Spitting NO EXPECTORATORATIONS

A LAW AGAINST SPITTING

The sign photographed is still posted at Fort Bayard today. It should be noted that the Department of Health had even a more expensive fine at the sanatorium than what was charged in the general community.

With its sanatorium at Fort Bayard, Silver City was ground zero in the beginning of the last century’s war on public spitting.
On March 21, 1907, a law was enacted in New Mexico territory that forbade public spitting. House Bill 103 stated: 1) it is unlawful for persons to expectorate (spit) in specific public places; 2) tuberculous persons must use a covered receptacle; 3) building, tents and rooms used by tuberculars shall be fumigated and disinfected after being vacated, at the expense of the ill person or owner; 4) those violating the above statutes may be fined from $1 to $25 and-or imprisoned for 10 to 50 days. The rationale was to prevent the spread of diseases communicated through sputum or saliva. Tuberculosis needs to be aerosolized to infect the lungs. Long skirts of the pioneer women would drag through the excreta of the sidewalks and streets. They would then carry these germs home to their own floors and laundry. The babies were particularly likely to catch TB, since they crawled on the floors.
In 2009 the anti-expectoration law still survived, listed under "nuisances," right after erecting a slaughterhouse within one mile of the city limits. This statute, number 30-8-12-D, reads: "Conduct offensive to public well-being consists of any person spitting upon or in any public building, store, church, house, school or other building in which persons frequently congregate, or upon or in any public carrier, public sidewalk or roadway."
For those who wish more information on Fort Bayard and the sanatorium years the following is a most interesting and comprehensive read
http:--newmexicohistory.org-places-fort-bayard

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