5 JUNE 1964, Page 11

A Few Plain Words Over and over again we read

that part of our defence against typhoid must be 'close atten- tion to personal hygiene.' Surely here, if ever, Ministers and newspapers should say exactly what they mean. They do not mean that we should sleep with our windows open, or change our socks. They mean, above all, that after one has defecated one should whenever possible rinse one's hands. The word is inelegant and no doubt a simpler expression would be more widely under- stood, but the advice is vital and may save lives— typhoid or no typhoid.