The Detroit times., 1916-03-22
He That Hath
Clean Hands

Whenever | think Upon the rela-
ion which clean hands pear to our
public and individual health. the
verses Of the Psalm come TO mind:
Who shall ascend into the hill
Of the Lord? or who snail stand in
MS holy place? He that hath sclean
lands and pure heart; who hath
.ot lifted up his soul unto vanity
or sworn deceit July"
II sounds as IL this were written
specially for our fond guidance
lie that hath clean hands--and
''ath not sworn deceitfully." The
highest rewards In our daily health
end food management come to those
whose hands are clean figuratively
and literally ard who do not swear
deceitfully. but keep faith with their
patrons. II could name but one
campaign-and one only-to be car
ried on in the interests OF health, I
should say: Wage warfare against
the dirty hands OF food handlers. II
Of the dirty hand. II cannot be class
ed as another fad OF those fighting
for pure food. II Is something for
serious. lasting attention Its men,
ace to public health Is too little I'M
derstood. doubt IL there is a state
food official who has not been able
to trace isolated cases or epidemics
Of typhoid, through germ-laden hands
of mixers of cows. Cases OF tuber-
culosis and other diseases may be
traced ofttimes to infection carried
by the hands. of patients or those
caring for them.
II was part Of the warfare against
the disease-cariying hand. that made
the public towel aud the public
drinking cup go. II is the habit
some dog lovers have of allowing
their pets to lick their hands and
then using the hands to wipe their
mouths. to serve food to others. that
has brought about a movement 10
have pets muzzled and banished
from places where foods are pre-
pared and served.
What the public generally needs
Is TO be taught to respect the hu-
man hand. II you doubt the disre-
spect shown this valuable human
member, look at the hands of vari-
Gus persons who serve you during
your business day. Look at the
hands and nails of street car con-
ductors. I have yet to receive
change or q transfer from a hand
that looked as II 1t knew a hand
brush or with nails out Of mourning
One shudders TO think Of the germs
on the hand which handles so many
coins from SO many sources during
the day. Look at the hands and
nails OF the average wsiter--unless
you can afford TO patronize the high
erpriced lunchrooms. Watch the
waiter take his pencil from behind
his ear a. no writes your order. put
II to his lips, cough behind his bare
hand and perhaps use his handker-
chief. He guards everything about
your service but his own hand,
which II your greatest menace. Take
a Arm stand against dirty. disease.
carrying hands, whether you employ
hundreds OF workers or just one do
nestle. IL you are a mother. In
struct your children to wash their
hands after handling pets. play
things. ana all dusty. dirty objects
Never allow a child TO come to the
table with dirty hands. Refuse to
trade with a, srocer's or butchers
clerk whose hands and nails show
lack OF attention. II you make the
matter one of study, you will be
amazed TO see how many men who
sell you food, from the pushcart man
TO the butchers clerk, do not seem
TO possess handkerchiefs. or, IL
they do carry a handkerchief. II Is
not fresh one. In Russia, they say,
since vodka has been bsnished. the
peasants may have two handker-
chiefs O. year instead of only possess
ing one. but--we do not inhabit Rus
sis. There are more than enough