SPREADING DISEASE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18578, 28 September 1928, Page 9

SPREADING DISEASE.

To the EditorDear Sir, —Recently, while in the North Island, I came across the following incident:—A hawker called upon a friend with whom I was staying. This fellow was canvassing tea from door to door. After hearing a tale of out of work, etc., my friend's wife bought some tea (although she did not require it). The husband then questioned the man, who stated that h.s wife was a consumptive, and that he had recently <u2nt two of his children to an infectious hospital. My friend asked where he stored his tea, and was told that it was stored in the man’s house, and 1 lended or mixed in a back room, with a shovel, the floor being covered with paper or anvas. Needless to state, the tea purchased was not used. No wonder diseases are spread, and that our hospitals are full, when goods for human consumption are hawked from door to door. This is more serious than ail the impudence received from hawkers when one does not wish to buy. Yet another case, a milkman this time:—l watched this fellow filling the so-called hygienic bottles. Having picked up a bottle from the ground, he proceeded to fill it, holding the bottle over the can while he filled it. Having caused froth to rise, he blew this off with his mouth, letting the milk drip over the side of the bottles (and his fingers) into the can. He next produced a cap from a very soiled waistcoat pocket and capped the bottle. It is very obvious what happens. Mixed with the dirt and germs adhering to the bottom of the bottle, the milk now remaining in the can is then served up to the other customers. This, then, is the hygienic method of milk in bottles.—l am, etc., PREVENTION.