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Spitting

Spitting is the voluntary expulsion of saliva from the mouth through muscular contraction of the cheeks and lips, a behavior rooted in human physiology for clearing oral secretions or responding to stimuli such as irritation or excess production.^[1]^[2] Saliva, produced by major and minor salivary glands at rates of 0.5 to 1.5 liters per day under neural regulation, facilitates digestion, lubrication, and antimicrobial defense, but deliberate ejection serves additional communicative or hygienic roles.^[3]^[4] Physiologically, spitting expels surplus saliva accumulated from glandular activity stimulated by parasympathetic nerves during eating or anticipation, preventing discomfort or aiding in taste perception, though chronic excess can signal underlying conditions like allergies or dehydration.^[5]^[6] Public health concerns arise from its potential as a transmission vector for respiratory pathogens, including influenza, tuberculosis, and SARS-CoV-2, via aerosolized droplets, prompting historical bans in urban areas to curb epidemics like tuberculosis.^[7]^[8]^[9] Unlike bloodborne viruses such as hepatitis B or C, which require direct vascular contact and are not efficiently spread by saliva alone, spitting poses minimal risk for those but amplifies contagion in crowded settings.^[10]^[11] Culturally, spitting universally signals contempt or aggression when directed at persons, embodying symbolic rejection through "regurgitation" of bodily fluid, often escalating conflicts to the level of assault in legal contexts due to its humiliating intent.^[12] In contrast, select traditions repurpose it protectively, such as thrice-spitting among Ashkenazi Jews to avert the evil eye after compliments or misfortunes, or ritual spitting in Eastern European and Greek folklore to ward off malice.^[13]^[14] These divergent uses highlight causal tensions between innate disgust responses—triggered by saliva's association with disease—and adaptive social signaling, with modern hygiene norms prioritizing restriction to mitigate empirical risks over symbolic variances.^[15]

Physiology and Biology

Human Spitting Mechanics

Saliva in humans is produced by three pairs of major salivary glands—the parotid, submandibular, and sublingual—along with numerous minor glands lining the oral mucosa, generating a basal unstimulated flow rate of approximately 0.3 to 0.5 milliliters per minute under normal conditions.^[16] This fluid, consisting primarily of water (99%), electrolytes, enzymes like amylase, mucins, and antimicrobial proteins, lubricates the oral cavity and aids in initial digestion.^[16] During voluntary spitting, saliva is deliberately accumulated in the mouth by minimizing swallowing, often stimulated by mechanical actions such as tongue movement against the palate or cheeks to increase glandular secretion via parasympathetic innervation.^[16] The expulsion phase relies on coordinated activation of orofacial muscles to generate intraoral pressure and direct the flow. The tongue, controlled by intrinsic muscles (longitudinal, transverse, vertical) and extrinsic muscles (genioglossus for protrusion, hyoglossus for retraction), manipulates and propels the pooled saliva forward toward the lips, forming a bolus.^[17] Simultaneously, the buccinator muscle, a thin quadrilateral sheet forming the cheek's lateral wall, contracts to compress the oral cavity laterally, aiding in pressurization and preventing saliva from pooling posteriorly while facilitating expulsion, akin to its role in blowing or whistling.^[18]^[19] Pursed lips, achieved via contraction of the orbicularis oris muscle encircling the mouth, create a narrow nozzle-like aperture that shapes the ejecta into a coherent stream rather than a diffuse spray, optimizing distance and control in directed spitting.^[20] Propulsion force derives from this muscular compression augmented by a mild expiratory effort involving the diaphragm and intercostal muscles, which increases intraoral pressure through chest motion and airflow, as demonstrated in forensic studies of expirated blood patterns where spitting produced velocities sufficient to project droplets up to several meters.^[21] A specialized variant, gleeking, bypasses pooling by applying targeted tongue pressure to the sublingual gland's Wharton duct openings beneath the tongue, directly ejecting a thin, high-velocity stream via mylohyoid or genioglossus contraction squeezing the gland.^[22] These mechanics allow spitting distances of 1-2 meters in casual acts but up to 7-10 meters in trained competitors using optimized posture, hydration, and technique to maximize glandular output and aerodynamic efficiency.^[21]

Spitting in Animals

In camelids such as llamas (Lama glama) and alpacas (Vicugna pacos), spitting functions primarily as a mechanism for social signaling and defense, involving the regurgitation of partially digested stomach contents from the first compartment of their multi-chambered stomachs. This behavior establishes dominance within herds, repels unwanted advances during breeding, or warns off perceived threats, with projectiles capable of traveling up to 3 meters (10 feet).^[23] Unlike human saliva expulsion, it resembles a forceful non-nasal expulsion akin to sneezing, often preceded by puffing of the lips and neck arching as warning signals.^[24] Females employ it to reject males, while both sexes use it against conspecifics to maintain pecking order, though it is rarely directed at humans unless provoked.^[25] Archerfish (Toxotes spp.), small freshwater or brackish-water fish native to Indo-Pacific mangroves and estuaries, utilize spitting for predation by ejecting high-velocity water jets to dislodge insects and small prey from overhanging vegetation up to 1.5–2 meters above the surface. The mechanism relies on precise motor control: the fish positions itself perpendicular to the target, compresses water via gill cover movements and tongue positioning to form a bullet-like droplet stream, and adjusts jet hydrodynamics—such as blob formation and bunching—for distance and impact force, achieving accuracies exceeding 50% at range.^[26] This adaptation amplifies muscular power externally, similar to a bow's leverage, with the jet's leading droplet traveling at speeds up to 3–4 times the fish's body length per second.^[27] Evolutionary origins trace to ancestral sediment-clearing jets, refined through learning for aerial targeting.^[28] Several elapid snakes, collectively termed spitting cobras (e.g., Naja nigricollis and Naja mossambica), have evolved specialized fangs with orifices at the tips to propel venom as a defensive aerosol or stream, primarily aimed at the eyes of predators or threats, with effective ranges of 1.5–2.7 meters (5–9 feet).^[29] The expulsion occurs via contraction of the venom gland, forcing fluid through a narrowed fang channel to create a projectile bolus that the snake directs by head movements, though post-ejection trajectory cannot be altered. This cytolytic venom induces severe pain, inflammation, and potential corneal damage or blindness upon ocular contact, distinct from neurotoxic effects in non-spitting cobras, reflecting an adaptation for deterrence rather than subduing prey.^[29] While biting remains possible, spitting constitutes the primary antipredator strategy, with evolutionary pressures possibly linked to diurnal habits and mammalian threats.^[30] Other taxa exhibit analogous behaviors: camels (Camelus spp.) regurgitate foul-smelling stomach contents similarly to camelids for intra-species disputes or defense, while certain scytodid spiders (spitting spiders) eject adhesive silk mixed with venom at prey or intruders at speeds up to 1 meter per second over short distances. These instances underscore spitting's convergent evolution across vertebrates and invertebrates for propulsion of irritants, though empirical studies emphasize context-specific biomechanics over broad generalizations.^[23]

