CHINESE HAND-SHAKE

Evening Star, Issue 19519, 29 March 1927, Page 8

CHINESE HAND-SHAKE

MORE WISE Til AX COMIC. Shaking hands with oneself as the Chinese do when they meet, is vastly more hygienic and sensible than our own hearty exchange of clasps, according to the ‘Ohio Health News’ (Columbus). The writer commends heartily a recent editorial in the ‘ Canton Nows ’ on “ Hand-shake Germs,” which seems to him to express what he terms an “ uncommon-sense view of this questionable habit” He goes on:—

“The quest ; n has often occurred to us: Wliy i a hand-shako? Isn’t it only a relic of the past with which wo might profitably dispense? Much has been written about the custom, its origin and its meanings; yet nothing to justify it from a, sanitary standpoint. “That it can convey infection can bo proved by laboratory tests. The warm, moist surface of tbo hand forms a very favorable resting-place for bacteria while waiting for further transfers to our friends. Germs are no respecters of person or relationship. The most devoted of parents are physically just as capable of transferring infection to their children ns any ono

'■ It is a strange thing, but nearly universal, that people cough and sneeze into or upon their right hands—■ the ones with which they shake hands. Germs cling very readily to the skin of the hands, and it requires much mechanical and chemical scrubbing and disinfection to remove them; yet, sociable little things that they are, they are over ready to transfer their affections from one hand to another, or from hand to lip or food. Under ordinary conditions the human hand is a cnlturc-hcd of germs and liable at any time to have its millions of germs augmented, or transferred, as the occasion presents. _lf yon want ro realise the, possibilities of the transfer of diseases hv the hand just watch anyone for a day and see where he puts Ills hands, ■wlint lie allows to touch and soil them, and how democratic he is in passing his germs along to his friends and family. . “That the custom of hand-shaking will ever go out of use may be doubted, but that It is a moans of conveying disease is susceptible of scientific demonstration. Our only hope is that people realising the danger will take cverv precaution against putting their hands where they may either acquire or transmit infection. The Chinese have a verv commendable custom of shaking their own hands when meeting friends, a custom we might well adopt. We make a lot of fun of China, lint often may profit by her ancient wisdom if we but would. At least, your own germs will stay at homo if you shako your own hand.”