On Mon, 25 Jan 1999, John Difford wrote:

> NB. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS TO ALLOW SPITTING IN THE LABORATORY AND THIS
> SHOULD NOT BE USED AS A SOURCE OF DIASTASE.

   John D.:

   Diastase spitting is surely figurative, because it's necessary to
   drool or dribble quite accurately (and directly downwards) in order
   to hit a section. Why is the saliva of the average lab worker
   (surely a clean-living gentleman or lady) a VERY DANGEROUS
   liquid?  I write from a place where frequent Real Spitting - great
   gobfuls, sent to the ground in long, parabolic trajectories in
   public places - is a favourite recreation of younger members of the
   Great Unwashed; but the public health authorities don't seem
   to be even slightly upset about it. Even the University Safety
   Police don't say or do anything about the slimy puddles all over
   the steps and sidewalks. I was taught that tubercle bacilli
   could be dispersed by the wind from dried sputum; wonder if it's
   really true. If the Experts were worried about it they'd be
   hiring men in space-suits to cover the ground with biohazard labels.

                                  John K.
 John A. Kiernan,
 Department of Anatomy & Cell Biology,
 The University of Western Ontario,
 LONDON,  Canada  N6A 5C1