PUBLIC DRINKINGCUPS

Wanganui Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15128, 24 January 1917, Page 5

PUBLIC DRINKINGCUPS

CONDEMNED BY HEALTH OFFICER. - A TIMELY WARNING. “The use of common drinking cups i$ one of the most dangerous practices that can be imagined, and in a country 1 such as this should not be tolerated. The above paragraph was the open- ! ing sentence in a letter from the District Health. Officer received by the Wanganui Borough Council last even-,’ ing. ' ; Continuing, Dr. Smith said:—"Aa our knowledge of infectious disease advances we are driven more and more to the conclusion that organisms of infectious disease of many varieties* may be found in the secretions of the ,1 mouths of apparently healthy individu- ‘ als, and that these carriers act as a; main source of spread- When such a person drinks from any vessel he leaves a film of saliva on the surface which cannot be readily removed by' rinsing, and when shell a vessel is used by another person, these organisms , are transferred to his mouth, and may * readily produce disease. Diphtheria, ■ pneumonia, influenza, infantile paraly-; .sis, measles, whooping cough, anflr? many other dangerous diseases maybe thus spread throvyrhout- the town,In such cases as syphilis, tuberculosis, . and other chronic infections -condPS. tions, the patient himself may drink * from such cups with obvious possibilities. I should he glad therefore if youp'Council would at once bring forward* the question of immediately discon-» tinning the use of common cups in the streets, public buildings..: and public places of the town, and.: substitute therefor sanitary bubble# fountains.” 1 The subsequent discussion disclosed" that fountains were a rarity in Wan-t garnii. and the Mayor thought there* should be same place where youngsterseould net a drink. He suggested thePost Office corner* - and Guyton Streetcorner. j Finally the matter was referred tot the Works Committee. *