The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-07-23
Boston Health Officer Says Mi
crobes Are Carried.
Hot Soap Suds Should Not BE
Used in Milk Cans.
DANGER IN TOILET ARTICLE
Employees Accumulate Large
Collection of Germs.
Air in Soap Makes 1t Float,
Doctor Says.

Boston, Mass, July 23.-Dr. John J.
Mullowney of the Boston board of
health today declared soap a carrier
of yirulent germs and menace TO
health.
81 believe that common soap. par
ticularly the sort that is used for the
washing of utensils which are food con-
tanners, its a carrier of micro-organisms
which are a menace to health he said:
mo animal soap should be used in
cleaning milk cans or other reeeptacles
for foods, for the greater portion of
such soaps are made from the car
casses of diseased animals which have
been condemned by the government in
spectors.
Few persons know how to use soap.
When a milk can has been emptied it is
often allowed to stand until the resi-
due has hardened, then the first pro-
cedure usually is to fill it with hot
soap suds. The action of the hot water
upon the albumen which adheres to the
bottle is to eoagulate it, making the
thorough cleaning of the utensil i'm
possible.
Transmitted to Milk.
Particles of the soap or soap pow
der used become lodged in the al
luminous mass, and the impurities of
the SOAP are thus QlTeCIlY transmitted
to the milk. Milk is the most perfect
vehicle for the transmission of micro
organisms.
''In my experience in the west,
where much of the soap used in Amer
lea is made / found that all the dis
eased animals which were condemned
by the government inspectors in the
big packing houses were used in the
manufacture of soap. which is by
product of the meat industry.
sfNhi10 the n0t3Sh and other Alka1
which enters into the composition of
soap may minimize the chance of con-
tamination, there is still the probahil-
ity that minute atoms of septic matter
may be retained.
81 think that no animal soap should
be used in the washing of food uten-
sils There are many mineral soap
powd ers that are even more powerful
cleansers than the old fashioned i'm
pure soap.
Danger in Public Places.
'"There is danger in the indiscrimi-
nate use of toilet soaps in public places.
in large establishments ac-
emulate a remarkable collection OF
in their various occu-
nations and transmit them to the lone
bar of soap. and thence to those who
use it subsequently. Careless persons
who do not rinse the accumulated
atfer from the cake after using 1T
assist in the transmission of these inn
purities. G
saIn recent years antiseptic soaps have
been put on the market, but = has
been found in hospitals that a iluted
solution of carbolic acid is more effec-
i've in cleansing the hands or cloth
ng, and requires no more time to ap-
ply.
''Perfumed soaps are used more for
lttractiveness in toilet use, although
@ some persons they seem to have
IN antiseptic value. Perfumes raise
he cost of production considerably, and
ire used in small quantities Some
harmful essences are used especially |
n cheap soaps. A scented soap will
emain in good condition longer than |
lnseented, not being so likely to be- |
,ome rancid.
1.-THE air in soap makes it float. |
When making a variety that will not |
ink the hot mass that is being boiled |
s beaten furiously to work in a great |
eaI of air. making bubbles, which. |
however, cannot be seen in the cake. |
t is more quickly soluble"