The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-06-12
Dr.. Brady's Health Talks
MoIsrENINa THE FINGERS.


digo, ours would be n blue fingered
race. Tho fingers AFRO thoughtiessly
moiStcncd with saliva scores OF times
every day We never stop to think
OF tho unclcaniiness of 1t, or of tho
possible danger to ourselves and others.
II Is Il habit.
Ten TO ono you moistcncd your finger
Win saliva when you turned the page
of this paper. You did the same thing
when you peeled a dollar bill off your
ron 10 pay for your tickets to tho
theatre yesterday. But what of IT?
Daily Menace.
Supposing the conductor moistens
the transfers with his saliva. You take
,he sup Oh paper, and thoughtlessly
hoid II In your mouth whilo You're
DuttonlnS your glove. Now, how do
you know that tho conductor isn't
tubecular? Or that his saliva doesn't
contain the germs OF sore throat, pneu-
monia' diphtheria or worse?
DIR. Chaplin. health superintendent
OF Providence. says: "All successful
commerce Is reciprocal and I'm this uni
vcrsal trade In human saliva the
fingers not only bring foreign secre-
tons To the mouth OF their owner.
but there exchange them for his own.
ana distribute the latter to everything
that the hand touches"
Hero arc some of the places people
u'P'H'' 'Iicir saliva, via the fingers:
doors. windowsllls, furniture play
things. the Straps OF trolley cars. the
rails and counters of shops. library
DOCKS, magazines In doctors reception
rooms pushbuttons. telephone receivers.
money, pencils and Il thousand other
places.
An UncIennIy Habit.
AS general rule few instances of
disease can be attributed to such con-
"a Ina \ to-, u
doubt that disease is occasionally com
municatcd in this manner. 1t Isn't
the touching OF things that is to he
avoided; that would be utterly I'm
possible. 1t is rather tho moistcning
of fingers with saliva. That Is moth
ing but an unclcanly habit. and can
be stopped by making an effort
Why not let each family play
little game, with some kind OF penalty
attached 70 each error made? IT is
surprising how often one will uacon-
sciously wet the fingers with saliva
To do things and how easily the habit
can be broken by focusing attention
upon 1t.
If the roller towel and the common
things we think of them. consistency
demands that we should stop spread
ing saliva around.
Questions and Answers.
Francis i. writes: Is there any viz
tue in the swallowing of birdshot as n
cure for tho skin disease known AZ
Cuban Itch? ] have been advised To
try H. What causes Cuban itch?
Answer: Don't try 1t just yet, II YOU
would remain with us a little longer
one patient developed serious lead
poisoning from the manocuvre sug-
Eested: another was forced TO under
go operation for the removal OF the
shot. Cuban itch is popular name
for plain oid-fashioncd Itch. scablcs. II
Is caused by the itch Unite. II ubiquitous
and persistent little animal YOU acquire
from your friends. II can he cured
In one day az rule, under suitable
treatment. Internal remedies are OF no
value.
Vegetarian writes: Please advise
where ] can secure reliable informa-
ton upon the food value and digesti-
bility of the various fruits
Answer: Write To your Congressman
or the Secretary OF the Department
of Agriculture and request II copy OF
Farmers Bulletin 295.
DR.. Brady will answer all questions
pertaining to health. If your question
Is OF general Interest II will be an
swcred through these columns: If no.
IL Will he answered personally II
stamped, addressed envelope is In
closed. DR.. Brady viii not prescribe
for individual eases or make diagnoses.
Address all letters to Or. William
Brady, care Of The Times Dispatch.