The Magnolia gazette. [volume] (Magnolia, Miss.) 1872-current, 1883-03-08
The Danger Of Kissing.


A reporter, conversing with a celc-
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 il any
use was made of his remarks. He said
"Ihe impression that prevails that the
neglected state of our sewers and streets
is prolific cause of the disease spoken
OF generally as zymotic is perfectly cor
rect but so many eases of diphthcria
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 in'ec-
ton. A little research showed me that
the prime cause in all those cases was
the same. All the patients were chill
dren or qu te young girls, and | found
kissing some injected schoolmate or
playmate. ! VII give an instance
to Illustrate my remarks, and which
w II serve at the anne time to illustrate
the extreme danger children arc
subjected to by kissing their young com
| paniuns A little girl. daughter of
wealthy parents, who almost worshired
| her. for she was their only child com
r..
ago that She did not feel well, and did
not wish to go to school The nurse, u
i well-meaning but ignorant person,
4 failed to see anything serious the mat
4 ter W TIL the child laughed at her com
/ plant, and not desiring to trouble the
4 mother took the child to school as usual.
/ The child grew worse rapidly, The
/ small red diphtheria spot in her throat,
which any doctor wopld have noticed,
4 had ne been called in, but which car
/ red no significance to the nurse. grew
and enlarged rapidly, and before recess
covered falf of the back portion of the
/ throat. The little ones teacher noticed
| that The child was re lily sick, and sent her
home. Before she LETT the school, which
| may add is an extremely well con-
Quoted private seminary, the child said
good by to her desk-mate and kissed
her. The little grl 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 herlifewas saved.
Another case that came TO my no
tice bothered me for some time as to
how the child caught the complaint, but
n last found out that her mother had
allowed her 10 kiss the lips OF little
companion who lay dead in a coffin, a
victim OF diphtheria. Understand me,
/ do not intend to convey the idea that
have discovered anything new. Every
doctor could tell you the same thing,
but | do not believe the general public
know the danger OF the promiscuous
kissinr indulged in by children. II
they did, parents would stop the + chill
dren from the habit, for in children il
is nothing but habit, and conveys nc
sense of a ection or qualification. The
teachers in the public schools would dc
well to caution their scholars against
the habit. Taking a eommon-sensc
view of the case and one is instantly
convinced of the danger o infection
from kiss. Diphtheria is for
eign growth in the throat In
lection is caused by particles oI
this growth coming in contact
with healthy surface. The saliva
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 will
the tongue. The infected So iva is thus
carried 10 the lips, and the contact 0
lips in kissing carries the disease iron
the sick to the healthy person. Nor
diphtheria the only form of infect OF
that can be rried by kiss. In The
course ofmv practice have come acros!
cases of the most loathsore discas,
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, no
have ] any desire to stop the oscnlatorl
, en- oyment so dear TO sweet carts ant
newIy-wedde folks. do not suppose
that such people would heed my warn
ings if they heard them, but do say
that for an unhealthy person 10 kis
, another is n crime, and the habit o
, promiscuous kissing most dangerom
, irom sanitary point of view. "-Sa,
; Francisco Cor. Chicago TFibUne.