Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1910-08-24
TaE WAR ON THE DRINKING eur

Since the germ theory was first vote
ed by alert scientists several decades
ago, each succeeding decade has seen
the medical scientists engaged in 4
spirited war for the eradication Of
germ diseases. The bacillf that cause
tuberculosis, cholera, tetanus. diph-
liberia, malaria. and host OF the Ills
TO which man is heir, have been iso-
lated and studied with the view to the
cure Of these diseases, while muca
time has been devoted to the proven,
ton of the scattering OF disease
germs.
One of the latest and what viii seem
to many one Of the most startling cru
sades of all that have been directed
against disease is that which has been
instituted against the. public drinking
cup. We have been warned against
using public soap, public combs and
brushes and public basins. but it seems
that the public drinking cup is worse
than any of the other public commoI-
| tiles mentioned, because it is likely %
introduce directly into the human
organism disease germs that may
cause tuberculosis, typhoid fever ana
many other of the most deadly dis
eases by which the human family is
afflicted.
There are doubtless many people
who will merely laugh at the idea Of
doing away with public drinking CUPS
and so pass the matter by. But it is
only the unthinking and willing
ACCOMPLISHMENTS man or wom3l
/ Who will treat so grave a matter so
lightly The we'll authenticated facts
of medical science cannot be refuted
by "Bosh!" or "Pshaw!" uttered BIZ
some one who is too utterly careless
or Indifferent concerning his own WEI
fare or that of those depending upon
him, to investigate conditions at his
own door or within his own home.
Georgia is one of the very few states
in the Union which has not allied it
self officially with this movement il
behalf of public health. There are forty
state boards of health that agree that
the public drinking cup should be all
Olished. Many of these have already
! taken steps to officially abolish the
public cup. Some are waiting to be
authorized by their respective stare
legislatures, where tile boards of
health have not themselves the right
to take such steps. But so much has
already been done as to apprise all the
people Of the country of the fact that
thinking people are becoming aroused
to the necessity Of doing away with
these public instruments for the scat
tering Of disease.
In some Of the schools of Georgia
already notably the Chatham Academy
al Savannah, the sanitary drinking
fountain, which IS as nearly free from
the disease-scattering feature of tn
public drinking cup, as modern science
has been able to devise, has replaced
the public cup. The substitution may
be made at but slight expense in any
school buildings in Georgia that are
situated in towns or cities WITH water
works. In this way the spread of many
infectious diseases of childhood may
be greatly lessened, if not practically
eradicated
Other public places that have public
drinking cups are railroad stations ana
trains, hotels, city halls. court houses
drinking fountains and similar places
The laws tlat are being passed appl,
to all public drinking cups, no matter
where found The argument in favor
| of the passing of such laws are thai
the human mouth is where disease
germs are found in abundance. wher
any person is suffering from giver
disease. The disease germs which ar.
spread in this manner are even NOR,
dangerous than poisonous drugs. be-
cause neither to sight, taste nor smell
is hint conveyed of the presence o.
the poison, ana because it gives nc
Immediate indication of the injury Il
has inflicted.
The simple remedy suggested is fol
individuals to exercise little thought
fitness and provide themselves with a
drinking cup. In the case Of railroad
trains and similar public places, reg
ulations are being made by tie sta q
laws that the railroads shall supply BIZ
means OF cup vendors, perfectly clean
paraffine coated cups at the price Of q
penny apiece. The good sense and the
good hygiene Of such provisions az
TOO obvious to need argument.