Kansas City daily journal., 1896-11-27
Expectorntion and Disease.
m the PHILADELPHIA Press.

From the Philadelphia Press.
The question of splitting in public places,
especially in street cars, was brought uD
again before the board of health last week,
but with no other result than a recommen-
dation to the passenger railway companies
that they make their signs forbiiding the
practice more conspicuous. While the rec
ommendation is good and timely. it is
doubtful if it accomplishes much in the
direction intended. What is needed is the
enactment of a resolution torbidding spit
ting in public places and an energetic ef-
fort to enforce it, such as is being made
in other places.
There has apparently been enough ap-
peal to the good sense of that share of the
public that INDUCES in the disgusting prac-
tice. Last March the board of health of
this city issued a circular saying that the
habit of splitting carelessly and iudiscrimi-
nately. as on the ground or floor. is
common means of spreading consumption.
The expectoration of the consumptive be-
comes dried and mixed with dust and then
is easily carried into the air and is
breathed into the lungs or swallowed. The
habit is, therefore. not merely offensive,
but dangerous" This was followed by
some recommendations to the public which
made little or no impression, as anyone
can see that the practice is as prevalent as
ever.
How dangerous the habit of splitting may
become is being brought forcibly before
the public in California. That state, es-
pecially the southern part of it, has been
a health resort for many years. Con-
sumptives by the thousands have gone
there, attracted by the mildness of the
climate and the dryness of the air. But
while they have derived much benefit they
have been instrumental in spreading in
that neighborhood the very disease for
which they were seeking remedy. Tuber-
culosis is rapidly becoming prevalent
among the people, and the San Francisco
Medical Journal claims that it is caused
largely by the habit of public splitting in
dulged in by those who have gone there
for their health. The subject was thor
oughly discussed in sanitary convention
which recently met in Los Angeles in
Southern California, and so much appre-
hension was created that che indiscrimi-
nate mingling of consumptives with
healthy persons has been forbidden. The
board of health of the same city has also
passed an ordinance against eXpectoration
in public places and the San Francisco
board of health Is preparing to pass
similar ordinance.
1t is not probable that condition of
things equally dangerous will prevail in
this neighborhood. Consumptives are not
especially attracted by the climate of Phil
adelpnfa- But to a degree the danger of
infection from splitting is as great here
as in California. The revolving nature of
the habit has been often pointed out. Moth
ing is more unsightiy and disgusting than
sidewalk spattered with expectoration
or the floor Of a street car befouled with
tobacco juice. But this aspect of the SUBJ
ject does not appear to impress people any,
as the splitting continues as freely as ever
The fact that it is a disease-breeding habit
may have more influence on public opin-
ion and on those in authority and bring
about at least an abatement of the nuis-
anCe.