The "JAMA 100 Years Ago" article in the October 6th issue of
JAMA (v.270,n.13) may be of interest to you. [As the name
implies, this regular short communication reprints items
appearing in JAMA 100 years ago.] The article's entitled "The
Sanitary Mode of Oath Administration in the Courts," and relates
the story of Dr. Morris Wallace declining to "kiss the book" as
a witness in court. Dr. Wallace "said he had no religious
scruples, but he considered that there was a risk to health
involved in putting his lips [to] a book which had already been
kissed by other people. The magistrate suggested as a
compromise kissing the inside of the volume. But here, too, the
doctor objected 'on sanitary grounds,' and he was finally sworn
by holding up the right hand." The 1893 authors go on to state
that "this may be the beginning of a 'reform movement'.... Not
a few of our medical acquaintance habitually adopt the oath by
affirmation, instead of the traditional method, in regard to
which, it is no slander to remark that it is more honored in the
breach than in the observance."
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