Historical Development

Ancient and Pre-Modern Practices

In ancient Egyptian mythology, the god Khnum created humans on a potter's wheel using clay moistened with his saliva, symbolizing saliva's role as a life-giving substance equivalent to divine breath or creative word.^[31] Spitting also featured in rituals among ancient Egyptians and Mayans to merge one person's spirit with another's, often through direct oral transfer, reflecting beliefs in saliva's spiritual potency for bonding or transformation.^[32] Ancient Greeks employed spitting as an apotropaic measure to avert the evil eye or misfortune, a practice documented in classical literature where saliva was believed to possess curative properties against ailments and envy-induced harm.^[33] This included spitting three times after compliments, particularly on children, to neutralize potential malice, a custom with roots traceable to pre-Christian Hellenistic traditions. Romans extended similar uses, spitting on individuals experiencing epileptic seizures to mitigate the episode, as recorded by Pliny the Elder, who also noted that spitting thrice before consuming medicine enhanced its efficacy due to saliva's perceived prophylactic power against adverse forces.^[12] Pliny further described spitting into clothing folds for protection against enchantment, underscoring saliva's role in daily rituals to deflect supernatural threats.^[12] In the ancient Near East, including biblical contexts, spitting served as a marker of social degradation and hierarchy; for instance, expectoration in the face signified utter contempt or legal ostracism, as evidenced in Mesopotamian and early Israelite legal texts where it imposed ritual impurity requiring purification.^[34] This punitive application paralleled protective rites elsewhere, where saliva expelled impurities or rejected the inedible, often necessitating water-based cleansing.^[35] Pre-modern European folk medicine utilized fasting spittle—saliva collected before eating—for therapeutic ends, such as applying it to warts over nine mornings in northern England to promote healing, based on empirical observations of saliva's enzymatic properties despite lacking scientific validation at the time.^[36] Medieval societies imposed minimal public restrictions on spitting, allowing it freely except near food or ablution areas, reflecting casual integration into daily hygiene before germ theory's advent.^[37] Among pre-modern African pastoralists like the Nuer of southern Sudan, men spat on relatives' heads as a greeting or blessing, embedding saliva exchange in social bonds and protection rituals that persisted into ethnographic records of the early 20th century.^[15] Similarly, Maasai warriors spat on kin upon reunion as a gesture of affection and warding, a custom rooted in oral traditions predating colonial documentation.^[38] These practices highlight saliva's dual role in ancient and pre-modern contexts as both a vector for communal solidarity and a barrier against perceived spiritual perils, grounded in experiential correlations rather than formalized doctrine.

Modern Public Health Campaigns

Following Robert Koch's 1882 identification of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in sputum, public health authorities recognized public spitting as a primary vector for TB transmission, as desiccated sputum could release infectious aerosols.^[39] Early 20th-century campaigns emphasized sputum containment through education, posters, and infrastructure like spittoons or disposable paper receptacles.^[40] In the United States, the National Association for the Study and Prevention of Tuberculosis (NASPT), established in 1904 and predecessor to the American Lung Association, led nationwide efforts with slogans such as "Beware of the Careless Spitter" and "Don't Spit, Save Lives."^[40] These included school-based programs like the 1915 Modern Health Crusade, which by 1919 engaged 3 million children in hygiene rules prohibiting spitting and awarding certificates for compliance.^[40] Municipal ordinances supported the campaigns; New York City passed the first anti-spitting law in 1896, banning expectoration on sidewalks, in public buildings, and transit, leading to 2,513 arrests and fines between 1896 and 1910, with approximately 150 cities following suit by 1911.^[39] Internationally, similar initiatives appeared, such as Australian posters from the early 1900s declaring "Don't Spit: Unsightly, Unsanitary, Unhealthy" to combat TB spread.^[41] In China, 1950s posters explicitly warned "Please Don't Spit on the Ground, Lest People Get TB," instructing use of spittoons or handkerchiefs.^[42] During the 1918 influenza pandemic, anti-spitting messaging reinforced broader hygiene drives via posters, newspapers, and public signage to limit respiratory droplet transmission.^[43] Assessments of effectiveness vary; TB mortality fell 60% from 1900 to 1930 amid public health interventions including anti-spitting efforts, which shifted norms against public expectoration.^[44] However, econometric analyses of TB campaigns, such as sanatoriums and education, found minimal impact on mortality declines, attributing reductions more to socioeconomic improvements and later antibiotics than behavioral measures alone.^[45] By mid-century, diminished TB prevalence and cultural changes rendered dedicated anti-spitting campaigns obsolete.^[39]

Cultural and Symbolic Roles

Protective and Superstitious Uses

In various cultures, saliva has been attributed apotropaic properties, believed to repel malevolent forces such as the evil eye, demons, or misfortune, a notion rooted in ancient views of bodily fluids as potent against supernatural harm.^[12]^[46] Ancient Romans, for instance, spat upon individuals afflicted by epilepsy or those lame in the right leg to avert associated bad luck.^[12] Among Jewish communities, spitting three times—either literally or by uttering "pooh, pooh, pooh"—serves as a ritual response to encounters with extreme good or evil, intended to neutralize potential harm from envy or demonic influence; this practice, documented in medieval texts including those by physician Maimonides, underscores saliva's historical role as a safeguard against magic.^[13]^[46] Greek folklore similarly employs spitting, often thrice ("ftou ftou ftou"), to ward off the mati (evil eye) or devil, particularly after praising a child, newborn, or achievement, as the act symbolically counters jealousy-induced negativity; this custom persists in modern contexts like weddings or compliments, reflecting continuity from ancient Mediterranean beliefs in saliva's defensive power.^[47] This mirrors practices in neighboring Turkish culture, where spitting sounds follow compliments to deflect the evil eye's gaze.^[48] In Eastern European traditions, including Slavic groups, spitting on children after admiration aims to shield them from the evil eye, a protective gesture tied to broader regional superstitions against envy; knocking on wood or spitting over the left shoulder may accompany it for reinforced aversion of jinxes.^[49] Among the Maasai of Kenya and Tanzania, elders spit on brides during ceremonies to invoke protection from evil spirits, ensuring fertility and prosperity, symbolizing blessings through this ritual fluid exchange.^[50] These uses highlight saliva's cross-cultural symbolism as a barrier to intangible threats, though lacking empirical validation beyond folkloric persistence.^[31]

Variations in Global Attitudes

In Western societies, such as those in Europe and North America, public spitting is broadly viewed as a breach of hygiene norms and social etiquette, often eliciting strong disgust and leading to informal social sanctions or legal repercussions. For instance, in the United Kingdom, prosecutions for public spitting have occurred, reflecting its classification as antisocial behavior under public order laws.^[51] Similarly, surveys in the United States indicate that spitting is perceived more frequently among men and is generally condemned as unhygienic, aligning with broader cultural emphases on personal cleanliness.^[52] In contrast, attitudes in many Asian countries, particularly China and India, exhibit greater tolerance for public spitting, rooted in physiological habits like expelling phlegm from respiratory irritants or cultural practices such as chewing betel quid (paan) in India, where it remains socially acceptable in rural and urban settings despite health risks. In China, historical norms permitted spitting to clear airways, influenced by environmental factors like air pollution, though urban modernization and campaigns since the 2000s have begun shifting perceptions toward disapproval in public spaces.^[53] ^[54] A 2013 academic analysis highlighted how such practices in Asia stem from embedded cultural responses to health and environment, differing from Western judgments of deviance.^[55] Cross-national research reveals systematic variations tied to socioeconomic and ecological factors. A study across 56 countries, involving nearly 20,000 participants, found hygiene norms against spitting to be strong globally but predicted by national levels of self-control and parasite stress, with stricter prohibitions in wealthier, low-disease environments.^[56] Women consistently endorsed more prohibitive norms than men in 54 of these nations, though exceptions occurred in countries like Nigeria and Saudi Arabia, where gender differences were minimal, potentially reflecting localized cultural or religious tolerances.^[57] In the Global South, public spitting persists as a normalized, non-deviant act in everyday life, challenging Western public health narratives that frame it uniformly as harmful without accounting for contextual adaptations.^[58] Some non-Western traditions incorporate symbolic elements influencing attitudes, such as spitting to ward off malevolent spirits in certain Eastern folklore, which historically mitigated stigma around the act.^[59] Post-2020 COVID-19 campaigns intensified global pushes for uniformity, yet empirical data indicate persistent regional divergences, with acceptance higher where disease threats are chronic but norms less formalized.^[53] These variations underscore how cultural embedding and adaptive behaviors shape perceptions beyond universal disgust responses.

