Toothbrush Dargers

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXXVI, Issue 11, 17 March 1906, Page 43

Toothbrush Dargers

Not even the innoeeii- 1 toothbrush comes under the ban of the savant, and it presents an arraignment formidable indeed. From a glimpse of 1h« indictment one wonders that the human race lias survived Hie dangers confronting it for so long. To begin, the first count charges murder in the first degret* in that the bristles are directly responsible for cum-ers of the month and throat. The sharp bait's stick in the gums, the mucous membranes of the mouth and the throat, and set up irritation which in time develops into cancer. Even if the toothbrush user escapes this evil he is subject to all sorts of diseases contracted through the introduction of germ> into the mouth by the use of the brush. The instrument, after using is merely wtushed off in water and thrust into a glass or mug. The dampness catches any microbes which may chance to be out house hunting, and provides a splendid br<*eding ground for many forms of germs which at the next using are introduced into the system through heuig swallowed or directly into the blood through a scratch. Even granting that the bristles do not break off or become infested with germs, tin* rough friction causes abrasions, while the stiff hai's cannot penetrate every crevice and so (eave accumulations of food to work evils of magnitude. I'ln- only <**tap<* is found in the use of a pledget of u’disept c cotton, upon which some simple powder has been sprinkled. According to the authorities, a too hbrush used but once and examined two hours after will • ! • \ h-lf a dozen different spec’ l *’ irerms, while one in use a we I fai ' t«*t >ns with m'nu.e forms of life.