KISSING IS DANGEROUS

State Board Warns Against Osculation at Christmas Reunions.

Urges Care in Use of Horns and Whistles in Common.

Kissing at Christmas reunions is discouraged by Dr. H. M. Bracken, secretary of the Minnesota state board of health, who contends that holiday gatherings often lead to holiday epidemics.

In a circular letter received by County Auditor Odin Halden yesterday afternoon accompanying the November report of the state board of health which is filed monthly with county auditors, Dr. Bracken sounds a warning note.

Not only would he put the ban on kissing as a dangerous practice, but he also calls attention to the fact that the common use of horns, mouth organs, whistles and other toys may easily carry germ-laden secretions from mouth to mouth. Handling toys which an infected child has played with is also dangerous, he says.

Holiday reunions often lead to holiday epidemics because the exchange of nose and throat secretions is unavoidable when children celebrate Christmas and New Year's day, according to Dr. Bracken. "The exchange of secretions between uninfected children," he says, "does no harm. But if one or more persons in a group have diphtheria or scarlet fever infection in their noses and throats, some of the others may get the disease.

Ignore Quarantine.

"The infected person throws out tiny droplets of nose and throat secretions by sneezing, coughing, laughing, shouting, singing, which other persons inhale. Experience teaches unpleasant facts. One is that in order to avoid quaratine some people deliberately lie about contagious diseases, admit visitors to their houses and allow their sick children to go to parties, Sunday school and other places as soon as they are able. This is criminal and should be so regarded in every community. In other cases, the disease may be so mild that its true nature is not suspected. However, the spread of disease is not affected by the intent in any case.

"The close contact in crowded stores and street cars in cities and villages offers a chance for spread of infection. The homecoming of thousands of children and students who have been attending consolidated schools, high schools and colleges in cities and villages where diphtheria, scarlet fever and other contagious diseases may be present accounts for the appearance of cases in communities not affected before the holiday vacation.

"Epidemics occur every year from infection introduced and spread as related above. Therefore watch your children for suspicious symptoms. If they develop, isolate the child, call your doctor or health officer and make sure whether or not it is a contagious disease.

"In November, 479 cases of diphtheria were reported in thirty-nine counties and 235 cases of scarlet fever in thirty-nine counties, both diseases being prevalent in twenty-one of these counties. Cases of other notifiable diseases were reported from nineteen other counties, but none of diphtheria or scarlet fever. No reports of any diseases were made from the ten remaining counties in Minnesota.

"Parents are warned to pay close attention to children who have hoarseness, sore throat, fever, rash, headache, nausea, as one or more of these symptoms often mark the onset of diphtheria or scarlet fever.

"Isolate a child as soon as suspicious symptoms appear. If it turns out to be a non-contagious disease no harm has been done. If it be contagious, the exposure of other children has been prevented."