The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-10-20
Dr.. Brady's Health Talks
THE INSANE FEAR 0E GERMS.


I; is a familiar fact, in bacterlology,
that the skin of the hands is never
free from ordinary Dus-Droducing
germs. Surgeons know that even the
most thorough scrubbing and soaking
! In germicidal solutions will not whcl-
/ ly sterili1c the hands, and hence rub
Der gloves are worn for operating, be-
cause rubber gloves can he completely
sterilized.
! There is much doubt whether the
| skin Of the body can be absolutely
freed from pus-producing germs Coco
| CID by any known means which will
not destroy tho skin itself In every
surgical operation, matter how
perfect the aseptic precautions, the
patients own resisting powers must
he relied upon to take care Of the
! comparatively few germs that gain
{ entrance through the skin incision.
has been aDsurdly r-estimated by
hose who jump ut conclusions. For
Instance. paper money has been sus-
lected Of carrying an sorts of disease.
Some time ago a fake news dispatch
came out under a Washington. ID. c..
date line. stating that 81 government
Icourse) had made archaeological tests
! OF treasury notes which were in gen
er;ff circulation. and had found there
Oh the germs of scarlet fever, small
!. poX and don't recall Just what other
dread Diseases the cauaative germs of
which, il SO happens. have neHer been
discovered. The item, however, ser|-
! ed TO make people a bit nervous about
taking money---not doctors. but those
who don't need money badly.
! Not Schooibooks, but Had Habits.
] Lots of people imagine SCHOOLGIRLS
spread disease. Some one comes, for
| ward every little while with Il scheme
for disinfccting schoolbooks. Not a
! doctor. but some near sanitaran.
1 Paper money has never been shown
"a h.Nh
( been handled by a smallpox patient.
The alleged Instances Of contaSioh
books or letters are altogether too
/, far-fctched for credence; moreover.
! the element OF real personal contact
/ is not always deleted from the story,
and personal contact is the one neces
sary trail OF the epidemic.
/ II schoolbooks should be disinfect-
ldoorknohs, shop counters. and Il thous-
and and one other inanima,c objects
certainly require the same treatment
4 We submit that these touch objects
/; are not in the class OF the common
drinking cup and the roller towel, be
! such things to their mouths.
Schoolbooks. pencils. pens, pennies,
chewing gum and fingers are mouth
rnoistcning things with saliva is 10 he
! stopped. 'Disinfcction would be pure
IcNtrn vagance so long as saliva were
passed promiscuously around on such
! 1t is unnecessary TO fear diseaBe
| germs 50. long as they are not plant
ed directly upon u mucous membrane
/ or broken skin.
! Questions and Answers.
I Sleepy asks: What causes q rug
! ged. hard working man To fall asleep
at work, though he can only stay III
bed six or seven hours at night?
Reply: Here are a few guesses: AL
coholism, tobaccoism. Brights disease,
thigh blood pressure. anto-intoxica-
terio -sclcrosis, abuse of Tea or cof-
| fee, Irregular habits. heart disease.
| No matter how fine YOU fcel-one on
the verge OF a stroke may feel as fine
! rs silk-go and have ~ thorough over
/ hauling.
freckles? Can they be removed with
! out injury TO the skin? VIII peroxide
injure the face? is there much differ
encc between a practical nurse and a
| forty become either practical or
trained nurse: Can one become a
good nurse by taking lessons from Il
correspondence school?
| Reply: % Frecklcs are DEPOSITS of
pigment in localized spots instead OF
even areas as in tanning, Why this
happens in some people. blonds par
ticularly, we do not know: Peroxide
will not remove them. Electrolysis
ruin the complexion If used frequent
ly: CD Yes. any woman can call her,
| self practical nurse: only hospital
| graduate can call herself trained
nurse. Few training schools would
accept = probationcr over forty. but
! there is no good reason why n wo-
man over forty should not become Il
! first class nurse. if She has the health
and the spirit. The correspondence
schoo product. in our opinion. is not
| To be compared with tho nurse who
has bad even three months of hospi-
tai training. Correspondence schools
/ are conducted for profit. hospitals arc
l,nn l1t n
If you can only remain few months
/ In training.