Atlanta Tri Weekly Journal

Kissing Banned by the Smart Doctors

According to the opinion of a member of the National Health Council, disease prevention cuts out kissing—among dangerous habits. Among other things, this medical savant said: "While much has been accomplished in reducing typhoid fever and other infections, a great deal can be done with other diseases like heart disease, Bright's disease, diabetes, etc., etc.; but we must have thoroughgoing practice of personal hygiene by every one of us. Personal hygiene is of two main kinds. First, there is the kind which aims at the prevention of the spread of disease, building a barrier between the well and the sick. Such diseases as influenza, pneumonia and tuberculosis, are spread largely by dangerous coughing, sneezing and spitting and other undesirable habits.

"It must be remembered that even kissing is an extra hazardous occupation.

"The health commissioner of Chicago was justified by the National Health Council, who advised Chicago citizens to swat any man who coughed in his face.

"Thousands of people are examined every year for life insurance. School children are getting more and more attention from school physicians. There is great improvement, but much more is needed. In the United States annually more than 100,000 die annually from heart disease. Eighty thousand die a year from cancer.

"Disease can not be controlled and health promoted without the co-operation of everybody. We overhaul all valuable machinery regularly. We inspect our automobiles frequently, and we overlook the human frame, the most delicate of all machinery, because we are indifferent to our plain duty to our own selves."

The big doctor has stated some plain facts, and as to the kissing part, it is easy to see that kisses from diseased people are as likely to do damage as the sneezing, coughing and spitting of sick people with influenza, tuberculosis or malignant cancer. It is certainly worth thinking about.