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Show CONTAGIOUS CURRENCY. Disoaso Gorms Found on OolnB and Bank Notos. Onit of tho Mont Sorlous Monaco to l'ubllu Health Various Wnya in 'Which tho Germs Arc Transferred. Public attention hns never been directed di-rected In tin adequate manner to the dangers which exist in the careless handling of money. Owing to it rap-Idly rap-Idly circulating imture lind tothomany uncleanly places in which it is constantly con-stantly being concealed and carried, the coin of the realm possesses advantages advan-tages in tliedcsbcinlnatlon of infectious diseases not inherent in any other ob cct of public utility. For this reason it should be, regarded as a possible source of contagion at a.11 times, and should be bundled with the most serious se-rious consideration. Hut instead of applying sanitary or common-sense methods to the necessarily numerous personal contacts with tho circulating incditVm, the majority of people show less discretion in Its use. than in uny other habit of life. Husiiicsh men unconsciously un-consciously dampen their lingers in their mouths when running through a package of bills, paascngers in the street 4cars hold nickels in their lips, and shoppers neglect cuts or abrasions abra-sions on the Angers which touch quantities quanti-ties of change. Yet all of these foolish oversight may prove an serious us the careless handling of Ufireann. In both eases the excuse Is the same: "Didn't know 'it'-was loaded." - Ilecent experiments experi-ments prove that practically all of the older conis and bills in circulation are thoroughly tainted with diseases of more or less malignant types. Molds and fungi of numerous varieties; cocci, which included all of the more deadly blood-poisoning germs, and bacilli .of several possibly dangerous kinds were all found in a few samples, while this chance of detecting" the organisms of the greater number of the contagious diseases was prevented by the conditions condi-tions of the experiment. More complete com-plete and extended tests would doubtless doubt-less have shown even more startling results, re-sults, while the possibility of finding germs of an epidemic nature, even in the present state of the city's health, was admitted by the bacteriologists conducting; con-ducting; the Investigation. This contaminated condition of tho money in circulation may well be considered con-sidered one of the most serious menaces men-aces to the pnbljc health. Yet a few simple and common seiu.c precautions will remove tho greater part, of the danger. Clean the unscurrcd hands, or gloves worn while shopping, a rrasonable degree of care in holding money, and above all an avoidance of putting coins, bills, or fingers In tho mouth or on tio lips while engaged' in oommercialtp4rsuits, arc easy ways to procure safety. With these simple methods of obtaining security ready at hand the present widespread violations of sanitation must result either from profound ignorance or from an almost criminal degree of carelessness. Chicago Chi-cago Tribune. , . 4 |