The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1883-03-28
The Danger Of Kissing.

A reporter, conversing with cele-
brated physician yesterday on the
a arming condition of the death-rate in
San rancisco and the prevalence of
diphtheria received some hints on the
chief caIse of infection. which. under
existing circumstances, are almost re-
markable. The phy-ic;an in question
is one whose reports on infectious
d seases have gained him an European
reputation, and who has paid special
attention to the subje of diphtheria-
/ modestly req ested that his name
should not be given to the public if any
use was made of his remarks. He said
The impression that prevails that the
neglected state of our sewers and streets
is a prolific cause of the disease s, oxen
of generally as motto is perfectly cor
rect. but so many cases of diphtheria
have come under my notice lately
where the patients were surrounded by
the utmost perfect sanitary conditions
that found it ne essary to look beyond
hose causes for the origin o. the in &c
ton. A little research showed me that
the prime cause in all those cases was
the same. All the patients were chl
dren or gu te young girls, and found
that they had contra ted the disease by
kissing some in ected schoolmate or
play mate. / VIII gve an instance
to illustrate my rema ks. and which
W II serve at the anne time to illustrate
the extreme danger children are
subjected to by kissing their young com.
mons. A little girl. daughter of
wea thy parents, who almost worshi ed
her. for she was their only child, com
planned to her attendant a few mornings
ago that she di not eel well. and did
not wish to go to school. The nurse. a
wei mean ng but ignorant person,
failed to see any hing serio IS the mat
ter w tn the child, laughed at her COM
plant, and not desiring to tro BILE the
mother took the child to school as usual.
The, child grew worse rapidly. The
smull red d., htheria spot in her throat.
which a..y doctor wo Id have noticed.
had ne teen ca led in, but which car
red no significance to the nurse, grew
and enlarged rapidly. and be: ore recess
covered alf of the back portion of the
throat The little ones teacher noticed
that the child was re lily SICK. and sent her
b me. Before she lie tthe school, which
I may add is an extremely well con-
Quoted private seminary, the child said
aood- BY to her desk-mate and kissed
her. The little g RI who was kissed
caught the disease. In the case of the
first chill the disease had spread so far
when medical assistance was called in
that she died, though had doctor been
called in earlier her life would probably
have been saved. The second child was
promptly treated and herlire was saved.
:. Another case that came to my no
tice bothered me for some time as to
how the child caught the complaint, but
at last found out that her mother had
allowed her to kiss the lips of little
companion who lay dead i a coffin. q
victim of diphther.a- l nder stand me.
do not intend to convey the idea that
have discovered anything new. Every
doctor ould tell you the same thing
but do not believe the general public
know the danger OF the promiscuous
kissing indulged in by children. 1;
they did. parents would stop their chill
dren from the habit. for in children it
is nothing but habit and conveys no
sense of ection qualification The
teachers in the public schools would do
we'll to caution their scholars against
the habit Taking q common-sense
view of the case and one is Instantly