OI^FICIAL INSPECTIONS 49. 35 



tain its freshness, the habit of samphng candy, salted peanuts, 

 crackers, etc., becomes disgusting in the light of the facts re- 

 vealed in this investigation. It is not only disgusting, but it is 

 absolutely dangerous to public health. A short time ago in 

 one of the five and ten cent stores in the State a man was 

 observed wetting his finger in his mouth, placing his finger 

 in the salted peanuts there exposed, and withdrawing those 

 which stuck to the finger and eating them. The salted peanuts 

 which did not receive enough sputum to stick to the finger, of 

 course, were left for the next person to eat. The reader is 

 asked to consider whether or not he would prefer to have the 

 foods of this description which he buys in the future protected 

 from the possibility of such a custom. At a food sale held in 

 connection with a church fair not long ago bread, cakes, pies, 

 cookies, doughnuts, candy, popcorn, etc., were placed upon 

 tables in a crowded room with no protection whatever. People 

 brushed against the food, handled it with their hands, talked, 

 laughed, and coughed over it, and it was finally purchased 

 and eaten among the various families in the town. As stated 

 above it is unfortunate that it can never be known to what 

 extent diseases are spread by these means. That they are 

 spread in these ways is beyond dispute. 



Most Dealers are Ready to Cooperate. 

 It is a pleasure to be able to say that almost everyone deal- 

 ing in foods who is approached on this subject is ready and 

 indeed glad to comply with the requirements for protection 

 from every possible unsanitary condition. There are occa- 

 sionally people who persist in violation, and even prosecutions 

 may at times be necessary in order to bring about the desired 

 changes. These changes and improvements, while apparently 

 being occasioned by the requirements of the law, are really 

 being brought about by a growing public sentiment occasioned 

 by increasing knowledge, and which is in fact responsible for 

 the passage of the law. It is not difficult to see that within a 

 comparatively short time food which is prepared or exposed 

 for sale under unsanitary conditions will be rare within the 

 State. The shop-keeper who protects his food from possible 

 contamination will not do so alone because the law requires it, 

 but because the public demands it and will not buv his food 

 unless it is protected. 