Health and Hygiene Risks

Disease Transmission Mechanisms

Spitting propels saliva, which can contain viable bacterial and viral pathogens, outward in the form of droplets ranging from 5 to 1000 micrometers in diameter, facilitating direct deposition onto mucous membranes of the eyes, nose, or mouth of nearby individuals, or indirect transfer via fomites.^[60] These droplets may also generate smaller aerosols (<5 micrometers) through fragmentation during expulsion, allowing inhalation and deeper respiratory tract penetration, akin to mechanisms observed in coughing or speaking.^[61] Salivary enzymes and hypotonicity provide some inherent antimicrobial protection, reducing but not eliminating transmission risks for certain enveloped viruses like HIV; however, non-enveloped pathogens or robust bacteria persist more readily.^[62] Bacterial transmission via spitting occurs primarily through droplet nuclei containing aerosolized microbes, such as Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which remains infectious in airborne sputum particles expelled during spitting, enabling pulmonary infection upon inhalation by susceptible hosts within close proximity (typically under 2 meters).^[63] Streptococcal bacteria, including group A Streptococcus pyogenes causing strep throat, can similarly transfer via saliva droplets contacting oropharyngeal mucosa, with viability sustained in salivary fluid for hours under moist conditions.^[64] For viruses, mechanisms involve virions embedded in salivary glycoproteins, expelled in droplets that either directly infect via mucosal entry or desiccate into respirable aerosols; influenza A and rhinoviruses exemplify this, with transmission efficiency heightened by high viral loads in saliva during acute shedding (up to 10^6-10^8 particles per milliliter).^[65] ^[66] Fomite-mediated spread arises when saliva residues on surfaces retain pathogen infectivity—M. tuberculosis for up to 24 hours on dry surfaces, or enteric viruses like rotavirus for days in moist environments—followed by hand-to-mucosa transfer, though this is less efficient than direct aerosol or droplet routes due to dilution and desiccation effects.^[62] Transmission probability depends on factors including projectile velocity (up to 10-20 m/s in forceful spits, increasing droplet range to 2-3 meters), pathogen concentration in donor saliva, recipient immune status, and environmental humidity, which modulates aerosol evaporation and suspension time.^[67] While saliva's antimicrobial peptides (e.g., histatins, defensins) mitigate some risks, empirical models indicate spitting elevates local infection odds by 10-100 fold over baseline contact for aerosolized respiratory pathogens compared to passive saliva exchange like kissing.^[68]

Empirical Evidence from Outbreaks

During the tuberculosis epidemics of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, empirical observations linked public spitting to transmission via sputum containing Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacilli, which could remain viable on surfaces or become aerosolized for inhalation. Health officials documented bacilli in dried spittle from public spaces, such as sidewalks and transit floors, contributing to environmental reservoirs in densely populated urban areas like New York City, where TB mortality exceeded 300 per 100,000 in the 1890s. Anti-spitting ordinances, starting with New York's 1896 law fining violators up to $10, formed part of multifaceted campaigns that correlated with TB death rates halving to about 150 per 100,000 by 1910, though econometric analyses attribute only a small fraction—around 6% from case reporting and related behavioral measures—to such interventions, with broader declines driven by improvements in sanitation, nutrition, and housing.^[69]^[70]^[71] In the 1918-1919 influenza pandemic, which killed over 50 million globally, public health records identified spitting as a vector alongside coughing and sneezing, expelling virus-laden droplets that facilitated close-contact spread in overcrowded settings. U.S. cities enforcing bans on public spitting, often via placards and fines, saw localized reductions in case clusters; for instance, Philadelphia's failure to rigorously curb such behaviors amid a liberty loan parade on October 12, 1918, preceded a surge to over 12,000 deaths, while compliant areas like St. Louis limited excess mortality through combined non-pharmaceutical interventions targeting respiratory expulsion. Retrospective modeling estimates these measures, including anti-spitting enforcement, averted 30-50% of potential transmissions in analyzed U.S. cities by disrupting droplet dynamics.^[72]^[73]^[74] Contemporary outbreaks provide limited direct evidence tying casual spitting to widespread dissemination, though isolated cases highlight risks. In a 2024 California TB cluster among 14 homeless individuals, health officials noted transmission via coughing, sneezing, or spitting in shared shelters, resulting in nine hospitalizations and one death before containment. For SARS-CoV-2, saliva positivity rates reached 91.7% in infected patients, enabling theoretical spread via expectoration, but outbreak investigations found no robust clusters attributable to public spitting habits, such as in China; instead, deliberate assaults involving spitting led to documented secondary infections in healthcare and custodial settings.^[75]^[8]^[76]

Legal and Regulatory Frameworks

Historical Anti-Spitting Laws

Historical anti-spitting laws arose in the late 19th and early 20th centuries amid growing awareness of tuberculosis (TB) transmission via respiratory droplets in sputum, following Robert Koch's 1882 discovery of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Public health reformers emphasized spitting's role in aerosolizing bacilli, prompting legislative efforts to curb the practice in shared spaces.^[77]^[40] In the United States, New York City passed the nation's first major anti-expectoration ordinance on May 12, 1896, banning spitting on streets, sidewalks, public transit, and in subways, with penalties of fines from $1 to $5 or imprisonment up to one year.^[78]^[79] Enforcement resulted in over 2,500 arrests between 1896 and 1910, though average fines were under $1, reflecting practical challenges in prosecution.^[39] This law, advocated by groups like the National Association for the Study and Prevention of Tuberculosis, set a precedent, leading dozens of municipalities—including Philadelphia and San Francisco—to adopt similar bans by 1910, often targeting streetcars and public buildings.^[80]^[81] European precedents predated American efforts; France enacted anti-spitting regulations as early as 1886, aligning with germ theory advancements and focusing on urban hygiene to mitigate TB's airborne spread.^[82] In Britain and Germany, early 20th-century ordinances restricted expectoration in trams and stations, though enforcement remained inconsistent, prioritizing education over punishment.^[83] These laws often intersected with broader sanitation reforms but faced resistance over personal liberties, with critics arguing they overreached into private habits without sufficient evidence of efficacy.^[77] Many such ordinances persist on statute books today, rarely invoked except in hygiene crises, underscoring their origins in TB-specific epidemiology rather than general decorum.^[84]^[69]

Contemporary Enforcement and Assault Cases

In common law jurisdictions such as the United States and United Kingdom, spitting on another person is typically classified as assault or battery, constituting an unlawful application of force or an attempt to cause apprehension of harm, even without physical injury.^[85]^[86] Penalties often include misdemeanor charges carrying up to one year in jail and fines up to $1,000, escalating to felonies when directed at protected individuals like law enforcement officers, with potential sentences of up to eight years in federal cases.^[87]^[88] Recent enforcement has emphasized prosecution in incidents involving public officials or during altercations. On August 14, 2025, a Washington, D.C., woman pleaded guilty to assault after spitting on former interim U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin Jr. and two deputy U.S. marshals outside a federal courthouse.^[89] In May 2025, federal authorities arrested another woman for spitting on Martin, a Trump-appointed official, charging her with assault amid heightened scrutiny of attacks on government personnel.^[90] Similarly, on October 7, 2025, a Portland man faced felony assault charges for spitting on a federal law enforcement officer near an ICE facility, underscoring elevated penalties for targeting federal agents.^[87] State-level cases reflect consistent application against officers. In a 2024 Washington state ruling, Sammuel Miller was convicted of third-degree assault for spitting on Officer Kayla Dragt during an arrest, affirming that such acts qualify as intentional harmful contact under state law.^[91] In the UK, a May 2024 incident in Stroud led to the arrest of a 35-year-old man on suspicion of common assault after spitting during a public altercation, with bail pending further investigation.^[92] These prosecutions demonstrate that while public health-oriented anti-spitting ordinances from earlier eras see limited modern enforcement, interpersonal spitting triggers robust legal response due to its classification as direct aggression.^[93]

