Diseases which ma}^ be communicated
from one person to another, or from an ani-
mal to a man, are known as infectious dis-
eases. Some of these, such as itch, lice,
ringworm, hydrophobia, and a few others,
require actual contact with a diseased per-
son or animal, and so are called contagious
diseases. Some of the ot»her infectious dis-
eases, though actually transmitted in a dif-
ferent way, may also be conve3'ed by touch.
Animal Parasites. — The commonest at-
tacking the external parts, such as fleas,
bugs, lice, and mosquitoes, are generally
well known. They cause much irritation,
with small lumps on the skin, and scratch-
ing leaves many marks on the body. The
itch insect is ver\^ minute and microscopic,
but as the female burrows under the skin
and lays her eggs, small papules and pus-
tules form, with very great irritatioti, and
the body may be almost covered with an
unsightly eruption. This disease can be
communicated by touch to others. The
head louse attacks the hair, and may be
seen crawling about, or its eggs or " nits ' '
can be seen fixed on to the hairs themselves.
It causes much irritation, eruptions on the
head, and lumps at the back of the neck.
Some insects are also of injur}- as con-
vej^ers of germ diseases. For instance, it is
now known that the germs of malaria and
yellow-fever are largely, if not solely, car-
ried by mosquitoes. Flies also carry some
diseases from one person to another, especi-
ally oph th a Ini ia .
The animal parasites attacking the in-
ternal parts of the body are numerous. The
commonest are tape-worms which get into
the body with diseased meat of the cow or
pig, and cause much irritation from their
presence in tlie small intestine ; the common
round worm, about twelve inches long,
which also lives in the small intestine ; and
thread or seat worms in the lower part of the
larofe intestine, causin":
great
discomfort.
Very rarely in this country the tricliina gets
into the intestines and muscles of man from
diseased pork. It is not easily killed or ex-
pelled if it has once got into the body. The
other worms mentioned may be easily expel-
led by simple medicines, and any discomfort
5^\S
I02
THE FAMILY DOCTOR
which they may have caused is thus re-
moved. Another internal animal parasite,
which is fortunately not ver}^ common, is
the "bladder" form of the tape-worm of
the dog. This bladder may begin to grow
in some organ (generally the liver) of the
human body, and cause great suffering, and
even death, from its large size. It can only
be removed effectually by a surgical oper-
ation .
Vegetable Parasites. — These are all
very minute, and only visible by the micro-
scope, and their presence on or in the body
is onl}^ judged from the diseases which they
set up. They attack either the external or
internal parts of the body. They may be
all included under the one head of germs or
micro-organisms. These are small, gener-
ally microscopic organisms of the lowest
forms of vegetable life.
Page 248
Presented as published in 1901. Historical recipes may not meet modern food-safety standards. Cook from the modern interpretation, not the original instructions.
AI-modernized reading of the original text
Diseases which may be communicated from one person to another, or from an animal to a man, are known as infectious diseases. Some of these, such as itch, lice, ringworm, hydrophobia, and a few others, require actual contact with a diseased person or animal, and so are called contagious diseases. Some of the ot»her infectious diseases, though actually transmitted in a different way, may also be conveyed by touch.
Animal Parasites. — The commonest attacking the external parts, such as fleas, bugs, lice, and mosquitoes, are generally well known. They cause much irritation, with small lumps on the skin, and scratching leaves many marks on the body. The itch insect is very minute and microscopic, but as the female burrows under the skin and lays her eggs, small papules and pustules form, with very great irritation, and the body may be almost covered with an unsightly eruption. This disease can be communicated by touch to others. The head louse attacks the hair, and may be seen crawling about, or its eggs or " nits ' ' can be seen fixed on to the hairs themselves. It causes much irritation, eruptions on the head, and lumps at the back of the neck.
Some insects are also of injury as conveyers of germ diseases. For instance, it is now known that the germs of malaria and yellow-fever are largely, if not solely, carried by mosquitoes. Flies also carry some diseases from one person to another, especially ophthalmia .
The animal parasites attacking the internal parts of the body are numerous. The commonest are tape-worms which get into the body with diseased meat of the cow or pig, and cause much irritation from their presence in the small intestine ; the common round worm, about twelve inches long, which also lives in the small intestine ; and thread or seat worms in the lower part of the
large intestine, causing great discomfort.
Very rarely in this country the tricliina gets into the intestines and muscles of man from diseased pork. It is not easily killed or expelled if it has once got into the body. The other worms mentioned may be easily expelled by simple medicines, and any discomfort which they may have caused is thus removed. Another internal animal parasite, which is fortunately not very common, is the "bladder" form of the tape-worm of the dog. This bladder may begin to grow in some organ (generally the liver) of the human body, and cause great suffering, and even death, from its large size. It can only be removed effectually by a surgical operation .
Vegetable Parasites. — These are all very minute, and only visible by the microscope, and their presence on or in the body is only judged from the diseases which they set up. They attack either the external or internal parts of the body. They may be all included under the one head of germs or micro-organisms. These are small, generally microscopic organisms of the lowest forms of vegetable life.