Perforating paddle

c. 1897-1899

This unusual wooden paddle with a nail-studded leather face was likely used by the postal workers in Montgomery, Alabama, around 1897 and possibly 1899 to perforate mail in preparation for fumigation as a precaution against yellow fever, mistakenly believed at that time to be caused by germs. After perforation, mail was fumigated with sulphur fumes before being returned to the mail stream.