the urgent
problems which enter our daily life, such as the prevention of
tuberculosis, typhoid fever, and acute infectious diseases.

Since the observing public have seen educated communities decrease
their death rate from typhoid fever, tuberculosis, and diphtheria from
one third to three fourths by heeding the health call, lawmakers are
becoming convinced that the needless waste of human life should be
stopped. Michigan has already decreed that every school child shall be
taught the cause and prevention of the communicable diseases, and
several other states are contemplating like action. This book meets
fully the demands of all such laws as are contemplated, and presents
the important truths not by dogmatic assertion, but by citing specific
facts appealing to the child mind in such a way as to make a lasting
impression.

After the eleventh year of age, the first cause of death among school
children is tuberculosis. The chief aim of the author has been to show
the child the sure way of preventing this disease and others of like
nature, and to establish an undying faith in the motto of Pasteur, "It
is within the power of man to rid himself of every parasitic disease."

Nearly all of the illustrations used are from photographs and drawings
specially prepared for this book. These, together with the large
amount of material gleaned from original sources and from the author's
experiments in the laboratory, will, it is hoped, make this little
volume worthy of the same generous welcome accorded the two earlier
books of this series.

CONTENTS

CHAPTER PAGE

I. CARING FOR THE HEALTH 9

II. PARTS OF THE BODY 15

III. FEEDING THE BODY 21

IV. FOOD AND HEALTH 30

V. HOW PLANTS SOUR OR SPOIL FOOD 36

VI. MILK MAY BE A FOOD OR A POISON 41

VII. HOW THE BODY USES FOOD 47

VIII. THE CARE OF THE MOUTH 60

IX. ALCOHOLIC DRINKS 68

X. ALCOHOL AND HEALTH 74

XI. TOBACCO AND THE DRUGS WHICH INJURE THE
HEALTH 78

XII. THE SKIN AND BATHING