The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1932-09-24
THE CLEANLINESS OBSEsSION

When an idea more or less domi-
mates a persons actions yet the per-
son knows the idea is false or unreal
exaggerated, we say the per-
son is obsessed by the idea, or has
an obsession. If the person fails to
recognize the falsity of the idea and
goes to absurd lengths with it, we
call it a phobia. Such persons are
not necessarily insane but perhaps in
the borderland, bit eccentric. If the
idea is unreasonable or unnatural,
yet the person insists 1t Is true and
commits singular deeds under the
urge of the idea, that constitutes
frank insanity with decisions or hal
fluctuations.
Now as I see it, everybody is kinda
crazy about cleanliness except my
self. Nearly everybody considers it
necessary to brush his teeth in order
to keep them clean. II perchance a
queer bird turns up who seldom or
never brushes his teeth, just about
the time I get to chatting with him
he suddenly goes into a sheer and
lets me know he has bath tub,
maybe a collection of them, and
deems it de rigueur for gentlemen,
sab, to wallow in the tub at least
every Saturday night.
If could conscientiously do 50, I'd
come out clearly for law or ordi-
nance prohibiting the installation of
bath tubs except in hospitals, sani-
tariums or the homes of helpless in
valids. I'd dicker with the national
thing association and the exclusive
plumbers guild for subsidy to en-
able me to promote the more extern
sive use of shower stalls in homes
and statute inflicting heavy fine
on hotels, boarding houses and tour
lists camps found maintaining CON-
mon tub. But I can't accept such q
retainer, you know, because believe
it doesn't make particle of differ
ence whether you have your own pri-
vate bath or use any old bath which
is not engaged at the moment, and
likewise I believe any old tub or re-
ceptacle you choose or are compelled
to battle in is quite as sanitary az
the grandest shower ever built.
All body washing is wholly a mat.
ter OF personal comfort and not al
all matter of hygiene or health.
Hand washing is a very different
matter. For nation that makes sc
much noise about its body washing
these United States use far less soar
and water than should be used fol-
the protection of health.
Instead Of issuing sweet homilies
on the joys of the morning bawtt
| and exquisite cleanliness our public
health authorities should besti1
themselves to clean up some Of the
frightfully dirty restaurants, lunch
stands and similar places where fooe
is sold to be consumed on the prem.
lses but no proper means Of washing
the hands are provided for patrons
Graft is the reason why municipal.
ties issue licenses to these place.
without requiring the installation o.
suitable lavatory facilities.
The cleanliness obsession strikes ir
sometimes and gives the victim thu
internal bath" habit. This make.
the unhappy wretch resort to ar
enema, injection, bowel wash or color
irrigation daily as a means of keep
ing we'll, or on occasions as the MAR
treatment of whatever illness befalls
Charlatans who market the impedi
menta for internal baths or tn
service in colon ,rilling stations, as
sure them that this sort of cleanli
ness is synonymous with health
They call it natures way-though
is hard to conceive any interference
that is more unnatural.