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Show MERCHANTS ASKED I FOR CO-OPERATION , j Health Commissioner Complains That ; Exchange of Purchased Articles Often Spreads Contagion. Merchants of Salt Lake City are asked by Dr. R. W. Ashley, health commissioner, commission-er, to co-operate with the city board of health in correcting an abuse which aeems widespread in this city. In a written writ-ten communication to merchants. Dr. Ashley says that wearing apparel has been exchanged in stores and then sold to another customer. Dr. Ashley states that In two cases lie knows of the sale of the exchanged article has resulted In the spreading of disease and he says that unless co-operation Is given by the merchants mer-chants it may be necessary for the city to pass an ordinance forbidding the exchange ex-change of any artfele of clothing. The plea of Dr. Ashley, as directed to the merchants yesterday, Is as follows: I wish to call your attention to and ask your co-operation in remedying an abuse which seems to be widespread wide-spread in this city. I have learned of many cases' where people have purchased toilet articles or wearing apparel, and. after using or wearing them, have returned them to the merchant and exchanged them for others. ( In at least two cases i children's 'clothing have been delivered deliv-ered to houses under quarantine and returned to the merchant, after the quarantine had been removed. I do not believe it necessary to explain ex-plain to you that this practice offers many opportunities for the spread of contagious diseases, not to mention , many of the loathsome diseases which are not classed as contagious. This Is particularly true of wearing apparel worn next to the skin and such articles ar-ticles as hot-water bottles and other accessories used in the sick room. I realize that the stress of competition compe-tition compels the individual mer-ohant mer-ohant to make concessions to the de-mands de-mands of customers, no matter how ! unreasonable these demands may be, but I believe most of the people will listen to reason If they can be convinced con-vinced that such practices are a menace men-ace to health. If we cannot secure your co-operation in this matter, It will be neces-aiy neces-aiy for ua to secure the passage of an ordinance prohibiting the exchange of any article by any merchant, and we are not desirous of interfering with just and reasonable exchanges. |