Spitting in Sports and Performance

Physiological Reasons Among Athletes

Athletes in endurance and high-intensity sports frequently spit to manage alterations in saliva composition induced by physical exertion. During exercise, the sympathetic nervous system activates, stimulating salivary glands to increase secretion of proteins such as MUC5B, a mucin glycoprotein that thickens saliva and imparts a sticky consistency.^[94]^[95] This change occurs due to elevated adrenergic activity and plasma catecholamines, which promote protein release while dehydration from sweating reduces overall saliva hydration, exacerbating the viscous buildup.^[96] The thickened saliva creates discomfort, including a sensation of oral dryness despite increased production, prompting athletes to expel it to clear airways and maintain breathing efficiency. Studies on runners and cyclists demonstrate that moderate to vigorous exercise elevates MUC5B levels by up to 50-100% compared to rest, correlating with observed spitting behaviors in sports like soccer and baseball.^[97]^[98] Mouth breathing, prevalent in aerobic activities, further dries the oral mucosa, intensifying the urge to spit as a reflexive response to prevent aspiration or swallowing difficulties.^[99] In combat sports such as boxing, physiological spitting aids in clearing excess mucus or blood-tinged saliva from mouthguards and airways, reducing gag reflex risks during exertion. Endurance athletes may also experience transient hypersalivation in cold conditions, where sub-zero temperatures amplify glandular response, necessitating expulsion to avoid performance hindrance.^[100] These mechanisms stem from evolutionary adaptations for respiratory protection under stress, though habitual spitting can vary by sport intensity and environmental factors.^[101]

Notable Controversies and Sanctions

In association football, Uruguayan forward Luis Suárez faced significant sanctions following an incident on August 31, 2025, during Inter Miami's Leagues Cup final loss to Seattle Sounders, where he spat at a Sounders staff member amid a post-match altercation; he received a six-match suspension from the Leagues Cup organizers.^[102] Major League Soccer imposed an additional three-match ban on September 9, 2025, citing the act as unsportsmanlike conduct, exacerbating Suárez's history of disciplinary issues including prior spitting offenses.^[103] In the English Football League, Norwich City winger Borja Sainz admitted to spitting at an opponent during a December 2024 Championship match, resulting in a six-game ban announced by the Football Association on January 10, 2025, which sidelined the team's top scorer and sparked debate over intent versus reaction under pressure.^[104] Similarly, Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis was banned for five matches in November 2024 after spitting on the ground near match officials following a Premier League game, an action the FA deemed improper conduct despite his denial of targeting individuals.^[105] In American football, Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Jalen Carter was ejected and subsequently suspended for one game by the NFL on September 9, 2025, after spitting on Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott's chest during the season opener, an incident captured on video and classified as personal foul conduct.^[106] Historical precedents include wide receiver Terrell Owens, fined $35,000 by the NFL in December 2006 for spitting in the face of Atlanta Falcons cornerback DeAngelo Hall during a game, without further suspension, reflecting league tendencies toward monetary penalties over ejections for such acts.^[107] These cases underscore spitting's status as a grave violation across sports governing bodies, often equated to assault due to hygiene risks and intent to demean, with sanctions varying by league but consistently emphasizing deterrence through multi-game absences.^[108]

Competitive Spitting

Types of Competitions

Competitive spitting contests primarily involve participants using oral propulsion to project small objects, such as fruit pits or seeds, for maximum distance, often at agricultural fairs or festivals. These events emphasize technique, including tongue positioning and breath control, with rules typically prohibiting hand assistance and requiring on-site provision of projectiles to prevent tampering.^[109] Cherry pit spitting stands as one of the most established variants, with the International Cherry Pit-Spitting Championship held annually since 1974 at Tree-Mendus Fruit Farm in Eau Claire, Michigan, where contestants consume fresh cherries to obtain pits. Similar events occur internationally, including the Witzenhausen Cherry Pip Spitting World Championship in Germany since 1983 and Australia's Manjimup Cherry Harmony Festival contest. Participants compete in categories by age and gender, aiming for distances exceeding 30 meters in elite rounds.^[110] Watermelon seed spitting contests, prevalent at summer harvest events across the United States, require spitting sun-dried seeds from eaten watermelon for distance. The Guinness World Record for farthest projection is 22.91 meters (75 feet 2 inches), achieved by Jason Schayot at De Leon, Texas, on August 12, 1995. These competitions often feature multiple rounds and have inspired instructional techniques, such as placing heavier seeds on the tongue's center for optimal launch.^[111] Tobacco spitting events, historically tied to rural American culture, involve expectorating streams of chewing tobacco juice toward targets or for distance, peaking in popularity during the mid-20th century. The inaugural National Tobacco Spitting Contest occurred in Raleigh, Mississippi, in 1966, organized by local Jaycees for fundraising, with subsequent iterations in states like Texas and Pennsylvania drawing participants from farming communities. These contests have declined amid anti-tobacco campaigns but persist in niche festivals. Novelty competitions include cricket spitting, where contestants propel dried crickets—often consumed first—for distance, as seen in quirky U.S. events documented in media reports. Sheep dung spitting, originating in Welsh agricultural shows, requires mouthing and expelling ovine pellets, with the farthest throw winning prizes at festivals like the New Zealand National Sheep Dung Spitting Competition. Such variants highlight cultural or humorous elements but remain marginal compared to fruit-based contests.^[109]^[112]

World Records and Achievements

The longest recorded distance for spitting a cherry stone in competition is 28.51 meters (93 feet 6.5 inches), achieved by Brian "Young Gun" Krause of the United States at the International Cherry Pit-Spitting Championship in Eau Claire, Michigan, on July 10, 2000.^[113] This record, verified under controlled conditions including specific pit preparation and spitting technique rules, has stood as the benchmark for the event, which emphasizes precision and force generated from the tongue and lungs.^[113] In watermelon seed spitting, the farthest verified distance is 22.91 meters (75 feet 2 inches), set by Jason Schayot of the United States in De Leon, Texas, on August 12, 1995.^[111] Competitors in this discipline typically select mature, aerodynamic seeds and employ a crouched stance to maximize propulsion, with measurements taken from a foul line to the seed's landing point.^[111] Earlier claims, such as 20.96 meters (68 feet 9 1/8 inches) by Lee Wheelis in Luling, Texas, in 1989, were surpassed but highlight the evolution of technique in annual festivals like the Luling Watermelon Thump.^[114] Other notable achievements include the largest cherry stone spitting competition, involving 2,944 participants organized by the Executive Committee of Sagae Shiki Festival in Sagae, Japan, on an unspecified date in the early 2010s, emphasizing mass participation over individual distance.^[115] Similarly, the largest grape spitting event featured 891 participants by Junior Chamber International Koshu in Koshu, Japan, at Katsunuma Central Park, focusing on communal engagement in seed projection.^[116] These records underscore the cultural and recreational aspects of spitting contests, often tied to agricultural festivals, where empirical measurement protocols ensure verifiability amid varying environmental factors like wind and humidity.^[115]^[116]

