DEATH GERMS IN CRACKED DISHES.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLII, Issue 216, 11 September 1908, Page 6

DEATH GERMS IN CRACKED DISHES.

NEW HIDING PLACE OF

MICROBES

Death lurks in the cracked mugs of quick-lunch rooms, according to Dr Wiley, chief of the American Bureau of Chemistry of the Agricultural Department, and Dr Stiles, bacteriological expert of the Department. The tiniest chip off any piece of china may prove fatal to the person using the utensil if these profoundly learned men are to be believed,because in the broken portion millions of bacilli collect, awaiting an opportunity to strike a blow at the person following the pastoral pursuit of sipping a cup of half-and-half or negotiating with a nice slice of beefsteak.

Dr Stiles managed to possess himself of a dozen or more damaged mugs from..- lunch-rooms, and proceeded to run the bacilli to earth. After putting them through a series of paces which made the germs wish they had congregate in a more lawful locality, he cfiine to the following conclusions: "We .find the presence of twentythree distinct species of organisms in the debris contained within the visible cracks and seams of the vessels examined. The number of organisms per given area of surface ranged from 486 to 14,680,000 in the final test.

"This is a question which must necessarily appeal to every responsible individual who seriously considers the matter of eating clean and wholesome food. When we consider the great iiumber and variety of these organisms studied in relation to these cracked mugs, the question of household sanitation becomes more imperative than ever, and the study of sanitary conditions in private and public Hie would in many instances furnish startling results. "Many of our hotels, public restaurants, cafes, etc, are particular to see that splendid serving-rooms are provided and elaborately furnished, which, from exterior appearances, seem to be all that could be^ desired for the welfare and comfort of their guests, but let one go behind the scenes in many places and note the changed conditions. The picture may be entirely different from that expected."