Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1901-05-28
A., WORD FOR CLEANLINESS

A WORD FOR CLEANLINESS
A physician, Dr. Ethan i. smith, ="
the April number Of the ST. Louis heu''
cal Era, points out some sources Oh con-
taelous diseases, that deserve the seIF
Gus consideration of the general puol"
and Of health officers in particular
one Of these is, In his opinion the sec
ond.hand stores. He contends, tha'
| these receive goods from many places
saturated with disease germs lie
thinks 1t would be money saved. to es,
tabllsh depots for the reception OF al,
second hand goods that are TO bee iIeIeo
for sale where they could be Thoroughly
dislnfected before going TO the dealers
The supervision Of this work. he sUg-
gests could be attached to the Internal
revenue department This precaulloh
would cut OFF thousands Of patients
now cared for at public expense
and save many cases Of contagious DIS
eases among the general public.
But the dlslnfection Of secondhand
clothing, household furniture, RAGS
books, etc. Is not the only precaullon
needed. In the opinion Of DR., smith,
people should be taught how to properly
dlslnfect their dwellings, Public yehl'
cles should also be dIslnfected Bar
bers' utensils should be especially
looked after cups for public use at
drinking fountains should be abolished
and a convenient portable cup used IN
stead. School rooms should be dlslh-
fected every Saturday Hotel rooms
should be fumigated, rs should churches
and theaters, stores and factories. Tow
els in an public layatorics should be
sterilzed, and the public hair brush
and comb should no more he allowed
to exist than a public tooth brush
Were such precautions observed, 1t IS
claimed the death rate would be ma
terially reduced In most of the large
cities.
The suggestions appear founded Oh
good common sense. II the germ theory
holds good, It's corollary Is the neees-
slty Of dislnfecton and sterilization Of
in which disease germs may
live and thrive. aud from which they
may be communicated to man. Ordin-
arily the human system is well fortified
against the invasion Of hostile germs,
but at times they come in such large
forces that they cannot be repealed
and then they take possession
one scientist has lately shown that
the human body harbors vast popula-
ion Of little living beings, the chief
business Of which is to meet disease
germs and destroy them. The white
,orpuscles Of the blood are said to be
such. These go wherever they please.
they penetrate the walls Of the blood
1essels and wander through the tissues.
rhey attack and deyour germs. and
llways hasten in great numbers to the
,olnt Of attack Inflammation means
he mobilization Of these little defend
rs and matter" or "pus' is
bought TO be the dead bodies Of those
VINO perish in the war with the invad-
rs.
The human body being thus wonder
ully equipped, disease germs are not
iways dangerous. Even the careless
nay escape injury But when the de-
enders Of the body are not in good
rim they are unable to meet the enc
ly. and the attack may become fatal
hat seems 70 be the theory II fol-
1ws that precautionary measures are
WAYS necessary. A great many peo-
Ne faultessly particular as to pei
onal cleanliness, are Indifferent per-
apps on account Of ignorance, to the
ecessity Of clean surroundings Pri-
ate ana public houses. streets and
ardsneed as much particular attention
q does the person. Obscure corners
hould not be neglected a great deal
education In these things is stlll
eeded Notwithstanding the fact that
early all religious cults have for
Of wears placed cleanliness
exc 10 eodliness, When science comes
0t and demonstrates why II Is so nee
ssay, the injunction is likely to be
adoJstood and more thoroughly fol-
WED,