Mexico weekly ledger. (Mexico, Mo.) 1855-1956, 1904-12-08
MONEY CARRIES DISEASE.
currency May be the Means Of
Spreading Contagious Diseases
Interesting Communication
on This Subject.

10 the Editor Of the Ledger.
Though this is a subject much dis
cussed In the public press, still anoth-
er call Of the minds of the masses,
once again, to the danger possible by
The careless handling Of both paper
money as well as silver used as change,
may not be out of place.
Any one doing business may any and
every hour of the day see people put
Ting money In their mouths or hold.
Ing 1t between their lips while using
their hands in securing the required
amount Of exact change.
Imagine, If you please, the changes
money has to make from the hands Of
one person to another. A person we
will say has small pox. Necessarily
he is isolated. Suppose his food,
medicines and other requirements are
placed at a spot agreed upon, for the
payment of which he hands out his
money while able) to his attendant
and 1t is placed at the same spot. The
butcher handles both the money, the
patients meat and the meat going
through the butchers hands to other
people. Who can say but the small
pox germs pass along with the money,
then to the meat and both the money
and the meat become mediums Of in
lection to other people.
Men handle poultry, hogs, dogs, cat
tile and all manner Of stock. then the
money, the money the meanwhile af-
fording lodging and board for every
manner of microbe existing with or
possible to be carried by every kind of
stock as well as man.
There is not part Of man or ami
NAL, there is not a fruit, vegetable,
meat nor cereal but is handled by hui
man hands, and it is impossible to be
washing hands all the time, but these
same hands from sick rooms, poultry,
meat and milk venders, from grocers,
slaughterers, blacksmiths, tin smiths,
BARRIERS, ditchers and coal handlers,
handle every piece of money NOT alone
once or twice but thousands and
thousands of times or from the time
the money comes out bright, fresh
and new from our mlntS until worn
out or beyond recognition as to It'd
value.
However pure, NOZZLE and right are
the hearts Of every body individuality
becoming the medium Of exchange, Of
necessity the hands give to the money
food for every microbe ever known tt
man, but lodges there with the foot
the germs as well.
II one were to take the average
piece Of money and place 1t under q
microscope he will find it a reeking
crowdlng mass Of disease-producinl
microbes, not alone Of small pox bui
of scarletina, diptheria, typhoid fever
consumption and all the rest, and still
people will put money between thei
lips or In their mouths without an.
regard as to their personal health
soreness Of mouths or lips, or withou
for moment considering th,
the condition of the money O
the advantages that money has had II
its transit Of being literally loadet
with every form Of disease possible TO
man or animal to have. There canno
be anything, from the very circum
/ stances Of the case, more filthy thai
r money 1t is truly "ilthy lucre
! That there should be something don
to lessen the danger Of disease infec
tion through the medium Of none
all will concede. But word Of warn
ing about people, especially children
putting money between lips and int
mouths cannot be out Of place.
In England the government never Is
sues old paper money or paper none
!" that has ever been used, but alway
Il the new, bright, fresh and crisp. Sc
i the exactions required by the GOV
ernment regarding mail from diseas
= infected localities. Every letter an
piece of mail must be perfectly fun
J gated, as well as mail bags and attent
s ants. Still money goes on continuous
e ly and everlastingly with perfect con
U placancy, and without once bein
challenged. If this article will be th
d means of keeping even one pefso
from putting not alone into his or he
d mouth a piece of money, but if 1t wi
q keep one person from putting frol
d one to five thousand germs OF mos
q deadly diseases, not alone into II
IT mouth, as well, but possibly putin
i them right into the blood by a sore
Y the mouth or lips or into the linir
j. by inhalation causing death, the writ
will feel himself public benefacto
One more point and am done, vi
1t is of daily occurrence practiced 3
nearly every body, that of puttiI
er milk.money into milk bottles, pail
cans, etc. Think of the loaded co
dition Of the money, think Of the 81
ceptibility of milk and cream al
I'd think OF their universal use, then ST
thinking and put into practice sar
tary methods In regard to money al
"' thus prevent a calamity to yourse
neiphbors and friends. But don't :
nd Iodlde of Potash or Corrosive Subli
ate into your purses, as once kn'
lady doing, and afterwards bel
;s nearly scared to death when she s.
a lady daintily tipping the money wi
its load Of Mercurate OF Silver a
'ys dead microbes to her tongue.
Respectfully,
an G. GIVEN, NJ. d