Gleeking Technique

Gleeking is the deliberate or accidental projection of a jet of saliva from beneath the tongue, resembling the defensive spit of a cobra. This occurs through compression of the sublingual and submandibular salivary glands, which are situated in the floor of the mouth and produce the majority of resting saliva volume—approximately 1-1.5 liters per day across all glands.^[22]^[117] Physiologically, the process relies on the submandibular glands' drainage via Wharton's duct, a 5-6 cm structure that opens at the sublingual caruncle near the tongue's frenulum. When the tongue applies targeted pressure—typically by curling backward or thrusting forward—it squeezes accumulated saliva from the gland into the duct, expelling it as a pressurized stream up to several inches. The sublingual glands, smaller and mucus-rich, augment this via multiple minor ducts in the same sublingual fold, though the submandibular contribution dominates the jet's force. This mechanism exploits normal salivary accumulation, which builds during stimulation but can be manually propelled without neural reflex beyond voluntary muscle control.^[22]^[118] To execute gleeking intentionally, sufficient saliva must first accumulate in the glands, achieved by stimuli like sucking on sour candies (which activate gustatory-triggered secretion via the trigeminal nerve) or yawning (which mechanically pools fluid). The performer then protrudes the lower jaw slightly to expose the gland region, presses the tongue's underside firmly against the hard palate as far posteriorly as mobility allows, and executes a sharp anterior or inferior tongue movement to compress the glands abruptly. Practice refines this, as variations in tongue length, gland depth (typically 1-2 cm below the mucosa), or duct patency influence success; no formal studies quantify prevalence, but anecdotal reports suggest 20-50% of individuals master it with repetition, while others face barriers from limited hyoid-tongue coordination or shallower gland positioning.^[22] Inadvertent gleeking arises from unintended compression during yawning (which stretches the floor of the mouth), rapid speech, or oral hygiene, affecting the duct's low-resistance pathway. Though benign occasionally, recurrent episodes may indicate hypersalivation from causes like medication side effects or gastrointestinal reflux, potentially eroding enamel via prolonged exposure; dental consultation is advised if uncontrolled, as it rarely signals pathology like sialadenitis but warrants exclusion.^[22]

Historical Anti-Spitting Devices

Portable sputum flasks emerged in the late 19th century as a key tool in anti-tuberculosis campaigns to contain expectorated matter and mitigate public health risks associated with indiscriminate spitting. These devices, often compact metal or glass containers with tight-fitting lids, enabled carriers—particularly those diagnosed with pulmonary tuberculosis—to dispose of sputum hygienically without resorting to public surfaces. Promoted by physicians like S. Adolphus Knopf, who emphasized their role in breaking the chain of infection after Robert Koch's 1882 identification of the tubercle bacillus, sputum flasks were marketed widely by medical supply firms such as Kny-Scheerer Company, with prices ranging from $0.35 for basic models to $1.25 for premium versions.^[80]^[39] Disposable paper pocket flasks supplemented reusable ones, offering a low-cost, single-use option for patients in sanitariums or everyday use; bulk orders were discounted to encourage adoption among the afflicted. These innovations aligned with broader public health reforms, including ordinances like New York City's 1896 anti-expectoration law, by shifting spitting from open environments to controlled receptacles, though enforcement relied heavily on voluntary compliance and education rather than mandates for device use.^[80]^[79] Public installations, such as self-flushing spittoons, represented another category of anti-spitting apparatus, designed for high-traffic areas like streetcars and buildings to capture and sanitize sputum automatically, reducing manual cleaning and bacterial persistence. Produced by the same suppliers, these fixed devices aimed to accommodate habitual spitters while discouraging floor or sidewalk deposition, reflecting a pragmatic balance between cultural norms and germ theory-driven hygiene imperatives. Despite their proliferation, efficacy data was anecdotal, with campaigns reporting varied uptake; by 1910, the National Association for the Study and Prevention of Tuberculosis noted persistent challenges in curbing public spitting even in equipped venues.^[80]^[40]

