Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1890-03-12
Danger Of Kissing

To the Editor of the Alexandria Gazette:
Clean teeth, sweet breath and pure
mouth, should be associated with the act or
fashion of kissing which is among females
of This country the most fashionable mode
ofs,lutation. 10 England, among almost all
classes, kissing is not resoTted to as man
ner OF sautation, and in this respect the
English are very sensible. If 8 well.5red
E1glishmeu were TO see two young ladles
meet on the street and salute eaca otner
with i,iss. Us is the custom in this country,
90 would look at than with either surprise
or disgust. When the fashion of kissing is
carried 10 disgusting extremity the batter
plan is to DO az little OF it as possible. The
English custom does not permit it even in
private, among families or relations, for 1t
is rot always pleasant or safe for friends or
acuuaintances TO kies each other when they
meet, or every time they meet. IL Is not
every one who possessed kissable mouth
and if the person kissed does not possess
sweet mouth aud pure breath. the Kiss will
prove ury.hing but enjoyable, and the ieaF
OF getting whif of a foul breath and toe
tas OF dirty mouth should teach one TO
Indulge es little IS possible in the very
doubtful fashion of indiscriminate kissing.
There is no douDt that foul diseases are
sometimes communicated by this fashion OF
kissing, and this fact should be kept in
mind against promiscuous kissing and indi-
Gale the necessity OF washing the lips we'll
after kiss frcm one who has not pure
breath healthy mouth and clean teeth.
Am ing individuals there are many who
hebitually neglect their teeth. To rinse the
mouth and brush Ihe teeth, is not to them
q necessity; and there are probably many,
who during their whole lives, have never
used q tooth brush In such cases the par
ticles Of food find Judgement between the
teeth. after each meal, and there remain, to
eudanger as they dc, by decomposition and
puiretaction, not only the comfort, but the
health of the Individual. The result of the
decomposition and putrefaction OF bits OF
meat between the teeth, is the production
of a verJ poisonous acid, known to chemis
try es septic acid and when this acid ls
thus formed, as it surely will be, If the habit
Of eglecting to brush the teeth we'll after
meals is continued, the mouth becomes
filled with this acid, which not only corrcdes
the teeth, rapidly hastens their decay, but
also excites a slow Inflammation OF the
gums, causing them tc break down, and
leave the roots of the teeth exposed and
of scurvy. When this acid forms in the
mouth, il produces, sordes, foul tongue and
an i'll, disagreeable taste, and when swal-
lowed in the saliva, excites sick stomach and
nausea and when very abundant, the septic
acid will pass from the stomach irto the in
testines, and excite diarrhea, and other dis
orders of the bowels; and this result is an
effort Of nature SO get rid Of the poisonous
efiscta of the septic acid. When this acid 10
mixed with the saliva il becomes highly
poisonous, and if 90 individual, whose
saliva is thus loaded with septic
acid, were to bite O person, the
ooe bitten would become seriously pois
oned. and the wound made By the bite
would become exceedingly soie, painful and
very difficult to heal. Therefore, it is not
only conducive to the personal appearance
of an individual TO keep his teeth In good
condition by the careful use Of a brush, but
absolutely important to his health to keep
his mouth clean and free from septic acid,
and thereby avoid all the injurious effects
produced by it, not only upon the mouth but
upon tho general health. Fortunately the
good usages of society require some atten
tion 10 personal purity but one sometimes
meets those who do not think that "cleanll.
ness is next to godliness," and the public is
the sufferer. No one with mouth made
unpleasant by this septic acid should ever
be allowed to kiss little children and as at.
tractive infants are always at the mercy OF
each passerby, mothers should warn their
nurses against allowing strangers to kiss the
little ones. Young children's mouths are
exceedingly susceptible, and there is but lit
tie doubt that children, as we'll as adults,
are frequently poisoned by the habit of in.
discriminate kissing.
J. B. JOHNSON, II. D.
Washington City, D. c.