COLUMN FOR WOMEN

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 7, Issue 121, 23 January 1915, Page 2

COLUMN FOR WOMEN

A LURKING DANGER. Many persons have been disabled ct disfuired for life by using towel?, soap after they have been infected by other people suffering from contagion* diseases. Have your own individual towel, soap and glass. If yot. are ever forced t) *;sc public soap, before you touch your hands to it let hot. water run over it until the outer coating is washed off. The hatv 1 .; are most susceptible to infection because of their open pores. Thousands of people are taking chances with their health every day of their T-. using public soap tablets and public towels (writes Lilian Russell in the Chicago Tribune.) AsiCTe from the general impurity of cheap soaps, great danger lies in accumulated dirt upon the public bar of soap. There is no knowing who has used the soap before you, or what condition of health they, might have beein in Therefore it is necessary to wash the soap before using it. This may sound superfious, but it is not so. Soap can collect and absorb impurities far more effectively than can glass, and great precautions have t.) be taken to prevent infections from glass and tin drinking cups.

PORES OF THE HAND ALWAYS OPEN. The ]\>t*»-j of the hands are always || open. Hands-ere therefore more liabh to infection than any portion of the body. They touch everything, and* arc generally uncovered and unprotected. Too much care and attention cannot he observed in their protection when you consider that any impurities may entei S the pores of the hands and penetrate ' the blood within a few minutes' time. There are people stiong and healthy enough to throw off impurities of all hinds; but -they are in perfect physical condition from pi en fry of exercise and i fresh air.' rnfoi'vminte.iy, they are not !i! ii'. 1 majority. a.n giving advi-c to those v. ho wotk | in :!: > places whc'ie soap and tunels nv<; I do not consider that the public towels are as dangerous as the soap and wash-cloths, for the hands are supposed to be cleansed before the towel is touched. The wash-cloth should be avoided altogether, never touched by human hands, unless taken from a package direct from the steriliser. Otherwise it cannot be anything but poisonous. Clean soap and water and clean hand's- are the best instruments for washing the face. No sponge nor sponge-cloth can feel where just to get at the dirt. Fingers can feel if the eyes, ears, and the back of the neck have received sufficient attention. Bur the hands must be perfectly clean before the face is touched by them. THE SAFEST PLAN. A business-girl would be safer to carry a little jar of cleansing-cream ir her pocket and a bit of sterilised gauze and use it upon her face instead of soap and water. In any ease it would protect her skin against infection, and also protect it from the elements until she could arrive at her home, where she has her own private soap, water and towels. Before you take up any cake of soap let the water run freely over \'.. If- ii is very solid, let he soap soa'c in water , until the outer covering is washed off before you rub it on your hands. Then the soap cannot carry infection. .Remember: Germs adore dirt, and our health depends upon destroying them.