The 'Disgusting Custom' of Victorian Child-Kissing

The following report, made by the sanitary committee of the Board of Health of New York, in 1874, will be read with interest at the present time, when this epidemic is so prevalent and fatal on this coast: Diphtheria is caused by the inoculation of the air passages with the diphtheritic poison, which from this point infects the whole system. The local inflammation is attended by the formation of membrane (exudation); the fever and general symptoms are the result of this local infection. Diphtheria is therefore a contagious disease, induced by contact with objects and persons infected. It may be induced by the exhalations of the sick by the air surrounding them, or directly by the exudation, communicated in the act of kissing, coughing, spitting, sneezing, or by the infected articles used, as towels, napkins, handkerchiefs, etc. No child should be allowed to kiss strange children nor those suffering from sore throat; the disgusting custom of compelling children to kiss every visitor is a well-contrived method of propagating other grave diseases than diphtheria; nor should it sleep with or be confined to rooms occupied by, or use articles, as toys, taken in the mouth, handkerchiefs, etc., belonging to children having sore throat, croup or catarrh.