St. Landry democrat., 1883-03-10
The Danger Of Kissing.

The Danger OF Kissing.
A reporter, conversing wit cele-
brated physician yesterday on the
alarming condition of the death-rate in
San Francisco and the prevalence of
diphtheria. received some hints on the
chief cause of infection, which. under
existing circumstances, are almost re-
markable. The physician in question
is one whose reports on infectious
d seases have gained him an European
reputation, and who has paid special
attention to the subject of diphtheria.
He modestly requested that his name
should not be given to the public if any
use was made of his remarks. He said:
1.-The impression that prevails that the
neglected state ofNur sewers and streets
is prolific cause of the disease spoken
of generally as zymotic 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 necessary to look beyond
those causes for the origin OF the infec-
ton. A little research showed me that
the prime cause in all those cases was
the same. All the patients We're chill
dren or quite young girls, and l found
that they had contract ted the disease by
kissing some injected schoolmate or
playmate. I will give an instance
to illustrate my remarks. and which
will serve at this same time to illustrate
the extreme danger children are
subjected to by kissing their young COM
panions. A little girl. daughter of
wealthy parents, who almost worshiped
her, for she was their only child, COM
planned to her attendant few mornings
ago that she did not feel well, and did
not wish to go to school. The nurse. a
well-meaning but ignorant person,
failed to see anything serious the mat
ter with the child, laughed at her COM
plaint, and not desiring to trouble the
mother took the child to school as usual.
The child grew worse rapidly: The
small red diphtheria spot in her throat,
which any doctor void have noticed,
had one been called in, but which car
ried no significance to the nurse, grew
and enlarged rapidly, and before recess
covered half Of the back portion OF the
throat. The little ones teacher noticed
that the child was really sick. and sent her
home. Before she left the school. which
4 may add is an extremely well-con-
Quoted private seminary, the child said
d-by to her desk-mate and kissed
her. The little girl who was kissed
caught the disease. In the case OF the
first child 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 herlife was saved.
Another case that came to my mo-
tice bothered me for some time as to
how the child caught the complaint, but
at last I found out that her mother had
allowed her to. kiss the lips Of q little
companion who lay dead in a coffin, a
victim OF diphtheria Understand me,
/ do not intend to convey the idea that
II have discovered anything new. Every
doctor could tell you the same thing,
but I do not believe the general public
know the danger OF the promiscuous
kissing INDUCED in by children. IL
they did, parents would stop their chill
,dren from the habit. for in children it
is nothing but habit, and conveys no
sense Of affection or qualification. The
! teachers in the public schools would do
well to caution their scholars against
the habit. Taking q common-sense
view Of the case and one is instantly
convinced of the danger OF infection
from kiss. Diphtheria is a for
eign growth in the throat. In
lection is caused by particles OF
this growth coming in contact
~, Thn col
flows over the diseased spots and alb
serbs a portion of the minute spores.
The habit of most people, especially
children, is to moisten their lips with
the tongue. The infected saliva is thus
carried to the lips, and the contact OF
lips in kissing carries the disease from
the sick to the healthy person. Nor is
diphtheria the only form of infection
that can be rried by a kiss. ln the
course OF nv practice have come across
cases of the most loathsome disease
which the patient contracted by contact
with the lips of diseased person. |
would not wish to create unnecessary
alarm in the mind Of any person. nor
have any desire to stop the osculator,y
enjoyment so dear to sweethearts and
newly-wedded folks. j do not suppose
that such people would heed my warm
ings if they heard them, but I do say
that for an unhealthy person to kiss
another is a crime. and the habit OF
promiscuous kissing most dangerous
from sanitary point of view. San
Francisco Cor. Chicago Tribune.
An Absent Minded Farmer.