Perish the Thought (1)

One of the questions asked of any journalist applying for a visa to the USA is this: Have you ever been afflicted with a communicable disease of public health significance or a dangerous physical or mental disorder, or ever been a drug abuser or addict?. The only answers offered are “YES” and “NO”, but every single journalist under fifty whom I have ever known would wish to reply, with Nigel Molesworth. “Perish the thort!”.