Ripley County democrat. (Doniphan, Mo.) 1905-1920, 1916-08-18
Scientists Find Them Carriers o)
Bacteria and Source ot
Danger.
ONLY TWO N Ff7Y CLEAN
Experts Suggest That Public Molstsg.
err Be Maintained Wherevss
6famps Are soId---Danosr.
Gus 10 Lick Them.


Philadelphia. .-- Two Philadeiphia
scientists, DIR. Robert A. Keilty and
Philip d. McAlaster, have been carry.
Ing on an investigation In the Me-
Mnnus laboratory Of pathology Of the
University Of Pennsylvanla to deters
milne whether or not postage stamps
are germ curriers'. Their experiments
have been completed and the results
were published In the Medical Record,
The answer to the query is YEA
Thoy learned that out Of 80 stamps
tested In several ways 4s yielded bac
teria. On the other hand, with th
possible exception of two cases, nor
pr the germs isolated could cause d
ease. /
This does not mean, however. that:
care should not be exercised in han.
ding stamps. for II is Just as easy
for them to be impregnated with dis.i
ease germs as with those that are
harmless. the experllnenters say. Here
Is part Of their report:
"The purpose Of this study was to
determine the normal bacterial fora
OF postage stamps, that is. to get some
idea of the general character Of bac-
teria found on stamps. with especial
emphasis In the search for tubercls
bacilli, or the bacillus tetani, the colon
group, and dlphtherlal forms.
~The literature on this subject n
surprisingly meager, and but little rec
ord Is made OF the bacteria Of stamps.
The subject Is usually approached
from the viewpoint OF the spread Of
Infection by the postal service a.
whole, the infection by letters. and the
fumigation Of letters. and but little
record Is made Of infection by stampa.
or Of the bacteria of stamps.
stamps From Fifty Sources.
"In order to determine this 80
stamps were bought In various stores
In Philadelphia. including the centratI
Office. branch stores, almost all theI
large department stores, and some efl
the small general stores. Most Of theI
stamps were bought from sheets aud q |
few (three) from stamp books. Ths|
character Of the place was noted. itn|
general cleanliness, the clerk and hisl
appearance. and whether the stampsl
iiwere placed on the counter with theI
change, or not. In almost all casesI
ithey were presented with the glual
side up. showing that the precepts oil
public hyglene have had that. much
effect.
"The majority Of the stamps showed
one or more organisms, but In no'
single instance were. they found to bel
lpathogenic In tyne. Thls does not,
exclude the fact that under favorable
conditions certain pathogeaic types
which would resist drying ta q certain
extent, might be carried On q Bpstage
stamp. On the other hand Ne work
proves the stamp to be carrier Of Or
ganisms, and these could be readily
transferred from one Individual to an<
other. This woald only be Of import
.snce where the organism was paths.
genie.
A Dangerous Drug stors.
I'VE have In mind drug store
where one Of the members Of tho
druggists fsmilg had advanced tuber>
culosis. His sputam contained many.
bacilli, he had, Q. hacking cough ana
was m the habit OF protseting hfa
mouth with his hand; white coughing.
During busy times he. sften served
customers and not lnfrequently Dis
lpensed stamps to children. who would
Immediately meistcn them, with their
mouths and paste theml tD. letters II
single exposure, IN, this case might
prove negative, but the constant. ex.s
posure In some cases would urdpuhtr.
edly end In Infection,
These conclusions were reacAcdi hys
the Investigators
I, "A study Of fifty stamps obtaine61
from as many dlfferenf sources. cienn..
dirty. and Indifferent. showed bactsria.
In every Instance except two.
with the possible exception e tvs.
cases no organisn pathogenic IN tn.
was discovered
@Aside from kyEienic reasons. Il a
dangerous to iick postage stamps q
the ground that the stamps ere -
teria-laden. and untler favorahle cons
ditIons might eesily coavey pat1o4
genie types. espeesally eelsn. g.
theris. and tuberese hacillk
Eve would tAerefoss sdsseaos =
movement to have Installed ~ -
places dIspeasfnx postage s11r1pe Z
niolstenlhg device e D6us syp& IT,
movement could BE- sterted~tlA osos<=
iceat results h TIE ~ (ne1a =
Ne I}affaii Efnfun xoFu<nm0n1H