Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1902-05-02
LIARS OF THE GERMS
UNSUSPEcTED MICROSCOPIC CAV
ERNS IN WHICH THEY LURk.
The Ease with which They May he
Absorbed Into the system and the
Necessity That Exists For Care and
ScrupuIous Cleanliness.

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
hitting sore throat, skin disease or
diphtheria 10 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 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 Turk 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
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
tity that each person could have new
one, but the remedy is much simpler.
al, ,hn
days TO allow every business man and
woman 10 own one but If that is not
possible pocket penholder is certainly
within the means Of all. Blotting pa
per. too. on public desks bears its own
evidence of soiling many hands. ana
from its absorbing nature IL 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 a 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 uou-
BILE.
Common drinking cups may be a
source Of infection as well as OF a cool
ing or exhilarating draft. as the case
may he, and this applies just as much
If not more so To communion cups used,
IL is true, in holy cause. but none the
less likely to serve most wicked pur-
pose. In fact, any article touched by
the lips or hands that passes from one
person 10 another may convey conta-
gious virus or infectious germs. Nor
is it necessary TO even touch such arti-
Giles.
Library books are no doubt often con-
veyers Of disease, and although libra
rians have been frequently urged by
sanitarians to adopt some method Of
disinfecting books few II any have
seen FIT TO do so, although there is
cheap, harmless and efficacious method
OF so doing by formaldehyde.
Even articles that are in a sense pri-
vate property are possible factors In
disease causation. Postage stamps, for
example. and other gummed articles,
notably the dap OF an envelope, are
fertile fields for the growth OF germs
that may be blown or otherwise i'm
planted upon the gummed surface, the
danger being Increased from the labil-
ity that the tongue may be cut by the
paper edge in moistening them. The
person who uses his tongue TO moisten
stamps and the ike may be infected or
inoculated as effectually as IL the poi
son were injected.
The time will come when the individ-
ual will have his individual objects OF
daily use. Even In the household 1t is
wise to have ones own towel. soap,
sponge and the like for the toilet Sure
ly every one nowadays has his or her
own toothbrush and comb and brush.
At the table the fad OF having individ-
ual cups and saucers and other ware
is sensible one though not a neces-
sary one In most cases. but IL there Is
any person in the family affected with
disease, especially consumption and the
like, IL is absolutely necessary that that
person have his or her own dishes OF
such a distinctive pattern that they
cannot be mistaken.
kissing has been much discussed
question. and while sentiment defends
the practice hygiene is la favor OF abol-
ishing IL, at least as a mark OF public
affection. Many an infant who has
been given a Kiss OF affection has in
reality been given the kiss OF death,
and in adult life serious diseases IL not
fatal ones have been transmitted by
the kiss of one supposed to be pure, yet
saturated with disease. Doubtless the
crusade against kissing has been car
ried to an absurdity. but promlscuous
kissing. aside from its indelicacy. 10
The food that we eat may be a cause
OF Infection. Avoid a filthy provision
store as you would the plague. Meat
that Is mauled over dirty block. ham
died with dirty hands and cut with n
Eoiled and rusty knife may be harm
hess, but the percentage OF danger In IL
Is far greater than In that sold under
more inviting circumstances. So with
bread cake and the like. Dirty sur
roundings mean germ danger. INDIAN
apolis Journal.