The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1920-10-29
Dear Jennie:

Your remark in your last letter,
"You can't sometimes always tell,
had its exemplification in my school
today. Tony Morelli was the expon-
ent and the cause, health lecture
Tony appeared to be paying attention
to everything except DIR. Strong, our
School Medical Inspector, VINO was
telling the class how certain diseases
are borne from one person to another
He laid special stress upon tubercu-
losis and explained how germs OF that
disease were almost always present In
fine sputum (spit. he called it) OF per
sons having 1t, that when the sputum
dried the germs were liberated and
could be breathed in by Others he
said that common colds were often
contracted by breathing In germs
which had been expelled by the cough
ing or sneezing of others who had
colds. That this danger was greatest
in crowded, ill-ventilated quarters. He
said of the great outbreak of influenza,
that its extent might have been lessen
ed if all persons had followed the
practice of covering coughs and
sneeZeS.
When the Doctor finished, I allowed
ten minutes for each pupil to write the
points of the talk they had just
heard. Here's where Tony came In.
The rest of the papers were good, bad
or Indifferent, as such papers In
school room average, but Tony, with
apparently little effort. produced this:
Coughs and sneeZes spread
diseases,
And o, that spit Beware of 1t"
have completely reorganizedt my
opinion of Tony and, while l should
scarcely class him as budding Kip
ling, I give him credit for quick per-
ception and breyity Of expression. and
he has demonstrated TO me the value
Of school instruction in health
They say Its hard to teach an, old
dog new tricks" and as a rule the
conclusions OF the They" are the de-
auctions of experience. but let us set
the Young generation straight.
While the Two great politicali parties
are eontending as TO the best way to
save the world and make it safe to
live Inlet us, School Teachers. save
the people from being weaklings and
cripples by teaching of practical les
sons of health
Yours as ever.
ELLA.
Diphtheria-Scarlet Fever-Measles
Spinal Meningits-and other dis
eases. in addition to influenza and the
common cold, are transmitted by the
secretions of the nose and throat.
Did You ever shoot at barn door
with a shot gun?
Do you remember how the shot from
a muZZle less than an inch were scat
tered from edge to edge?
There Is a similar occurrence when
a pint or more OF air is propelled vio-
lently through a pair of small cali
bre nOstrils-except that instead of
leaden pellets, are usually active, Iiv-
ing disease germs, riding upon tiny,
oftimes invisible droplets which
spread fan like TO O distance Of six
feet or more
A sturdy unobstructed sneeze from
the rear row in the movie house, may
project its vanguard of infective germs
two, three or even four seats ahead,
while the rank and file, mounted upon
invisible droplets hover In the air to
be breathed by occupants Of the In
tervening chairs. Often no harm re-
suits because natures resisting pow
err Overcomes the germs before they
can establish permanent Judgment.
Sometimes, however, the resisting
power fails, or is insufficient, and then
comes infection and disease-which
might have been avoided had the
sneeze been covered.
cough or sneeze should be cover.
ed by the handkerchief. or IL there be
no time for that, by the hand, which
should be Immediately washed