References

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Saliva (Spit): What To Know - Cleveland Clinic
Oct 17, 2023 · Saliva (spit) is a watery liquid your salivary glands release into your mouth. Saliva has several functions, like aiding digestion and ...
[2]
Regulation of Saliva - Sympathetic- Parasympathetic
Jul 16, 2023 · The production and composition of saliva is under neural control – via the parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous systems.
[3]
Science behind human saliva - PMC - NIH
Saliva is a complex fluid, which influences oral health through specific and nonspecific physical and chemical properties.
[4]
Physiological regulation of oral saliva ion composition and flow rate ...
Oct 2, 2024 · We present a robust data set of human oral saliva ion composition in healthy adults and functional insights into physiological stimulation.
[5]
Salivary Glands: Location & Function - Cleveland Clinic
Your salivary glands make saliva (spit) that keeps your mouth clean and helps you to swallow and digest food.
[6]
Expectation and expectoration - ScienceDirect.com
Dec 1, 2016 · Reason may be physiological (salivary flow). •. More likely reason is greater motivation to spit effectively for disgusting item. Abstract.
[7]
Why is spitting so bad? - BBC
Mar 12, 2018 · You do stand a small chance of catching a cold or possibly the flu. Other diseases that are spread through saliva include TB, hepatitis, viral ...
[8]
Rethinking spitting in public spaces in the light of COVID-19 ...
In the sense that spitting may transmit the SARS-CoV-2 virus and can thus constitute a health risk to other members of the public, the issue is no longer about ...
[9]
Saliva and infectious disease | Research Starters - EBSCO
Saliva transmission can lead to infections such as tuberculosis, hepatitis, and mononucleosis, among others. The droplets expelled during sneezing or coughing ...
[10]
Spitting is gross, but it doesn't spread hepatitis B or C
Sep 9, 2022 · Recent reports describe bus drivers and police officers being spat at, whilst suggesting substantial risks of catching viral hepatitis from saliva.
[11]
Spitting and Hepatitis B and C: Clearing Up Misconceptions
Oct 3, 2024 · Firstly, hepatitis C is not transmitted through saliva. It is spread through blood-to-blood contact, meaning that incidents like spitting, though highly ...
[12]
The Bizarre Cultural History of Saliva | The MIT Press Reader
Oct 26, 2021 · Spitting in somebody's face is universally considered a serious affront, an expression of hatred and disdain. Spitting on the floor in public is ...
[13]
Jewish Concepts: Superstition of Spitting Three Times
Many superstitions have been a part of Jewish life through the ages. One is to spit three times in reaction to something especially good or evil.
[14]
Embracing Tradition: The Curious Case of Spitting in Greek Culture
Feb 27, 2024 · In Greek folklore, the act of spitting is believed to chase away the devil and bring good fortune to those involved. So, how did spitting become ...
[15]
Traditional behavioural practices, the exchange of saliva and HHV-8 ...
Contexts in which saliva may be used include spitting as a form of greeting. Among the Nuer of Southern Sudan, it is noted that men spit on the heads of their ...
[16]
Physiology, Salivation - StatPearls - NCBI Bookshelf - NIH
The salivary submandibular, parotid, sublingual, and submucosal glands produce saliva which is necessary for the moistening of food products.
[17]
Anatomy and Physiology of Swallowing - Physiopedia
Swallowing requires a coordinated contraction of the muscles in the mouth, pharynx, upper oesophageal sphincter, and upper oesophagus via central control.
[18]
Anatomy, Head and Neck: Buccinator Muscle - StatPearls - NCBI - NIH
The buccinator's contraction pulls the corner of the mouth laterally. The muscle contracts gradually while closing the mouth and relaxes when the mouth opens.
[19]
Buccinator Muscle - an overview | ScienceDirect Topics
The buccinator muscle is a facial muscle that is responsible for compressing the cheeks and expelling air between the lips, such as in blowing a trumpet.
[20]
Anatomy, Head and Neck: Facial Muscles - StatPearls - NCBI - NIH
Apr 20, 2024 · The primary mastication muscles include the masseter, temporalis, medial and lateral pterygoid, mylohyoid, and digastric muscles. The masseter ...Missing: spitting | Show results with:spitting
[21]
(PDF) Experimental measurement of breath exit velocity and ...
Aug 9, 2025 · Spitting was the most effective for projecting drops of blood from the mouth, due to its combination of chest motion and mouth shape producing ...
[22]
What Is Gleeking and Why Does It Happen? - Verywell Health
Jun 19, 2025 · Gleeking is the projection of saliva from under the tongue, like a spitting cobra. It can happen accidentally when pressure is applied to the ...Missing: projectile | Show results with:projectile
[23]
Behavioural biology of South American domestic camelids
Spitting is part of the body language of llamas and alpacas and is used to express displeasure, establish the social order of the herd, and respond to threats ( ...
[24]
Why do llamas and alpacas spit? - BBC Wildlife Magazine
May 6, 2023 · Spitting is mostly used as a warning to other members of the same species. A female llama may spit at a male during the breeding season to repel his advances.
[25]
Why Llamas and Alpacas Spit - Successful Farming
Nov 1, 2024 · Llamas and alpacas spit for several reasons. A female uses this behavior to tell a male she's not interested in his advances, and both genders use it to keep ...
[26]
Report Archerfish Actively Control the Hydrodynamics of Their Jets
Sep 22, 2014 · Archerfish shape the hydrodynamics of their jets to adjust them to target distance. Shaping involves adjustments in the dynamics of mouth opening and closing.
[27]
Fish shoots down prey with super-powered jet | Nature
Oct 25, 2012 · “Archer fish employ an external mechanism for the amplification for muscular power, just like an archer does with his bow.” The fish's ...<|separator|>
[28]
The archerfish uses motor adaptation in shooting to correct for ...
The archerfish is unique in its ability to hunt by shooting a jet of water from its mouth that hits insects situated above the water's surface.
[29]
Target tracking during venom 'spitting' by cobras - PMC - NIH
Venom spitting in cobras is a projectile mechanism; once the bolus of venom is expelled from the fang tip the snake has no ability to direct or modulate the ...
[30]
Spitting cobra venoms evolved to cause extreme pain. - YouTube
Jan 21, 2021 · Venom from spitting cobras has evolved as a form of self-defence, rather than for capturing prey, and is more effective at causing pain than ...
[31]
Spittle and Spitting | Encyclopedia.com
Spitting and blood rites have many parallels, since both involve holy fluids that signify psychic energy and are necessary for sustaining physical life.Missing: practices | Show results with:practices
[32]
Unveiling the Spiritual Meaning of Spitting in Someone's Mouth
Aug 24, 2025 · In ancient Egypt and among the Mayans, spitting rituals joined one person's spirit with another. To spit into someone's mouth was to share ...
[33]
The Saliva Superstition in Classical Literature - jstor
W E learn from various passages in Greek and Latin writers that the ancients believed in the efficacy of human spittle to cure certain complaints, and in ...
[34]
[PDF] Spitting as Determining Sociopolitical Hierarchy in the Ancient Near ...
We shall endeavor to elucidate the significance of the act of spitting in a person's face and its socio-legal implications, from its occurrences in biblical and ...
[35]
Spitting: Significance and symbolism
Oct 6, 2024 · Spitting symbolizes both the expulsion of impurity, requiring ritual cleansing through water, and the rejection of inedible substances, such as mucus.
[36]
Spitting Rituals - Earthworm Express
Aug 7, 2025 · In East Asia, especially in Japan and China, spitting and saliva played significant roles in religious rites and early food technologies. Ritual ...
[37]
1939: The History of Spitting | - Corvus fugit
Mar 3, 2018 · There are few restrictions on public spitting in the middle ages (spit whenever and anywhere you like, just not over or on the table or in the basin where you ...Missing: pre- | Show results with:pre-
[38]
Spitting ritual of the Masai Tribe Spitting on a close friend or a ...
Sep 12, 2015 · Spitting ritual of the Masai Tribe Spitting on a close friend or a relative you have just met, is probably the most peculiar way of greeting ...Why were anti-spitting campaigns common in the 1800s? - FacebookKursiu area on the Curonian Spit. A fisherman's house, early 20th ...More results from www.facebook.com
[39]
The Anti-Spitting Campaigns Designed to Stop the Spread of ...
Nov 13, 2018 · Tuberculosis patients were asked to carry their phlegm around all day in a flask.
[40]
American Lung Association Anti-Spitting Campaign and Modern ...
Fighting Tuberculosis by Health Education · 1. Do not spit. · 2. Do not let others spit. · 3. If you have a cough, and must spit, use a paper napkin or a piece of ...
