Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-02-09
Catching Cold.

Experience has shown that IL il not 80 much
the absolute lowness Of the temperature which
gives rise 10 colds, as sudden changes from a
higher TO lower. According to DIR. Rosenthal,
when the surface OF healthy animal is exposed
10 cold the cutaneous vessels coEtract, and by
thus confining the blood TO the interior of the
body, prevent its cooling and preserve the
temperature of the vital organs unless the APP
plicatiOn OF cold be continued for a considera-
BILE time. This lie not the case when the animal
has been previously exposed 20 the warmth.
The cutaDeous vessels become paralyzed Dy the
heat, and remain dilated after the cold has been
applied. The blood is thus exposed over large
surface, and becomes rapidly cooled, even
though the temperature of the surrounding me-
dunn il not very low. In ROthenthsl's expert
ments, animals were kept In q tempersture
form about 81 degrees r. The temperature of
the animals themselves quickly rose during
their confinement TO Ill degrees or lis degrees.
After their removal IL not only sank % the nor
animal which was from 10 degrees TO III de-
grees in the warming apparatus, fell 20 9s.s de-
gTees, and remained at that for several DAYS,
although the room IN which IL was kept was
moderately warm. Confinement in a close
office, hot theater or crowed ball room, will have
a similar effect on man. From such places peo.
pie pass out into the cool, open air, or some
times even purposely station themselves In a
draught. The blood, which Is coursing through
the dilated vessels OF every part of the surface,
is rapidly cooled, and on its return 70 the inter
nal organs, cools them much more quickly than
IL could have dore had the person simply been
exposed TO cold without dilation of the vessels
10y previous warmth. ROseuthal LAYS much
stress on the great effect of sudden co0lings in
bringing on 10 cold, the sudden change in the
temperature OF the blood producing an irritat-
ing effect, and inducing Inflammation in any
weak organ In q way that gradual alteration
would not do. IL would seem, however, that the
alter ation must be from a Temperature above %
one below the normal temperature Of the blood,
and not a mere reduction from one considerably
above the normal to one At or near it. When
much heated we may stand for a short time ina
cool atmosphere with impunity; bat II we stand
long enough 10 produce a shiver, we run great
risk OF catching cold. The fact that IL IL more
dangerous 10 sit for a long time than for short
time In wet clothes, APPEARS TO Indicate that q
considerable and more gradual cooling, such as
may then occur, will produce similar effects 70
a single cooling suddenly effected by exposure
10 a cold draught, after being in q warm room.
The effect Of q chill in causing infammatlons
may be partly due 70 the effect Of cold on the
tissues themselves, and partly 70 the Congestion
which viii occur in some parts when the blood
a driven out by Others BY the contraction OF
their vessels. Everybody knows the beneficial
enece OF cold baths, cold sponging ETC., in
hardening persons, as IL n termed 90 that
they are able to face almost any weather and
endure sudden changes of temperature without
injury. Rosenthal considers that the frequent
application OF cold water or cool air increases
the tone Of the cutaneous vessels, 60 that they
90 not become % much relaxed by heat ~ % be
unable TO contract with sufficient force when
necessary The power Of regulating the tsm-
perature thus preserved, and the person u
prevented nom catching cold.