WAR ON HAND-SHAKING.

Otaki Mail, 2 May 1923, Page 4

WAR ON HAND-SHAKING.

A ii-' ..c;; to Jisi.vi.j ji. "KEI'OR.YSR.S" IX AMERICA. The reformers are on the warpati to elimirnte another danger, says tin Pittsburg correspondent of a J.ondor paper, and if they succeed the hand shake will in a few year- have gom the way of the roller towel, tip family tooth brush, and the insanitan drinking cup. Prominent doctor, agree that hand-baking is not onlv r carrier of disease germs, but is 'ex

trc-mely harmful to the nervous system] Dr. S. R. Haythorn, until recently chairman of the Sanitation Committee of the Allegheny County Medical Society, when questioned on the subject, said: 'During the influenza epidemic bulletins were put out by the United States Public Health Service, warning people against shaking hands. I think that hand-shaking is very bod during an epidemic. Although 'I do not_ think it a very serious menace ordinariiy. it ; s probably a bad prac. tice. No person with tuberculosis ought 10 shake hands."

Genera! handshaking was condemn. ed by Miss Nan L. Dorsev, superintendent of the Public Health Xtirsing As. sociation. "While there are a great many factors to be considered, and I think in some instances, such as the home, handshaking is all right, indis. cnminate handshaking is very bad," she said, "i have been told that President Hording and the late Theodore Roosevelt had to have masseurs to manipulate their hands, and there was almost evidence- of paralvsis after they had shaken hands constantly."

Mrs Enoch P.aub. director of the Department of Public Charities, and formerly president of the Council of Jewish Women, who has always been actively interested in the welfare and general health of the public, expressed her opinion as follows: "i think that hand.snaking ought to be eliminated from society, and agree thai it is a germ carrier. Many germ? congre gate on the hand-, and we cannot be washing our hands constantly. I think « us a good thing to abolish hand snaking, just as I think it is to do away with kissing. I have been one- of the kissers., and love to kiss, but I do not thmk it is sanitary, i have been told that handshaking is of great narm to the nervous system, and that certain public people 'who have been called upon to shake hands a great deal have discontinued it because of its prostrating effect on the nerve.?. One can be just as cordial without shaking hands." Dr. C. J. Styber, president of the North Side branch of the Allegheny County Medical Society, said that he thought ordinary handshaking was not

very dangerous, but in cases of highly infectious disease, bacteria car. accumulate on the hands, and when a slice or bread or other food is touched it is