What does "as the spitballs flew" mean in?

Question

As the spitballs flew, the medical community gawked at the spectacle of 2 of the world's largest and most powerful medical organizations engaged in a highly public dispute.

Answer 1

Spitballs are a common, childish form of fighting -- chewing up bits of paper until they are a sopping wet gob, then throwing this mess at your opponent. The statement is comparing the argument between the 2 medical organizations, where accusations were probably being hurled back and forth, to that kind of childish fighting.