[41]
Don't Spit : Unsightly, Unsanitary, Unhealthy | Australian War Memorial
The poster was intended to prevent the spread of disease and tuberculosis. In 1904 the National Tuberculosis Association was formed in the United States and ...
[42]
Hygiene and Sanitation - Chinese Public Health Posters - NIH
不要随地吐痰, 以免传染肺痨病！(Please Don't Spit on the Ground, Lest People Get TB!), 1953 ... The images in this poster instruct people to spit into spittoons, or ...
[43]
'Mask Slackers' and 'Deadly' Spit: The 1918 Flu Campaigns to ...
Jul 16, 2020 · Propaganda in PSAs, newspapers, posters and streetcar signs urged Americans to follow health guidelines.
[44]
Spit, Disgust, and Parasite Stress Theory: A Message Experiment
TB mortality dropped by 60% from 1900 to 1930 due to the successes of public health interventions, including anti-spitting campaigns from public health ...
[45]
Was the First Public Health Campaign Successful?
We explore the effectiveness of public health measures championed by the TB movement, including the establishment of sanatoriums and open-air camps.<|separator|>
[46]
8 Popular Jewish Superstitions
Spitting was long considered a potent protector against magic and demons. Ancient and medieval physicians, including Maimonides, described the positive values ...
[47]
13 of the most important Greek superstitions | fooodlove.com
Jun 1, 2021 · Greeks believe that spitting chases away bad luck, misfortune and the devil. To 'protect' someone from these, you spit at them! It sounds crazy ...Missing: Rome Egypt
[48]
Nazar: the Evil Eye in Turkish Culture
Spitting or making spitting sounds. Since compliments are believed to attract the evil eye, one common way to protect a person from the evil eye in Turkish ...Missing: folklore | Show results with:folklore
[49]
Is there any culture on earth where spitting on someone is ... - Reddit
Feb 8, 2024 · I think spitting on someone (usually children) to ward off evil eye is a common custom in many Eastern European countries.What is the significance of Jesus using saliva and even spitting on ...Question about significance of spitting. : r/Chinese - RedditMore results from www.reddit.com
[50]
Did You Know…The Surprising Tradition of Spitting on the Bride in ...
Feb 23, 2025 · It is a symbol of good fortune, love, and protection. Spitting on the bride, according to the Maasai, wards off evil spirits and guarantees a ...
[51]
Spitting in public: disgusting and antisocial – or a great British ...
Sep 25, 2013 · Two men in east London have been successfully prosecuted for spitting in public. But it has long been an integral part of British culture.Missing: cross- | Show results with:cross-
[52]
Cultural Differences in Interpreting Behavior: Staring and Spitting
Aug 6, 2025 · There are indications that men tend to regard these hygiene behaviors as somewhat less important than women do.
[53]
Covid-19: India's unwinnable battle against spitting - BBC
Dec 26, 2021 · And spitting is still socially acceptable - be it chewing tobacco, sportsmen spitting on camera or Bollywood portrayals of men spitting while ...
[54]
Plymouth professor studies Asian spitting behaviour - BBC News
Apr 17, 2013 · A professor from Devon is to travel round Asia studying differing cultural attitudes towards spitting in public.Missing: cross- | Show results with:cross-
[55]
History and culture may play key roles in global spitting habits
Apr 16, 2013 · People should take historical and cultural influences into account before forming opinions about those who spit in public, an academic has ...<|separator|>
[56]
Hygiene Norms Across 56 Nations are Predicted by Self-Control ...
We test these theories using data from a study of 56 countries across the globe, in which almost 20,000 participants reported their norms about spitting in six ...
[57]
Global sex differences in hygiene norms and their relation to ... - NIH
Jun 21, 2022 · Stricter hygiene norms among women than among men are observed almost everywhere, but there are a few exceptions (most notably Nigeria and Saudi Arabia).
[58]
(PDF) Public Spitting in 'Developing' Nations of the Global South
Jan 16, 2018 · Public health campaigns 'beyond the West' tend to stress that spitting in public spreads diseases and is also, in essence, disgusting, uncivilized and deviant.
[59]
Modern Etiquette: The Despicable World of Spitting
Sep 26, 2014 · In contrast, many cultures have seen it as a means of warding off evil spirits. From rural parts of India to Romania and Moldova in Eastern ...
[60]
Effect of saliva fluid properties on pathogen transmissibility - PMC
Nov 18, 2020 · In general, we find that saliva alteration can produce fewer and larger droplets with less content and aerosols. Such results indicate a novel ...
[61]
The airborne lifetime of small speech droplets and their potential ...
May 13, 2020 · Droplets can harbor a variety of respiratory pathogens, including measles (3) and influenza virus (4) as well as Mycobacterium tuberculosis (5).<|control11|><|separator|>
[62]
Infection Transmission by Saliva and the Paradoxical Protective ...
A main protective mechanism of saliva may be the inactivation of HIV-transmitting leukocytes by the hypotonicity of saliva77 and the oral transmission of HIV ...
[63]
Tuberculosis: Causes and How It Spreads - CDC
Jan 17, 2025 · TB germs can get into the air when someone with active TB disease coughs, speaks, or sings. People nearby may breathe in these germs and become ...Missing: spitting | Show results with:spitting
[64]
Infectious Diseases That Spread Through Saliva - Verywell Health
Jan 23, 2025 · Diseases spread through saliva include mono, strep, and rotavirus. Many infections can be spread through kissing. While some pathogens are ...
[65]
Does Saliva Have Health Risks? 3 Ways Germs Can Spread
Apr 7, 2020 · “Saliva has antibodies and enzymes that decrease the risk of contagions.” Still, there are plenty of ways to transmit certain illnesses via saliva.
[66]
Saliva and viral infections - PMC - PubMed Central
However, most frequently, transmission is thought to occur through saliva. The virus can survive on objects and surfaces as long as they stay moist and thus can ...
[67]
Respiratory aerosols and droplets in the transmission of infectious ...
Oct 12, 2023 · Diseases that spread via the respiratory tract, such as measles, tuberculosis, influenza, and the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), have ...
[68]
Bacterial and viral pathogens in saliva: disease relationship and ...
A variety of bacterial pathogens of medical diseases can be present in the oral cavity and may be transmitted to individuals in close contact with the host (45) ...
[69]
"Spitting Is Dangerous, Indecent, and against the Law!" Legislating ...
Aug 6, 2025 · ... anti-spitting campaigns. According to most Progressive Era health experts, “promiscuous” spitting was a prime culprit in spreading the disease.<|control11|><|separator|>
[70]
Reassessing public health campaigns
Apr 8, 2019 · They found little effect of the anti-TB initiatives on declines in disease rates. The only exceptions were reporting active cases to local ...
[71]
[PDF] was the first public health campaign successful? the tuberculosis ...
Our results suggest that these and other anti-TB measures can explain, at most, only a small portion of the overall decline in pulmonary TB mortality observed ...
[72]
Managing the Masses During the 1918–1919 Influenza Pandemic
In 1918, public health authorities recognized influenza as a respiratory infection spread by coughing, sneezing, and spitting. To minimize its spread, they drew ...
[73]
[PDF] The Spanish Influenza, 1918-20 - Old Dominion University
A. 2007 analysis found that, collectively, these interventions likely caused a 30-50% reduction in transmission rates in four major U.S. cities. (Bootsma & ...
[74]
The 1918 Influenza Epidemic in New York City: A Review of ... - NIH
The anti-spitting campaign employed during the 1918 influenza epidemic reinforced the same message and used the same tactics. Placards were posted in railway ...
[75]
TB outbreak spurs public health emergency in California
May 16, 2024 · The bacterium is spread through droplets, called fomites, which are propelled via coughing, sneezing or spitting. These fomites are inhaled and ...
[76]
Does spitting in public play a role in transmitting SARS-CoV-2? - PMC
May 31, 2020 · We therefore suggest that public spitting in China may have played a significant role in encouraging the transmission of SARS-CoV-2.
[77]
"Spitting is dangerous, indecent, and against the law!" legislating ...
Beginning in 1896 in New York, towns and cities throughout America passed anti-spitting legislation, sometimes creating tensions between individual liberty.
[78]
Moments in Time: Anti-spitting law - Your West Central Voice
May 1, 2025 · On May 12, 1896, New York City passed America's first anti-spitting law in an effort to combat tuberculosis, imposing fines and even jail time ...
[79]
A Long Battle Against Public Spitting: New York City's 1896 Anti ...
