, add years to the lives of housekeepers.

GARBAGE, has little bearing on health, except in so far as it affords a
breeding place for flies. If it contains disease germs it may be
dangerous, but statistics show that garbage handlers, although they can
hardly be called especially careful, are not more subject to sickness
than other men of their class. Garbage disposal is chiefly a question of
preventing a public nuisance; it is a matter of cleanliness and public
decency.

INSECTS.--Flies, cockroaches, and other scavenging insects may carry
disease germs on their feet and thus infect food on which they walk.
Typhoid, cholera, dysentery, and other diseases have been carried by
flies. Flies are always a menace, and should not be tolerated; moreover,
the thought of their coming to food directly from manure piles and privy
vaults is disgusting. Houses should be thoroughly screened in the fly
season, but it is better to destroy the nuisance at its source. The
chief breeding places of flies are garbage cans and manure piles. If
the garbage can is water tight, closely covered, frequently emptied, and
thoroughly cleaned, flies will not develop in it; about ten days must
elapse from the time when the egg is laid until the insect is ready to
fly. Fly traps to fit on the garbage can are useful. Manure should be
screened and removed frequently, or it can be treated chemically.
Methods for treating it are given in "Pre