The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-08-25

est Clues-NeW YORK, Philadelphia, nos
ton. Buffalo. London. Paris, Berlin, Wen
ma. Chicago. Brooklyn, then a city by 81
self; Dresden. Munich, Liverpool, Glas-
cow Edinburgh, ST. Petersburg, Koeniss-
berg. Frankfort. Amsterdam, and Ham
buTg-was nearly five times as great as
now, the average being $50 deaths to every
10000 Of population and the range being
/ from the great proportion Of 2S5 per 1O0,0OC
/ down to about 80
The observations on which the chart
Is based were begun In 1872 Sanitary sci
ence and general knowledge Of the nature
OF diphtheria increased rapidly in the
years Immediately following and the
death rate from that disease decreased
with corresponding rapidity. Three or
four years later the diphtheria death rate
went up TO $50 again, but il decreased
/ again tia about 1890. There was then a
second rise. but since 1894, when the anti
toxin came into general use, the rate has
/ decreased yearly, az the present time the
deaths from diphtheria in those cities do
not average more than so in every l00,o0C
Inhabitants.
In the diagram the heavy middle line
represents the average death rate for 1OO.-
900 from diphtheria in the cities named.
and the heavy vertical line the introduce
ton of anti-toxin. Lines showing ex-
tremes of fluctuation are also given.
How Germs Get on Straps.
The report Of the analysis says that
no tetanus germs were found. but It is not
/ impossible that they and many Others
might be We're a sufficient number OF
! analyses taken. Tetanus germs would not
be specially dangerous on a street car
strap anyway; they would be less danger
Gus there than in many other places in
fact and could do little harm unless there
was liberation Of the hand grasping the
/ infected strap. In such ascase tetanus
germs might lodge In the wound and
multiply, as they do. unless the anti
toxin is used when boys get hurt on the
Fourth with fireworks. Germs that are
blown in by explosion are especially
troublesome, however.
! "Tubercle germs are more common than
! most other disease germs IN city air. You
are likely 10 take them into your system
almost daily. and at certain times Of the
year this Is true also OF the germs that
produce pneumonia, colds, and the Ike.
Everybody knows nowadays that the best
way 10 resist any disease is to maintain a
state Of general good health.
IL should be understood that disease
germs are 70 be found wherever dust set
ties, Dr. Park continued. "and that is
almost everywhere. The mere fact that
street car straps are worn smooth by con-
tact with many hands prevents the adhe-
/ sion OF much dust 70 them. and the same
Is true Of hand ratings OF all sorts.
! Germs freed by the exhaling breath of
/ infected persons soon die in ordinarily
pure afr and. also. II deposited on straps
or elsewhere die off rapidly, except in
damp weather. merely from drying up.
Many persons who are quite well, ap-
parently, carry disease germs about with
them One in every 800 persons IN New
York Is supposed 20 carry dlphtheria
germs in the throat, although the dis
ease does not develop in more than one
IN hIty cases, except when the weather
IS stormy or otherwise especially trying
Many persons. also. who do not become
III, carry the germs Of tOnslltis, bronchi-
tbs, and other throat diseases with them.
By putting his hand in his mouth and
later grasping a street car strap such a
person may deposit germs on the etrap
has not suffered himself and Of which he
is the unwilling transmitter. It is prob
able that the streptococci found on the
street car straps which were anaIvzed re-
Gently were deposited in that way. To
catch disease Of the class mentioned
from a street car strap however. YOU
would have 10 PUT your own hand IN
your mouth after clinging to an infected
strap.
And, while there Is some slight danger
from Infection by this method. there Is
quite as much danger of infection from
shaking hands with a consumptfve per-
son and IN dozen other ways. DR.. Bald
win. of Saranac Lake. has had consurnn-
tives wash their hands in sterilized water
after which the water has been analvzad
In practically every case of this sort il
has been found that~the water contained
enough bacilli Of tuberculosis TO KIN a
guinea pig.
Although not found on any Of the
straps analysed by the New York health
department, the germs OF various eve
diseases, such as Ophthalma, vfrulent con
Junctvitis, and tTachOma-brought to this
country from Southern Europe, where 81
was introduced from Egypt-might be de-
posted readily on straps. ratings. and
elsewhere by one suffering from such
disorder, after rubbing the diseased eve
IAese diseases may be, and often are.
transmitted by contact, either with per-
sons suffering from them. or with sur
faces Of other kinds. as well as straps
which they have touched.
zone per cent Of those who bava suf-
fered from typhoid fever carry the germs
with them. The New York health de-
paFtment Is now dealing with a remark
able case or this sort-a woman cook who
mad typhoid years ago. but is now in
robust health. AS reported IN the news
papers last spring, typhoid has appeared
IN several households in which she has
been the cook. That she was the causa
OF the fever in a family on Long Island
by whom she was employed was not dis
covered until after the regular family
doctor, well-knOwn bacteriologist and
a sanitary engineer OF reputation. had
all sought vainly for the fever's cause.
When, at last. the mystery was IN
Taveled, she was taken in charge by the
health authorities as altogether too dan
gerous person 10 be allowed at large
she is still confined TO the North Brother
Island Riverside Hospital. and there fs
no telling when she viii be set at lib
erty."
cumming up the case for and against
lhe street-car strap. DR.. Park concludes
'hat Il Is as dangerous as any other
substance with which persons suffering
from communicable disease habituallv
come IN contact. and no more 80. Il IS
conceivable that various diseases have
Oeeh contracted from infected straps. but.
IN lhe nature of things, there is no
way OF tracing any such case.
The Fight Against Germs.
The danger from disease germs OF every
kind is much less to-day than even a few
years ago. As the science Of bacteriologv
Is brought to higher state; as the nature
OF disease germs and the means % IL