The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1921-01-07
HANDS

a pdle, tHlu man entered the once,
coughed, expectorated into his hand
kerchief which he crumpled together
and returned to his pocket, and sank
YEARLY into chair.
DR.. Porter, who was giving a health
lesson to a class of Little Mothers,
said: "Now l can show you what we
have been talking about This man,
patient of mine, has tuberculosis.
let me see your hand" The pa
TENTS thin and wasted hand was quite
Clean
This hand looks as clean as your
own. But Is it really? He has just
handled a handkerchief into which he
has been coughing and splitting"
Under direction, the patient soaked
and rubbed his hand in a small bowl
of water. This water the doctor put
into glass vessel which, In turn, he
placed in a small whirling machine.
In few moments the sediment in the
water was whirled to the bottom, of
the container. A drop of this sedi-
ment was drawn into a fine tube and
placed carefully upon n glass micro
StopC sllut Lie SlluC hdS pdSStu
through gas flame until it was dry.
This Is to drive off the water; and
now for the staining"
He dipped the slide into some COL
ored mixtures, explaining that germs
of tuberculosis would absorb the stain
and appear bright red under the MI
croscope. Every one moved nearer as
40 dnptnr Mo hn fbo
microscope and began moving 1t slow
ly back and forth as he looked
through the eye piece.
Good luck !" he exclaimed, you
can't always find them, but here they
are"
After the class had examined them,
the doctor told them that the germs
they had just seen caused tuberculo-
sis. and were always present when the
disease existed, were coughed up and
spit out by the billions by one in the
active stages of the disease, and came
only from a person or an animal who
had the disease.
Now said the doctor. Suppose
the patient buys box of matches
which he pays for with nickel. Just
after having coughed into his hand
The nickel, moist from his germ lad
ened hand, has scarcely settled in the
cash register when q child comes into
the store, buys a box of lacks, hurries
home-fn one hand her purchase, the
other tightly clutching the nickel
which was her change. and sits down
to supper without washing her hands
what Of it?"
"She would be in danger of getting
the germs into her mouth" answered
the girls in unison.
''In the meantime. the tuhercuIous
man walks down the street. sees a
movie sign, goes in and settles him
self comfortably with his hands on the
arm rest of the chair. What is the
RESULT" asks DR.. Por7er
"He leaves germs which other per-
sons may pick up replied one of the
girls
"Going home from the movie on
crowded car, the patient hangs by
strap-what happens?"
"He leaves the germs upon the
strap" said Little Mother.
q The patient interrupted: Doctor
how can l keep from passing my dis
ease to others?"
"By using paper napkins into which
you cough and spit-a fresh one each
time by splitting in a paper cup by
burning these napkins and cups after
they have been used by having Your
own dishes and table utensils. which
are boiled after being used; by sleep
ing in a room or porch by Yourself;
by repeatedly and thoroughly washing
your hands,"
"Can other diseases he carried by
the hands?' asked one of the class.
Eyes, common colds. typhoid fever.
and diphtheria are frequently so car
ried; also probably scarlet fever
measles, and many other diseases"
ut is a good rule to wash your
hands frequently--always before eat
ing anything which you handle, and to
keep your hands and fingers away
from your mouth"
"Disease germs are not on all
hands; they are on some-nearly al
WAYS on the hands of those who have
the disease often on those Of the ones
who have been In close contact with
the disease"