New Britain herald., 1930-08-30
MILLION CARRYING
 GERMS EVERY DAY
N. Dum0nt Warns Against h.
 sanitary Drink Containers

With more than 100000 persons in the United States carrying con- tagious disease germs in their bodies. Dr. L. J. Dumont. in state ment issued today, pointed to the likehood of spreading infection through use of common drinking utensils.
 The health superintendent urges insistence by purchasers of bever- ages up having sterilized cups and glasses or containers which are de- stroyed after being once used,
 His statement follows:
 Tt is>probably no exaggeration to say that every day there are in the United Statess on an average, mil lion persons who suffer. or are re- covering from some communicab ble disease of some kind. Among the most prevalent and the most dam aging of these ailments are the so- called respiratory diseases and also we should place here the or dinary contagious diseases, practi- cally all of which are conveyed by the secretions of the nose and mouth, and consequently by the common drinking cup. Included in these groups Respiratory and con- tagious diseases) are tuberculosis, pneumonia, influenza, diphtheria, scarlet fever, measles, whooping cough, cerebrospinal meningitis, in fantile paralysis. septic sore throat and the common cold. These dis eases may be spread through arti- clos that are carried to the mouth such as glasses, cups, spoons, towels, handkerchiefs and pencils, if such articles are used in common with other persons. If one drinks from n fslass that reaches him unsterilized from the previous use by a person whose mouth or lips contain the germs Of any of these diseases, he contracting them.
 Common Drinking Cups Banned
 Tn order to minimize the danger Of these diseases, and to prevent their being carried from one to an other, the secretary of the treasury, on recommendation of the public health service. in the year 1921. for bade the use of common drinking cups on trains. steamers, and other public carriers engaged in interstate commerce. The majority of the states themselves have also enacted sanitary measures forbidding the use of the common drinking cup. In addition, many cities and towns have local ordinances which forbid the use of unsterilized drinking ves- sels at soda fountains. in hotels restaurants, theaters, and other pub lis places. Insofar as legislative nc- ton can protect, the public is pro- tected against the common drinking cup. However, and this is the most difficult factor public health author itles have had to face, the people Of the community for whom these safeguards have been devised. oft times fail to support the laws by falling to comply with them indi- vidually and by failure to insist on their enforcement.
 Sterilization Essential
 "A person suffering from any one Of the above mentioned diseases, carries in his saliva the infectine agent of that disease, and unless the vessel from which he drinks is sterilized or destroyed. the next user takes S>-cbance of becoming infected. It is because of this men, ace to the public that laws in gen. eral provide that there shall be sterilization of glasses after each use, or that cups shall be provided which may be used once and then destroyed. There is an obvious dis position on the part of many dis pensers Of soft drinks to avoid ,this sterilization process. and it ts not uncommon for such glasses 10 be dipped and redipped until the water in which they are rinsed be- comes veritable cesspool of germs; and each time a glass is rinsed it's potentiality for danger increases for the next user.
 Tt is not alone in soft drink dis pensaries that the dangers of the unclean glass may. be encountered These dangers may exist in resta,.- rants. cafeterias and many other places. The individual manircetr he same Carelessness every time he uses a common drinking glass at a picnic, on motoring trip, or in a camping ground or park. Every man. woman and child has a re- Ssponsibility in this matter, a respon- sibility to himself and to his fel- lows. It is the duty of anyone who drinks at soda fountain. restau- rant, or any other place, to find out whether the receptacle from which he drinks is safe, and if not to demand one that is. 1nsanitary conditions of whatever nature should be immediately reported to the local health authorities.
 "I wish 10 call to the attention of our citizens the following state regulation prohibiting the use of the common drinking cup:
 Tt shall be unlawful on and after January 1, 1912, to provide a com mon drinking cup in or upon the premises of any public building. hotel, restaurant, theater. public hall, school house or store and in any public park, street, railroad station, railroad car, or steamboat
 T strongly urge citizens to com ply with the above rules. so as to have a healthful community"
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