Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-12-14
SCIENCE AND SENT DIENT OF TIE KISS

RADToRD. VA. December 3.-tspe-
cia,o-The invention OF the microscope
,sss a SERIOUS blow 10 sentiment IN its
wake came the bactcriologist. whose ad-
vent wrought complete revolution in the
world OF science Nor IN the world Of
science alone 1t ruthicssly invaded the
realm Of poetry and romance, and, among
off,c; !neNorahlc mandates. decrecd that
tho Kiss must go.
Furthermore II appears that the war
fare waged upon il by medical journals.
the sanitary congress. etc. is but me pc
ginning Of more serious ironbieS 10
10, content tFat the kiss had come
,4ndcr The ban Of science, scion Of our
General Assembl, must now come for
ward and attempt to lay upon it the iron
hand OF tho Law.
Ills an 10 make kissing misdemeanor
gill share The fate of all freak lesisla-
zion. OF coure. Meanwhile. il has called
aorth considerable comment, OF pi4uant
and breezy nature.
The question was discussed at length
in the Washington Post few years $50
lyy lieutenant Frank Wysor, gifted
young lawyer and gallant soldier. OF
Pulaski whose la;nentaDc death in the
Philippines glorious though IL was
since he saved from destruction his en-
tire command. ambushcd by largely s''-
ne,-ior force. cut short q most promising
and brilliant career.
The article is rot only clever and COM
prehcnsive. but just now so appropriate
as 10 Justify its reproduction here.
II VIII he noted that one prominent
rhs sician takcs issue with the nealcai
Profession al large as to tie harmful
eEfects Of the kiss. while formidable ar
rav OF witnesses. including poets proph-
ets philosophers and Sages. ancient ar
modern. unite with Lieutenant Wysor
n tes;ifying to the bcneicent effects Of
he kiss and its right divine TO reign
present past. and future.
The article follows;
The dangers Of the curton Of kissing,
rs an alleged means OF affection, have
received considerable attention recently,
f,alf serious. half jocose. at the hands Of
medical journals. 1t recently occurred
to the editor Of Casselis Saturday Jour
ral 10 publish the opinions of various
physicians on the subject and accord
i:tS4v he addressed queries 10 a large
number Of medical men some Of whom
took the troubIe to reply. Among the
replies is one that eIcites the pardona-
ble rnirth Of the British Medical Jour
ral In its issue of February. 1895 II
has the following to say on the subject:
Decidedly the most interesting reply
IS that vouchsafcd by DR. a. r. BriGGc-.
This leading physician expresses the
oninion that in the act CT kissing We en-
counter only Gcnefccnt bacteria He
ADDS that the Advantages Of kissing out
weigh the ir:initcsitnal risk. for IT pro
>i9es us with microbes suitable for d.
gostion:'' We must congratulate DT.
I3ridser on having discovered q remedy
Tor dyspepsia which has at any rate tie
merit OF ioclnd. His kissing can hardy
fail TO make kissing more popular than
hat
beneficcnt Organisms flourish in greatest
abundance on tho LIPS of the young 9nc
cor7ely IN III carrying out this trent
rnent sufferers Will be eager TO adiure
The vflc heresv OF homeopathy oy kissing
only persons Of the opposite sex. The dose
OF microbes TO l.rev,nt inaigeSt on MI
he taken cheerfullT both before and alter
meals. and at other times pro re nata
Here is a new opening for commercial
efater1a1ise There is sure to he 4 run on
microbes suitable for digestion. Could
not stock farm OF suitable subjects
be formed where the benefcent organisms
might be reared under the most favorable
conditions so as TO insure constant 81
PLY OF microbes OF high quality, war anted
not TO rip ratei or run down at the heei.
After a time ii might come TO pass that
mankind would be delivered from the
dragon OF dyspepsia that now doth SO
easily bcset is.
'.lt seems. that there is a general revival
# interest IN kisses and kissing.
',Thc recent Sanitary Congress, held III
tho city of Washington. saw fl. among
other things. TO wantonlE attack the
ancient and honorable institution Of kiss
ira known and practiced OF ali men, wo
men and children. from time immemorial,
by the passage Of resolutions dcnouncing
l5isses and kissing as highly conducive to
the generation communication. and pro-
pagation Of various infectious and con-
tacious diseases. and stating further TIA.
what they We're pleased to term the prev
alent habit of indscriminate kissing,
especially of babies, was an outrage.
a relic Of ba rbarisnl and should be pro-
libited and abolished by law.
Utterly regardless Of the fact that the
kiss is far more valuable than gold or
5eWels. il appCa rs that science by these
her self-anpointed representatives, has
thus invaded the realm of tender, poetic,
and romantic sentiment, aud would de-