Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1917-04-03
INFECTION IN BOOKS

Librarians and patrons of libraries
for that matter, write from time tC
time asking whether books convey
infection and if so in what way shall
they be disinfected.
Ten years ago the opinion was
general that people were frequently
infected in this way and many in
ventors were at work deyising ma
chimes for the disinfection of books.
| The problem had it's difficulties. The
bindings must not be spoiled, the
leather was delicate, the paste easily
harmed, the paper would not stand
wetting.
Formaldehyde does not disinfect
dry surfaces. Sulphur fumes require
moisture for efficacy, but in the
presence Of moisture are converted
into destructive gas. Watery solu-
lions were impossible and dipping in
gasoline solutions never commended
itself. The need seemed great, but
the method of meeting it seemed i'm
possible of ordinary practical applica-
ton, at least in small libraries.
However, in the last ten years the
scientific trend has been away from
the opinion that books carry con-
tagion. 1t has been proven over and
over that the great sources of con-
tagion are persons who are sick with
contagion or have recently been in
contact with contagion.
There is practically no evidence
that books carry contagion. In 1915
Kenwood and Dove said: "There is
probably no material risk involved in
the reissue of books recently read by
unless the books are
obviously soiled. Even then the risks
are slight" If this opinion is true
in relation to books used by con-
the danger is even less as
regards other forms of contagion.
Laubach reports the results of two
sets of experiments in the bulletin of
Johns Hopkins hospital. He sought
for live diphtheria bacilli in $50
books recently handled by cases of
No diphtheria bacillf
we're found. He examined seventy
five torn, dirty books which for years
1ad been passing through the hands
Of children in very unsanitary homes.
No ordinary disease producers were
found on any of them. He then
the pages of certain books
with diphtheria and typhoid germs.
He found that when the books were
Kept in the dark the bacteria re-
NAMED alive for months. In the
light they died in less than twelve
lays. In the bright sunlight they
lied in few hours.
The Journal of the American Med |
cal Association, commenting on these
says: "It would be |
afest if books handled by patients |
we're thoroughly disinfected. Direct
appears to be as efficient and
eady an agent here as elsewhere
To my mind the proof is clear that !
he danger of the spread of contagion
through books is very slight, The |
My one of the three tests noted |
.bove which indicated any danger
vas the laboratory test, where the |
Dollution was far greater than ever
PREVAILS in practice.
81 suggest that a library have a
hallow box with handles and with a
ENJOYABLE glass cover, that circulat- |
ng books upon each return, and read |
ng room books at weekly intervals
'e placed in this box and exposed to |
irect sunlight for five hours. The |
lass cover is only to be used when |
DOT and dust make Unnecessary. The |
'ox is to be tilted toward the sun.
The books are to be opened and from |
ime to time the leaves are to be |
pread apart" DIR. w. A. Evans
reprinted from Chicago Tribune.
So many people are afraid to let |
hildren use library books. We are
ending the above from a noted phys
clan. All books used by children in
antilles having a contagious disease |
re burned so no one need have fears
# handling them.