Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-04-11
KISSING Is DANGEROUS.
Doctors Claim That Tousilitis is Con.
tagiOus and Contracted by Oscillation.

| From the New York Morning Journal
| There Is at present almost an epidemic OF
tonsilitis in New York city, but it is not gen.
| orally known that the disease is a contagious
one. The reporter learned from a prominent
physician that the prevalence of this disease is
a potent argument against kissing. The doctor
said:
IF young lady with a sweet rosebud mouth
and a voice upon which phlegmonis has fast
ened itself be kissed, phlegmonis will be the
price paid by the one who shares with her the
dual bliss. There is contagion in her sweet
breath and microbes of wondrous form ride to
| new fields of conquest on her silver voice and
| soft whispers. Hosts of subtle but riotous
bacteria sit and wait upon her coral lips, qnick
| to board the mustached one that recklessly ap-
proaches. 1t is thus plain that greater precau-
tons should hedge OSCILLATION about and that
no kissing should be done until both parties
have learned whether or not phlegmonis has
clutched the throat of the other"
What is phlegmOnis? asked the reporter.
''Phlegmonis is a form of tonsilitis," replied
the doctor. 1.-The ordinary. everyday tonsilitis
Is not contagious. In brief the ordinary form
is simple inflammation of the tonsiis. which
are glands in the throat whose secretons aid
somewhat in the process of deglutitiOn. This
troublesome little inflammation il caused by an
invasion of the glands by hosts of the Into
thrax, a bacterium which is normal in the
mouth. 1t is a vegetable microbe which -four
lshes at all times in the mouth, nOurished by
the saliva and by particles of food remaining
In the mouth. They cause inflammation of the
tonsils and the swelling by erowding into the
crypts in the glands.
The doctor further stated that phlegmonis is
an Inflammation of the tOnsils, but is different
from the ordinary tOnsilitis in being contagi-
Gus, iii the inflammation extending to the
whole meath. and in the liberation of the ton
sis. When an abscess forms i'll the tonsils the
disease Is quincy. Ordinary tOnsilitis seldom
lasts more than a week, and may be cured in
twenty-four hours. Phlegmons lasts longer
and is more severe.
This disease does not become chronic" con-
tlnued the doctor, but each attack enlarges
the glands and leaves them more susceptible
to 1t. It, of course, greatly affects the voice
during its presence, and. when gone, leaves a
muffied tone as legacy to the singers voice."
What is the cure for it,"
The only radical cure is the removal of the
glands, which is quickly done by the guillotine
IA little Instrument with sliding blade, which
ships off the gland in an instant"
There are great many people in New York
and vicinity on whom the guillotine has done
Its work, and they are generally an improve
ment ON nature. 1t Is said that when the tom
sis are removed the voice is improved. and one
or two tones are added to the upper register
from the fact that the pharynx Is enlarged
Patti. Lucca, Materna. kupfer, of the Vienna
opera house. and other noted singers have
parted with this portion of their anatomy for
ever.
'Phlegmonis." said another DOCTOR sis by
some physicians held to be a mild form of
dlphthcrla but | do not think So 1t is I'M
dOubtedly caused by some form of bacteria but
1t has not not yet been isolated and described
1t IS form OF tOnslitis. but not so prevalent
as the ordinary form. 1t is contagious and is
most readily transferred BY kissing. Tonsilitis
Is most common to those having large tonsils
and often runs through families. The question
as TO whether or not the ordinary tonsllitis is
contagious is still a moOted point in medicine
The disease Is quite common here, though it
docs not resemble an endemic ~