The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-08-10
Germs and the Open Door.

I'M The Lancet is worried over the question
| Of door-knobs, and makes no bones about
letting the public know 1t. The Lancet
being a medical journal, one would >natur-
!, ally infer that its interest in the door
knob question was less aesthetic than
archaeological, and one. would be right.
In a recent article 1t asserts very de-
spondently, that "all door handles, even
those which present a clean and polished
appearance, are probably dirty" In this
connection, tho degree OF dirtncss of those
knobs which present an unclean and I'M
polished appearance rises horribly to the
Imagination.
4, For this unhappy state OF affairs, or
course the Lancet has a remedy. 1t sug-
Ecsts that knobs be banishcd to the un-
learned though fairly healthy, post, and
foot-lcvers be substituted, upon which
when we place our trilbics, doors will FAY
courteously open. The hope is held out to
vance, by wearing heavy hob-naled boots,
y to be frequently removed and antiseptl-
cally sprayed, we may keep moderately
well.
This germ business is fast getting to be
the bug bear OF modern lifc 1t is step
ping in between US and all our old inno-
cent pursuits and pleasures In the most
annoying way We have long known that
glass Of Misunderstanding water (not
necessarily from James RiveD held all
kinds Of eccentric looking little creatures;
but familiarity With them has bred con.
tempt. and we know, besides, that good
water holds .enls" q woll-mannored and
kindly variety of bacillus, trained from
childhood to behave discrectly In gen.
tlcman's interior. Bacilli of other habitat,
however, are Of moro vicious disposition.
Some months ago DIR. Darlington. OF the
New York Board OF Health startled the
world with the announcement that SIN
gle dollar bill OF age and bad associations
holds precisely 1900 bacteria, each OF
whom Is not only willing but anxious 10
do the meanest sorts OF bacterial work.
The news Of this discovery fell upon
ears already sadly hnrassed. 1t was not
SO long before that the kiss had fallen
under the sanitary ban, as being fatally
ideal method for the spreading Of disease
Oscillation, said the medical men, had tt
20. We assume that 1t went. And then
at the very moment when the obedien
public was struggling bravely on Will
its task of learning to do without kissing
came Darlington's dread fiat that W.
would hnvo TO do without money. Is J
any wonder that the American people
feel pretty sore against tho bacillus?
Under prevailing enactments, we arr
Informed we can still shake hands. ruI
bills and open doors with our feet. with
out being hustled into hospital, Let VI
enjoy this abbreviated liberty while w
may. Who knows what the sunitatet
future may have In store for u.s. Ter
sonally, we are possessed by terrible
dread that some day scientist, NTH
more deep-versed than the rest, Will dis
cover that even the purcst air tairl
teens with death dealing germlets. where
upon we shall be required by law to de
sst from breathing, and shall all u
pbediently down and die OF good health
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
That Crooked Line.
Our editorial yesterday on the question
whether Richmond shall have a straigh
and direct line for It's northwestern
boundary. as proposed by the City Eng