Aug 12, 2020 · The 1896 anti-expectoration ordinance banned spitting in public places and transit systems and made the crime punishable by a $1 to $5 fine and up to a year in ...Missing: effectiveness | Show results with:effectiveness
[80]
[PDF] The Anti-Spitting Campaign, 1896-1910
Following the development of the germ theory of tuberculosis in the 1880s, American medical reformers crafted a series of policies devoted to eradicating ...
[81]
A Short History of Spitting: TB, Influenza, Covid and Public Policy in ...
Jun 5, 2023 · An extensive anti-spitting placarding campaign was evident in all public buildings and public transport facilities. Preventing the spread of ...Missing: 20th | Show results with:20th
[82]
against the Law!" Legislating Health Behavior during the American
Jan 31, 2012 · Preventing the disease came to focus largely on the "sputum vector" of contagion, and efforts to change public behavior through anti-spitting ...
[83]
In Search of Lost Time in Europe's Sanatoriums - The New York Times
Feb 18, 2018 · Koch's discovery led to new health regulations; anti-spitting laws; and isolated, government-run hospitals. In the following decades, hundreds ...
[84]
Spitting Prohibited! - Nebraska State Historical Society
Many localities passed laws against public spitting other than into a spittoon, but such laws were seldom enforced.<|separator|>
[85]
Is "spitting" on someone a crime? A defense lawyer explains
Jul 20, 2024 · Criminal charges for spitting on someone are often misdemeanor assault or battery charges that carry up to 1 year in county jail for a ...Missing: 2020-2025 | Show results with:2020-2025
[86]
Is Spitting on Someone Assault? - KGO Law Firm
Jul 4, 2025 · Misdemeanor: In most cases, spitting on someone is charged as a misdemeanor assault or battery. · Aggravated Charges: If the spitting targets a ...Missing: 2020-2025 | Show results with:2020-2025
[87]
Portland Man Charged with Felony Assault of a Federal Law ...
Oct 7, 2025 · Felony assault of a federal officer is punishable by up to eight years in federal prison. A criminal complaint is only an accusation of a crime, ...
[88]
Is Spitting on Someone Assault - Lustberg Law Offices, LLC
Jul 2, 2025 · A fine of up to $1,000; Possible probation; Court-ordered anger management classes. Though spitting may not seem as severe as other forms of ...Understanding Assault... · Types Of Assault Charges... · Specifics Of Spitting As An...Missing: 2020-2025 | Show results with:2020-2025
[89]
District Woman Pleads Guilty to Assault for Spitting on Former ...
Aug 14, 2025 · District Woman Pleads Guilty to Assault for Spitting on Former Interim U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin Jr. and Two Deputy United States Marshals.
[90]
Woman Arrested for Spitting on Trump Justice Department Official
May 22, 2025 · Federal police arrested a Washington woman on Thursday and charged her with assault for allegedly spitting on Ed Martin.
[91]
[PDF] state of washington
Oct 22, 2024 · GLASGOW, J.—A jury found Sammuel Miller guilty of third degree assault for spitting on. Officer Kayla Dragt as she was helping to handcuff him.
[92]
Man arrested after Stroud spitting incident - BBC News
May 30, 2024 · A 35-year-old from Stroud was arrested on suspicion of common assault and was later released on bail. Officers from Gloucestershire Police have ...<|separator|>
[93]
THE ENFORCEMENT OF ANTI-SPITTING LAWS. - JAMA Network
The enforcement of the law is likely to be more or less spasmodic, but its necessity will diminish with each raid on the spitters in public places.
[94]
Why do football players spit so much? - BBC Science Focus Magazine
Several studies have shown that exercise increases the amount of protein secreted into the saliva, especially a kind of mucus called MUC5B.
[95]
The effect of physical exercise on salivary secretion of MUC5B ...
The results of this study show that physical exercise leads to an increase in salivary secretion and increased secretion of protein, amylase, lysozyme and MUC5B ...
[96]
The Effects of Physical Exercise on Saliva Composition - NIH
Following the physical activity, the increase in salivary proteins may be associated with adrenergic activity [83]. Increased plasma catecholamines may also ...
[97]
The Effect of Exercise on Salivary Viscosity - PMC - NIH
Nov 16, 2016 · A common experience after exercise is the presence of a thick and sticky saliva layer on the oral surfaces, which causes a feeling of a dry mouth.
[98]
Why do footballers spit? - The Athletic - The New York Times
Oct 3, 2025 · “Those glycoproteins help to trap water, which provides the normal sort of hydrated feeling, but at the same time that you're exercising, you're ...
[99]
Spitting and Running - Dr Juliet McGrattan
May 10, 2021 · When you exercise, your sympathetic nervous system kicks in. The flow of saliva may increase but it also increases in thickness and stickiness.
[100]
Why do I produce so much saliva when I go for a run?
It seems that a short jog in cold weather results in more saliva, while a marathon on a warm day actually reduces saliva production.
[101]
Why athletes spit so much | National Post
Oct 9, 2025 · Juliet McGrattan explained that exercise increases the buildup of a protein, MUC5B, which can cause stickier saliva and increase the urge to ...
[102]
Suarez given six-match ban for spitting incident - BBC
Sep 5, 2025 · Inter Miami forward Luis Suarez has been handed a six-match suspension for spitting at a Seattle Sounders' staff member following his side's 3- ...Missing: notable | Show results with:notable
[103]
MLS hands Luis Suárez extra three-match ban after spitting incident
Sep 9, 2025 · Notably, Miami midfielder Sergio Busquets avoided punishment after appearing to strike Vargas on the chin during the post-match melee.
[104]
Norwich's Borja Sainz gets 6-game ban for spitting at opponent
Jan 10, 2025 · Norwich City top scorer Borja Sainz has been handed a six-game ban after admitting to spitting at an opponent, the Football Association confirmed on Friday.
[105]
Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis' five-game ban was ...
Nov 4, 2024 · Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis was given a five-match ban for spitting on the floor as the match officials walked past him.
[106]
NFL views Jalen Carter ejection for spitting on Dak Prescott as one ...
Sep 9, 2025 · The NFL on Tuesday announced that Philadelphia Eagles star defensive lineman Jalen Carter has been suspended one game for spitting on Dallas ...Missing: famous | Show results with:famous
[107]
NFL fines Cowboys' Owens $35,000 for spitting on Hall - ESPN
Dec 18, 2006 · Terrell Owens was fined $35000 by the NFL on Monday for spitting in the face of Atlanta's DeAngelo Hall during Saturday night's ...Missing: famous | Show results with:famous<|separator|>
[108]
Biting, butting, spitting... what is football's deadliest sin? - BBC Sport
Mar 5, 2015 · Arsenal's Patrick Vieira was handed a four-match ban and a £30,000 fine for spitting at West Ham's Neil Ruddock in a Premiership match at Upton ...
[109]
World's Craziest Spitting Competitions - ABC News
Jul 6, 2013 · World's Craziest Spitting Competitions ... Cherry pits, crickets, dung go flying toward the record books. ... July 6, 2013 -- intro: Watch ...
[110]
International Cherry Pit-Spitting Championship - Atlas Obscura
Aug 16, 2018 · The International Cherry Pit–Spitting Championship has been held at the Tree-Mendus Fruit Farm in Eau Claire, Michigan, every year since 1974.
[111]
Farthest distance to spit a watermelon seed - Guinness World Records
The record for projecting a water-melon seed is 22.91 m (75 ft 2 in) by Jason Schayot (USA) at De Leon, Texas, USA on 12 August 1995.
[112]
Introducing the Shear Madness of Sheep Dung Spitting
May 23, 2022 · This bizarre contest requires participants to take sheep excrement into their mouths and attempt to spit it the furthest.Missing: types | Show results with:types
[113]
Greatest distance to spit a cherry stone | Guinness World Records
The longest spit of a cherry stone in competition is 28.51 m (93 ft 6.5 in) by Brian "Young Gun" Krause (USA) at the International Cherry Pit-Spitting ...
[114]
History - Luling Watermelon Thump
In 1989 a Guinness World Record was set for the first time in Luling for the longest watermelon seed-spit. The record of 65 feet, 4 inches was set by John ...
[115]
Largest cherry stone spitting competition | Guinness World Records
The largest cherry stone spitting competition involved 2,944 participants, achieved by the Executive Committee of Sagae Shiki Festival (Japan), in Sagae, ...
[116]
Largest grape spitting competition | Guinness World Records
The largest grape spitting competition involved 891 participants and was achieved by Junior Chamber International Koshu (Japan) at Katsunuma Central Park, in ...
[117]
https://www.verywellhealth.com/submandibular-gland-5101463
[118]
The Salivary Glands - Clinical Methods - NCBI Bookshelf
The submandibular duct or Wharton's duct runs superiorly and anteriorly to empty adjacent to the frenulum of the tongue. The small duct orifice is visible ...Missing: gleeking | Show results with:gleeking