The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-12-16
INNS World or GERMS.
Unexpected Microscopic Csverns In which
The, urk In vast Numbers.

From ne humane nous JJHF"n.
Even So simple "A matter n, borrowing n
lead pen,l ma lead to IN" Dissemination
of disnss, in a family. Among children
especially swapping" pencils re one METHOD
~ showing good fellowship. and the child
who swan. i somctimps the innocent cause
Of transgE,tn: sore throat. skin dioea1c
or du,nthprIa to hIs best friend. The use OF
public pencils i also. no, doubt. ,r"eionelhle
Tor the ransm!-siun Of disease from one Ia
another, tho danger being far greater wh"n
a person noist'ns the lead in the mouth.
.-ide from h"inS \ mn" hauit. this !, a dan
rrrot- one in any case. for IN" lead l. COM
parativ"ly rolgh and has cavities which
are to tn" germs as vast caves IN which they
lgrk. and from which thtt may pc tra,Nir[r'nh
L. tn" muCluU- membranes through "hI'h
disease enters most readily into the syst m.
As Tor pcuholders. they are much NOR"
danger - transmission 81 disease germs b.
them - therefore greater. At tine hotel Coliu.
ter and the bank dc-k penholdcrr ar. handed
h. thousands IN the course Of a few day.
aud ~ this nj mber some may and do hav"
skin Diseases. AZ least, which may bc ooutG-
Sious and are thIs transferable to Others.
II would not he n great tax upon the larger
e-tahlis al meuts a least TO have cheap pen
holders in such quantity, that, each person
could have n new one. but the remedy IL
much simpler Fountain pens are cheap
enough. nowadays. to allow every business
man and. woman to own one. but II that IS
not possible Il pocket ponholder j. certainly
within the means Of all. Blotting parer.
too. on public desks. bears it, own evidence
NJ soilins many hands and from its absorb
ent nature II Is especially congenial to germ
elements.
A. Tor public combs and brushes, the danger
il too evident and disgusting Ia need advice
l!c towels: q public convenience, PERHAPS
but u common source, even TODAY. ~ the
itch or worse Diseases IL wipe the hands
upon them j. had enough. bur 20 vii" the
face and ey - l. counting serious trouble.
Common drinking cups may hn a Sonrc" OF
Infection ~ welt as ~ u cooling or cAhilarat-
inr dralEht, as the case ma' be. and this APP
plies just rs much, II not more so. to COM
],nunion cIps Used, II Is true III holy can,si
purpose In fact. ANY Article touched by III"
lips or hands that ptsse~ RON one IerSon to
another may convey coitafons virus or ~.
touch such articles
l.ibrar, booss are no, doubt often conveycrs
OF disease. and, although librarians have been
freauon,iy urged by ssnitarians to adopt
some method 81 dlsinf~ctins books. few, II
rn,. have seen At to do SO. although here /:
So dong nv formnldehvde
Even articles thl' arc. IN . sense, private
properly are possible factors IN disease cansa-
lion Postage stRmps, for rIaN "le. and other
cummed articles. notably the nap of an en-
velore, are fertile fields for the growth Of
germs TINT may he blown or otherwise im-
being increased from tho liability that tn"
tongue may be cut by the paper edge in moist
10 moistea stamps and the Ike may be in
fected or inoculated ~ cTectnall, rs II the
poison was injected -,
The tiinc will come when the individual
will have his indi vidual objects ~ daily use.
Even In the household IL Is wise To- have one =
own towel, soap, sponge and the Ike for the
toilet. Surely every one. nowadays. has
his or her own toothbrush and comb and
brush. AZ the table the fad OF having in
dividual cups and saucers and other ware
Il a sensible one. though not a necessary one
in most cases, but II there is any person in
tho family affected with disease, especially
consumption and the like. il Is absolutely
necessary that thnt person have his or her
own dishes ~ such a distinctive pattern that
they cannot bc Mistaken.
Kissing has been u much discussed cues
ton, and, while sentiment defends the praC-
tice. hygiene j. In favor Of aholishing y NJ
least as a mark OF public affection. Many
an Infant who has been given a kiss Of aiieC-
ton has in reality been given IN" kiss OF death,
and In adult life serious diseases. II not fatal
ones. have been transmitted 10y the Kiss Of
one imposed to he pure. yet saturated with
disease. Doubtless the crusade against kiss
ing has been carried to an ahsurdity. but
promiscuous kissing, aside from It's ind"li-
cacv. is dangerous.
The food that No cat may be n cause II
Infection. Avoid n filthy provision store as
Won would the plague Meat that * maulrd
over n dirty block. handled with dirty hands
and cut with n sOiled and rusty knife may
he harmless. but the percentage Of danger
in IL j. far greater than in that sold under
moro inviting circumstances So with bread.
cake. and the like; dirty surroundings mean
germ danger.