The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-01-31
MIGHT BURN MONEY
Health Officers Suspect Bills Of Hav-
ing Carried Contagion.
MONEY HANDLERS ARE INFECTED
Health Commissioner Hall Wants "a
Germlesa Medium-How, Is
the Question.

: p 4. i /. (. i. ~
The development a short time ago OF
three cases OF smallpox in one Of the
Minneapolis financial institutions, sug-
gests the probability that the contagion
was introduced by means of money.
Health Commissioner P. M Hall and
other physicians in the department feel
reasonably certain that it was by this
route that the disease found it's way to
the teller's Office. Filthy lucre. literal
ly speaking" says DR.. Hall, "is danger
Gus means for the spread of contagion.
He would like to find some method where
by not only the coin Of the realm but also
checks could be disinfected. He believes
that this, precaution il taken thoroughly
and systematically, would prevent IN
large degree the spread OF dangerous dis
eases, particularly smallpox.
The use Of q gernicide on money, how
ever, asserts DR.. Hall. would be very diff
fcult except in cases where large amounts
are transported in bulk. The ordinary
exchange of small sums in a city, he says,
could not be reached by any process OF
disinfection, so small a portion OF 1t
finding Its way into the banks. Even if
1t We're possible to round up, the cash In
any particular place, at any particular
time and subject it to fumigation. the in
cessant circulation would make the most
thorough disinfection OF one hour abso-
luthely worthless in the next.
Problem Is Difficult.
Dr. W. H. Hanscomb, ever since his
connection with the health office, has adj
vised the fumigation of money and other
paper used as circulating medium, but
has been unable to find any practical
means. He is firmly convinced that the
handling of money is prime cause Tor
the spread of diseases. Neither in this
city nor in any other, so far as officers
of the health department have been able to
learn, has any satisfactory solution Of this
perpleXng problem been reached. In New
York during the past two weeks two cases
of smallpox have been charged directly
to the handling of infected bills, and an
Ohio board of health has begun cam
paign for the disinfection Of dirty money
1t is asserted there that even though the
danger from germs be small, the odor
Of dirty bills is enough to warrant a
cleansing process.
Minneapolis bankers would welcome any
movement on the part of authorities to
secure the disinfection of money. Every
teller realizes the danger that confronts
him whenever he receives bills from de-
positors, and in many Of the banks tell
ers and other clerks disinfect in small
way, sprinkling bills and other money
in cases where the appearance Of the de-
post or of the depositor leads them to
question it's cleanliness.
Bankers Fear Contagion. 4:
The cashier of one Of the Minneapolis
banks said this morning: -
Bankers fear that contagious diseases are
spread by means of money and checks, and
every person who handles money in banks
realizes that there is some danger in It,.
But the greatest danger, I believe, lies in
the use of pay checks A very small por.
| ton OF the business of bank is carried on
! m
currency remains In circulation outside and
deposits are made and drawn by means Of
| checks. Particularly do twin city bankers
| fear the introduction of contagon by means
| Of pay checks received from lumber camps
throughout the northwest. A certain amount
| of money remains in circulation in the lum-
Der districts, paid ;to the laborers and spent
| In one way or another in the small towns
| in the vicinity, thus finding its way back
| into the hands of the employers. The money
! itself docs not often find its way into Mn
neapolis and st. Paul" but pay checks are
coming in continuously. Often these are
from infected districts and have been per-
! forated and disinfected thoroughly by the
authorities but Notwithstanding this, it gives
the teller cold chill when he receives q
| letter and check from a district known to be
| infected with smallpox. I do not know that
! any means has been suggested for the disin-
lection of all money that passes through
banks; l do not know that any such thing
could be done thoroughly and effectively,
but am convinced that the spread OF diseases
would be checked by it,