Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-10-11

diphtheria bacilli in nearly per cent of
large number of apparently healthy
school children in Philadelphia. In Min
nesota true diphtheria germs were found
in the mouths OF seventy persons In every
thousand examined. The average results
OF large number of Investigations dem
onstrate that nearly 1 per cent OF well
persons carry in their mouths true diph-
liberia germs. In Boston 90 per cent Of
all cases of common catarrh examined
showed the presence of grippe bacilli.
Considerable evidence is at hand showing
that the germs of sore throat. pneumonia
and bronchitis are present in many peo-
pie who mingle with the well and drink
from the public cups.
During the past six months | have in
VeStigated by means Of direct microscopic
examination. by cultures and by guinea
pig injections. the deposits present on
various public drinking vessels. Cup No.
i. which had been in Use nine days in a
school. was clear thin glass. II was
broken into number of pieces and prop
erly stained for examination with a micro
scope magnifyinC Loco diameters. The
human cells SCraped from the lips OF the
drinkers were So numerous on the upper
third of the glass that the head of a pin
could not be placed anywhere without
touching several of these bits of skin.
The saliva by running down on the inside
OF the glass had carried cells and bacteria
TO the bottom. Here. however. they were
less than one-third as abundant as at the
brim.
Dead Cells and Germs.
by counting the cells present on fifty
different areas on the glass as seen under
the microscope 1t was estimated that the
cup contained over 10000 human cells or
bits of dead skin. AS many as $50 germs
were seen clinging to a single cell. and
very few cells showed less than ten germs
OF <1o oafI- 80
germs left there by the smears of saliva
deposited by the drinkers. Not less than
100000 bacteria were present on every
square inch of the glass. Most Of these
were OF the harmless kind abundant in
the mouth. but some were apparently the
germs of decay feeding upon the bits of
the human body adhering to the cup. In
order to determine how much material
each drinker is likely to leave on the cup,
I requested ten boys to apply the upper
same way as they touched the cup in
drinking. These glass slips thus soiled
were properly stained for microscopic ex-
animation, which showed an average OF
about 100 cells and $4,000 bacteria to each
Slip"
Nor Is this all. Examination showed
that many of the germs present were
those of disease, the bacilli Of tuhercu-
losis, pneumonia, etc. being easily tden-
titled. The writer goes on to say:
Mortality Statistics.
"The mortality statistics Of the census
bureau show that diphtheria. meningitis.
bronchitis, tuberculosis. pneumonia and
grippe, all Of which are likely to be ac-
quired by the use Of the common cup.
are responsible for nearly 100000 deaths
annually in the United States. This fact
indicates that the germs of these diseases
produce in a single year more than a mill
lion cases of serious illness. The finan-
cial loss to the country and the mental
anguish as we'll as bodily suffering due to
these preyentable diseases call loudly for
the Punishment of the insanitary and
filthy common communion cup as well as
the public drinking vessel befouled with
human excretions shielding the darts Of
death
More than 10000 churches have now
adopted the individual communion cups
and many schools either provide a sani-
tary drinking fountain or require the pu-
pills to use individual cups. In many
places In Germany pasteboard cups are
furnished. which after being once used
are destroyed. Wherever hygienic meas
ures have been adopted in q community
sickness and death have decreased. BY
living more in accordance with the rules
of hygiene New York city reduced her
death rate from 25 per 1000 to Is per
1000 during the period from 1890 to 1905
Within the same years Chicago has re-
duced her death rate from 10 to IA per
600"