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74
ting keeps the stock of germs replenished from time to time,
and is the cause of the continued prevalence of the disease.
It is in this way that spitting, or expectorating, explains
why public-houses are special disseminators of consumption,
servants employed therein suffering out of all proportion to
persons engaged in other occupations. Costermongers, too,
suffer indirectly in the same way, from frequenting bars of
public-houses in the early mornings, either before such places
are cleansed from the previous night, or whilst such placesare
being cleansed. That the bars of public-houses are a
source of danger in this respect is a fact that has been definitely
proved in Lambeth Borough bacteriologically—the
sweepings taken from several public-house bars having
shown the presence of active consumption germs in one or
two instances.
Intemperance is an important element in connection with
the spread of consumption, acting in two ways: (a) directly
through the spitting in public-house bars where intemperate
men and women congregate, and (b) indirectly through the
chronically inflamed membranes which form a suitable soil
upon which the tubercle germs catch on and grow. Alcohol
is also a predisposer to degenerative changes generally.
Spitting, then, is a dangerous, as well as a filthy and
disgusting, habit, and ought to be, as far as possible, suppressed
by legislation, if necessary; and any crusade against
it is a distinct advance in preventive measures against the
spread of consumption.
Warning cards, or notices, against the filthy, disgusting,
and dangerous habit of indiscriminate spitting might with
advantage be issued by the Borough Council to public companies
(e.g., Railways, Tramways, Omnibuses, etc.), Licensed
Victuallers, Common Lodging Houses, Factories and
Workshops, Restaurant Keepers, etc. The Council's Public
Libraries, Public Baths, Public Conveniences, and evenPublic
Lamps offer themselves as suitable places for displaying
public notices throughout the Borough, with some such
wording as the following:—
SPITTING.
You are earnestly requested to abstain from the Dangerous
and Objectionable Habit of Spitting.