A Society Affair and a Disgusted Realization
In 1910, Cincinnati’s Imogene Rechtin attended a social event where the hostess greeted each guest with a kiss. Disgusted by this “promiscuous kissing,” Rechtin, a middle-aged mother, resolved to stop the practice, citing fears of spreading disease.
The “World’s Health Organization” is Born
Rechtin founded the “World’s Health Organization,” distributing “Kiss Not” buttons and circulars warning of the health risks associated with casual kissing. Hundreds joined her campaign, determined to end this form of greeting in homes and at gatherings.
Battling Skeptics and Mockery
Despite ridicule from journalists and scorn from medical professionals, Rechtin’s movement warned against real health risks. At a time when tuberculosis, cholera, and syphilis were rampant, her warnings were scientifically valid, though unconventional for the era.
A Brief but Notable Campaign
Though her movement dissolved within a year and a half, Imogene Rechtin’s campaign remains a unique reflection of early 20th-century health concerns. Her story resurfaced in modern times, highlighting a fascinating moment in public health history.
In 1910, Cincinnati’s Imogene Rechtin attended a social event where the hostess greeted each guest with a kiss. Disgusted by this “promiscuous kissing,” Rechtin, a middle-aged mother, resolved to stop the practice, citing fears of spreading disease. pic.twitter.com/cAhpNMiQCK
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