Clear glass spittoon, England, 1831-1900

Clear glass spittoon, bulbous, with curved neck, possibly English, 1831-1900.

Spitting was a relatively acceptable social habit until the second half of the 1800s. Unfortunately, the sputum from people with tuberculosis contains the bacteria responsible for causing the disease. Contact with sputum, coughed up from the lungs, could spread the disease. This spittoon was probably used in the home or on hospital wards and would have been disinfected after use.