Steps to Exercise — Page 53
- 53 - GERMS Dark and dirty conditions produce microscopic beings that cannot be seen by the naked eye. These are called germs and bacteria. They are directly responsible for the spread of many diseases. They are so minute that their population concentration can be as much as ten billion in one drop of water and they are so light that even two hundred billion of them will weigh less than a grain of a poppy seed. They can only be seen through microscopes that can magnify them many thousand times. In spite of being so tiny, they are so dangerous and fatal that they can eliminate nations from the face of this earth in days or weeks. These bacteria are concentrated in the faeces of sick patients, dirt from the eyes, infections from wounds, runny noses or phlegm from the chest. The strongest defence against these dangerous creatures are cleanliness, fresh air and sunshine. A Dangerous and Hidden Enemy of Mankind Everyone knows about the scale of destruction caused by wars and human strife yet often people ignore their most dangerous enemies within. These opponents continue to wage an unending war against humanity. One such dangerous adversary is the common household y. This innocent looking ying insect apparently causes us no discomfort except annoying us with its fast apping wings. The same innocent looking, apparently harmless, insect has caused such devastations in human history that even weapons of mass destruction and wars cannot match it. Cholera, diarrhoea, dysentery, chickenpox, smallpox, typhoid are few of the epidemics that have been caused by this insect. The ies land on our food and on sensitive parts of our skin like dive-bombers and leave behind bacteria and germs to multiply and spread various diseases. You may be surprised to know that in India alone, more people die every year due to the epidemics spread by these ies than died in the wars with Pakistan. It is best to write to the Department of Health and get details for the prevention of these illnesses and epidemics.