The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1898-03-16

ing hands. He says:
s.That the surface Of the human body
is very hotbed for the propagation OF
a great variety Of micro-organisms
Fuerbinger, Mittman, Bizzozero Ma
giora and Welch have eiucidated most
conclusively. 1t is certainly beyond the
shadow Of doubt that in the presence
of predisposing factor and sometimes
even without that the microbic diseases
are ushered into existence by their indi-
vidual prototypes, this being essentially
brought about by contact in some way
of the two contingent forces. Modern
surgery is founded on this principle.
The carefulness with which we prepare
our hands and surgical instruments be-
fore and after surgical operation well
exemplifes the importance Of fanll-
iarity with its dangers in every sense.
eve recognize that many Of our mi
crobio diseases, especially of the exan-
thematic type, eliminate their toxic ele-
ment very largely through the medium
Of the skin, which undergoes extensive
exfoliation, disseminating the poison far
and wide. Isolation is resorted to and
enforced most vigorously, thereby check
ing the spread of the disease, and then
disinfectants lavishly used cause the de-
struction of the offending armies In
the era of scientific prophylaxis conse-
quent upon the introduction of the mi
croscope. bacteriology and antiseptics
we find a steady decline Of epidemlcs
either developing in the outer world or
in our hospital wards. Yet accidental
inoculations of tuberculosis, smallpox
and vaccinia, as well as more horrible
diseases, still exist and are bet demon
strations of either an unavoidable cause
or faulty observance Of established
data.
DR.. Breiter gives thorough discus
sion as to what may be the result of con-
tact of the hands. He declares that with
men who are of cleanly habits, but who
have acquired disease and such as they
would wish to hide from their fellow
men, the specific bacillus Of this disease
has been found in filth collected from
the hand. He has found tubercle bacilli
in the dirt taken from the hand Of the
man suffering from tuberculosis, the
Klebs-Loefier microbe among cases Of
suspected diphtheria and had no doubt
that the specific germs of every microblc
disease may and would be found in mil
lions on the surfaces of the hands II
proper experimentation we're made. He
proceeds as follows:
ssMany victims Of scarlet fever, both
in the early and desquamative stages,
especially the latter, are walking the
streets of every large city ready to in
graft upon the moist hand Of any chance
acquaintance the prolific virus Of the
disease. The same may be said of per-
sons with pulmonary tuberculosis,
whose hands and handkerchiefs, through
constant wiping Of the mouth, are foul
and saturated with the bacteria laden
expectoration Of the disease. Tubercu-
losis Of the hand, the lesion large or
| small in area, often painless and un-
recognized as such for long while and
! perhaps untreated, is by no means an
infrequent occurrence. Scabies, we
know, has marked prediction for the
hand. Need / mention others? Now
whether these conditions are the result
Of hand to hand contact or not does not
matter. The conditions themselves are
dangerous elements, and it is the con-
sideration of such factors in the causa.
ton Of disease that we are studying
'tOf course the mucous membrane
serves as a better pabulum for the inva-
sion and development Of micro organ
isms, but the skin is not absolutely neg
atiye in that respect, and if it were it
would make little difference, as the
two, skin and mucous membrane, are
very often in close opposition with each
other. We know that the hand has car
ried bacteria to the mouth. disseminat-
ing contagion in that way. Typhoid fe-
yer, Asiatic cholera, diphtheria and 9TH
er diseases arc known to have been pro-
duced that way. Why search through
medical libraries for similar and per-
haps more conclusive evidence? The
subject has passed the stage of novelty.
So while we professional people are by
reason Of our profession forced to invite
and then to battle-for we have antlsep-
tics-with these enemies. there is no
reason why we should unnecessarily and
under the cloak Of custom invite them
and then leave them to do their harm
'.Some may look upon this subject
with derision. Nevertheless the truth is
this: No matter how small the percent
age Of evil consequences arising from
this universal handshakirg, the total
number, III view cf its extensiveness,
must necessarily be great. The subject
is deserving of serious consideration.
Conscientious physicians and surgeons
will accord it. .
Miles of Hair.