Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1906-09-11
KISSING OF
CHILDREN
PERILOUS

sentiments of affectionate regard for
our parents, our children, our
friends, has been introduced into
our usages by the ignorance of cer-
tain persons desirous of setting a
fashion without caring to premedi-
tate on its i'll effects.
The natural repulsion of being
embraced which is seen in children
is one of the best proofs that the
kiss, far from being an inmate i'm
pulse of man, is, on the contrary, a
simple custom, admitted unknow-
ingly, and capable of engendering in
humanity the most cruel evils.
Do you think that children ever
would be embraced if they were not
constrained by their parents? The
latter, in their complete ignorance
of the evil which may result. urge
them to contract a habit which per-
haps will be the cause of all sorts of
maladies for their little ones.
Often we see parents intimating
to their children the gentle manner
in which they should receive the en-
braces of visitor; observe the chill
dren on such occasion, study at this
moment their bad temper, and you
will note they already have PRESENT.
ments of the danger and risk they
run in delivering themselves, out of
respect of their parents, in so-called
politeness to an offensive act
Few indeed are the children, who,
despite the complaints of their par
ents. do not repel all the advances
of those who wish to kiss them at
any time, to embrace them, be it in
drawing room or on their walks.
Numerous are the maladies which
are communicated to these poor lit
tie ones by the observance of this
old habit, as unpleasant to them as
it is dangerous. How many contag-
ions have we permitted by this ges-
sympathetic. atfectionate!
The poor little creature who pass
es thus from mouth to mouth out of
courtesy does not escape without ac-
cumulating some of the microbes
which, perhaps innocent for adults,
often are injurious to their baby con-
| ctitntinnC nnfnrDnaA Thacn
innumerable microbes, frequently
finding soil favorable to their de-
velopment and to their multiplied
tion, will effect with sure stroke the
children's destruction. The cause of
the disease admitted in this way into
the organism will remain concealed
for some time. during which the sys-
tenn will cover the morbid seeds
without mainifesting any exterior
signs; again, for a long time, in or
| der not to suffer a suspicion of the
/ origin of the evil. these little crea-
lures often will preserve an ap-
pearance of perfect health, the while
the i'll whereof they are the involun-
tary victims will make aravages in
i their organisms to which they not
seldom succumb.
Happily science is here to see the
deplorable consequences of these
dangerous contacts whose results are
perilous to the child. Nothing should
prevent the physician and the hy-
gienist from presenting to the un-
wary the nude truth.
Many mammas without the least
anxiety allow their children in the
public parks and gardens for entire
hours under the surveillance OF !
blind, is not careless, nurses and |
governesses. The children left TO !
themselves-for the nurses collect 4
for their own conversation without |
the least regard for the little charges
seat themselves on the same !
benches with strangers and engage
in conversation with them and are !
embraced by them, entirely ignorant |
of the dangers they are incurring.
Returned to the house these in
fants some time after may fall Ill
and IL their organism already is frail
they become the victim of their i'm
prudences. IL goes without saying
that the little traditional chill has
been. In the eyes Of the parents. the
sole cause OF the disease. Not a
thought is given TO the kisses the
children have received from some :,
person on their promenades.
There is equal danger in permit
ting kissing among children, and II
is time that parents began TO correct
this dangerous habit. Since II is i'm
possible 10 suppress kissing entirely
"a a Qanaral fashion We ar least |