Morris tribune., 1901-02-23
LAIRs OF THE GERMS
uNsusPEcTED MICROSCOPIC CAV
ERNS IN WHICH THEY LURK.

4 Necessity That Exists For Care and
/ ScrupulOus Cleanliness.
Even so simple matter as borrow
ing lead pencil may lead to the dis
semination Of disease in a family.
Among children especially swapping"
pencils is one method of showing good
fellowship, and the child who swaps is
sometimes the innocent cause of trans
mitting sore throat, skin disease or
diphtheria to his best friend. The use
of public pencils is also no doubt re-
spOnsible for the transmission of dis
ease from one to another, the danger
being far greater when person mois-
| tens the lead in the mouth. Aside from
being filthy habit, this is a dangerous
one in any case, for the lead is compar-
atively rough and has cavities which
are to the germs as vast caves in which
they lurk and from which they may be
transferred to the mucous membranes
through which disease enters most |
readily into the system.
AS for penholders, they are much |
more commonly used by many persons, |
and the danger Of transmission of dis |
ease germs by them is therefore great |
er. At the. hotel counter and the bank
desk penholders are handled by thou
sands in the course of few days, and
of this number some may and do have
skin diseases at least which may be
contagious and are thus transferable to
others. 1t would not be a great tax
upon the larger establishments at least |
to have cheap penholders in such guam
one, but the remedy is much simpler.
Fountain pens are cheap enough nova
days to allow every business man and
woman to own one, but if that is not
possible a pocket penholder is certainly
within the means Of all. Blotting pa
per, too, on public desks bears it's own
evidence of soiling many hands, and
from it's absorbing nature it is especial
ly congenial to germ elements.
AS for public combs and brushes, the
danger is too evident and disgusting to
need advice against their use, and the
same applies to public towels-a public
convenience, perhaps, but common
source even today of the itch or worse
diseases. To wipe the hands upon
them is bad enough. but to wipe the
face and eyes is counting serious trou-
BILE.
Common drinking cups may be a1
source of infection as well as of cool
ing or exhilarating draft, as the case
may be, and this applies just as much
If not more SO to communion cups used,
it is true, in a holy cause, but none the
less likely to serve most wicked pur-
pose. In fact, any article touched by | J
the lips or hands that passes from one
person to another may convey conta-
gious virus or infectious germs. Nor
is it necessary to even touch such arti-
cles.
Library books are no doubt often con- 1
veyers of disease, and although libra
rians have been frequently urged by
sanitarians to adopt some method of
disinfecting books few if any have
seen fit to do SO, although there is a
cheap, harmless and ef1cacious method s
Of so doing by formaldehyde.
Even articles that are in a sense pri-
vate property are possible factors in
disease causation. Postage stamps, for +
and other gummed articles :
notably the flap of an envelope. are r
fertile fields for the growth of germs
that may be blown or otherwise inn r
planted upon the gummed surface. the h
danger being increased from the liabil- q
lty that the tongue may be cut by the
paper edge in moistening them. The
WI |
stamps and the like may be infected or a
Inoculated as effectually as if the poi :
son were injected. n
The time will come when the individ- o
1al will have his Individual objects of q
1aily use. Even in the household it is
wise to have ones own towel, soap,
sponge and the like for the toilet. Sure NJ
y every one nowadays has his or her
)wn toothbrush and comb and brush K
1t the table the fad of having individ- L
lal cups and saucers and other ware
8 sensible one, though not neces- h
|ary one in most cases, but if there is h
my person in the family affected with m
Lisease. especially consumption and the o
Ike, 1t is absolutely necessary that that IL
Derson have his or her own dishes Of o.
uch distinctive pattern, that they
annot be mistaken. NJ
kissing has been a much discussed 81
uestion. and while sentiment defends HI
he practice hygiene is in favor of aboI- 81
shing it, at least as a mark of public G,
ffection. Many an infant who has 81
cen given a kiss Of affection has in di
eality been given the kiss Of death,
nd in adult life serious diseases if not er
atal ones have been transmitted by
ne kiss of one supposed to be pure. vet G,
aturated with disease. Doubtless the I'll
rusade against kissing has been car
led to an absurdity, but promiscuous ed
issing, aside from it's fndelicacy, is
angerous d
The food that we eat may be cause k1
Infection. Avoid filthy provision III
ore as you would the plague. Meat nj
lat is mauled over dirty block, ham N
led with dirty hands and cut with at
)tled and RUSTY knife NAV he harm III