FILTHY LUCRE.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 13661, 27 March 1908, Page 3

FILTHY LUCRE.

' -■■ -" MICROBES ,ON NOTES AND COIN. AN AMERICAN AGITATION. A.n agitation against the pircylation of filthy baiik notes has been set^ on foot by the" New Plymouth Chamber of Commjarce. It appoarathat tike -daggers of dirt 1 attach equally to metal fcoiiis. An article ip *he "Tocfrnieal World" gives senSatibnal .^accounts of the -number -of disease germs daily circulated by money. ',An-,«xact study, of this subject has been made recently by the Director of the Research Laboratory of- New, YoxK Who rejjorts that, v as shown by microscopic examination, an average piece- of- , paper money,.moderately clean, «arries ' twenty-two ;thoitsand five hundred bacteria; the average amongst dfl'iy liotos may rise to about seventy-three thousand. Many nricrobes, of- course, are harmless, but theso mercy multitudes frequently inoluded the lttpst undesirable germs of typhoid; tuberculosis, and scarlet fever. The bank clerk, constantly engaged in counting money; does wisely in. moistening his 'finger-tips from the counter sponge, instead 6f raising them to his mouth in the manner of the natural boy. Even with such precautions against accident; his is a fearful trade, while tram conductors, church-wardens, and others, dealing with collections of small change; run no less risk. An average dirty copper coin was proved by this research to afford a home for numbers of bacteria. .'. * New Zealand probably has not to complain of the fact notod in . New i York "that immigrants who* have, riot t washed for many years perhaps, often hide money on their persons for long periods'' — eventually putting it into circulation attended by all the diseases its caref irl owner may have experienced while cherishing' Ms' hoard. That the Americsn public like clean cash seems proved by the success of firnis offering as an attraction that only brand new money will" be given in chnuge duf.ing a sale. It is how proposed that tW'pubhc should .defend itself by. forming "Clean Money Clubs" in every town; members berng bmwd by solemn pledge to wash in gjertnjcjdal fluid every, coin ' that Comes, their; wVy. Espeaiallv jt should be held & erhne' to hand a enild ap unwashed penliy. After reading this fceientific indictment one can, only wonder at the constitution of famous misers, who yet. enjoyed a prolonged, }l wo can hardjy call it. a good, old. ace.

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