19.The fire department is carefully organized.It is managed in some cities by a board ，consisting of several men appointed for that purpose；in others，by one man，the firemarshal .Enginehouses are distributed over the city，and men and horses are always ready at a moment‘s warning to race to a fire with the fireengine.When a fire is discovered the alarm is given by an electric bell which sounds in the nearest enginehouses.It is only a few minutes after the alarm sounds before several streams of water are playing on the burning building.
20.The Care of Health.The health department in a city is one of which in “the goo4old times”centuries ago people did not dream.But today no city of a civilized country neglects care for the public health.When people are crowded together in masses，as they are in our cities，many diseases are caused by the very fact of the crowded life.The garbage and refuse of families and hotels and stables collect very fast，and unless carried away promptly，are sure to fester and reek with the germs of typhoid and other deadly pestilences.Then，if a contagious or infectious disease breaks out it spreads with frightful rapidity when so many people live near together.
21.The Plague in London.Only a short time before the great fire destroyed so much of London that city was the victim of a frightful plague.“In the filthy cities of those days plagues were not uncommon，and in the narrow streets of London，where the upper stories of the houses almost touched，and the clay floors were covered with rotting straw，food，and dirt，a hot summer always brought more or less pestilence.The summer of 1665was hot beyond all experience.In May the plague，which had been raging on the continent，broke out in London，and went on increasing all the summer，till in Septemberfifteen hundred persons died in one day and twentyfour thousand in three weeks.On door after door the red cross appeared to mark the plague within，while the dead cart，with its muffled bell，passed along at night，and the cry，’Bring out your dead，‘sounded through the stillness of the almost deserted streets.King，courtiers，members of parliament，even doctors and clergy，fled from the plaguestricken city.With the winter the plague died away，after more than one hundred thousand persons had perished.”
22.This pestilence was so fearful in its effects because the city was so dirty，because the doctors were so ignorant，and because almost nothing was done to prevent the spread of sickness.
23.In a wellordered modern city great pains are taken by the health department to prevent the beginning or spread of disease which may lead to such results.Inspectors cause the removal of dead animals or decaying rubbish.Other inspectors examine meats and fruits and vegetables brought into the city，and sometimes condemn and cause to be thrown away entire carloads of unwholesome stuff.If a case of contagious disease occurs，like diphtheria or scarlet fever，the house is at once “quarantined”that is，a placard is posted up and people are warned to keep away.In a very bad case，like that of smallpox，the health officers remove the patient to the public hospital the “pesthouse，”it is often called.
24.All this work is generally managed by a board of health，consisting of several men，usually doctors，and in many cities appointed by the mayor.
25.In a large city there are other departments of the government.One sees to the supply of water，which is brought in great pipes from some lake or river.The water has to be abundant，as so much is needed for drinking and cooking and washing，and for putting out fires.And it is very important for the water to be pure，as impure water is one of the commonest causes of dangerous fevers.Still another department manages the great drainage system of the city，building and keeping in order the sewers which carry off the liquid filth，which is so dangerous if allowed to remain.Still other city officers keep many wagons busy hauling away the garbage and ashes and other rubbish，which wouldchoke the sewers.And others see to paving the streets and to keeping the pavements in good repair.