DRYING THE HANDS

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 16, 19 January 1924, Page 16

DRYING THE HANDS

HOT AIB FOR SANITATION.

The roller towe], beloved of British institntionsj and still in evidence bn: ?r*!??fe.'¥?SI!?»* can., be seen even with the-naied Njye jtx!~ be undesirable' from the point of view of cleanliness. As a source of infection in public places it probably has much for which to answer. In some' instances paper towels have been introduced, and while the hygienic instinct may be satisfied by them the more commonplace function of drying takes place * without much practical result. Clean -towels for everybody are obviously impossible, though another generation ;inay .Hvonder "why. The sys^ tern of the very- small, towel also has the disadvantage that it is rather too easy to carry away. This danger has occasionally; been obviated in some'of thehptels.,and clubs by threading tbweis, the si?e of a small pocket-handkerchief llPon., a. We.' As each little towel is used,;; % it",'.is,p)iished along : . to the 'other side^crrtho'Avire,1 as though it was a leaf of.A. self-filling, diary. This does not leavo very much upon which to dry th;c;hjjS(ls ) ;anclit also necessitates a good dear of'»washing—almost as much, -iri fact, as would-a larger and more convenient towel.i.. ./

. thejefine.thids have been in vo^ue iff-New «sfqrk tmtil~q'uito recently; the old roller;;towel having long ago been consigned; £b ofilivion. It is also pos--siHle/to buy a towel for, five cents whichi<dehvered in the sealed packet—a procedure which, fills tho American-: with; confidence -wherever he is.. The ; latest method in, public places is"; ;however, to d£ away ttith;\'towels. altogetHer:- This d6es not mean-a revision to the bar--borism of no iwaEhins, biit thic inetalla--lion of yet another labour-saying machinfi. -This tajip? jth^e; fprm- of a-■.warm-air mgcbinp. It'is-installed n'ext','to, the baling, '•.vhicbS'are'also fitted r \yith. tb^ machinClwhich grinds out shredded BC«p as neecTcd.'rv^ho.'.aspii'arit after dry-: ness sets hia .focjl'iipon a :pedal'; J,hcre". isr'a violent hu'nwiing and a. -stream ofv;Srm air in which; he.-places; liis hands, lifja very shoH tiniß'tliey are-dry, and that without & vestige, of paper or towelling. The air ..'is-...guaranteed not to ch-ap the hands/, and • indeed .it v dries them a good deal'jnore': thoroughly than does the old towel In-whatever form. Itis,-', of coi? : rse'j*.-.jiecessary to "time the wa.shmgC;tp--:fif the hot air, but that might also apply in the case of popular pressure upon the towel. The system also implies'a' "very well organised electrical iSystem,..which is only possible in; big towns. . .-