WAR ON HAND-SHAKING.

Shannon News, 11 May 1923, Page 4

WAR ON HAND-SHAKING.

A Mi- v< 1 TO HEALTH. •■■REFORMERS” IN AMERICA. The reformers are on the warpath to ciimirate another danger, says the Pittsburg correspondent of a London paper, and if they succeed the hand, shake will in a feAV years have gone the Avay of the roller towel, the family tooth brush, and the insanitary drinking cup. Prominent doctors agree that handshaking is not only a carrier of disease germs, but is ex. tremely harmful to the neiwous system. Dr. S. R. Haythorn, until recently chairman of the Sanitation Committee of the Allegheny County Medical Society, Avhen questioned on the subject, said: “During the influenza epidemic bulletins Averc put out by tlie United States Public Health Service, Avarning people against shaking hands. I think that hand-shaking is very bad during an epidemic. Although I do not think it a very serious menace ordinarily, it is probably a bad prac. tiee. No person Avith tuberculosis ought to shake hands.”

General handshaking Avas condemn, ed by Miss Nan L. Dorsey, superintendent of the Public Health Nursing 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. criminate handshaking is very bad,” she said. “I have been told that President Harding and the late Theodore Roosevelt had to have masseurs to manipulate their hands, and there Avas almost evidence o,f paralysis after they had shaken hands constantly.” Mrs Enoch Raub, director of the Department of Public Charities, and formerly president of the Council of Jewish Women, Avho has always been actively interested in the Avelfare and general health of the public, expressed her opinion as I‘oJloavs: “I think that hand.shaking ought to be eliminated from society, and agree that it is a germ carrier. Many germs congre. gate on the hands, and avc cannot be washing our hands constantly. I think it is a good thing to abolish hand, shaking, just as I think it is to do aAvay Avith kissing. I lia\'e been one of the kissers, and love to kiss, but I do not think it is sanitary. I have been told that hand.shaking is. of great harm 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 nerves. One can be just as cordial Avithout shaking hands.”

Dr. C. J. Styber, president of the North Side branch of the Allegheny County Medical Society, said that he thought ordinary handshaking Avas not very dangerous, but in eases of highly infectious disease, bacteria can accumulate on the hands, and Avhen a slice of bread or other food is touched it is contaminated.