Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1888-11-16
CAUSES OF COLDS.
SOME EXPLANATIONS GIVEN BY
WELL KNOWN PHYSICIANS.

Violent Climatic Changes, steuches of the
Street and tho ContemptiBle Cigarette
More Or Less to Blame fin the Matter.
Other Causes.
".Do you think that the vile smells ema-
mating from the torn up streets have any
thing to do with the prevalence of colds?"
asked the reporter of DR.. Lewis A Sayre
Most unquestionably | do. Those
gases of which you speak are very poison.
GUS. They attack and weaken the system
of any one that breathes them to such an
extent that it becomes more easily affected,
not only by climatic changes, but by, all
diseases. The strong man may throw off
disease, but the weak one has to go IN.
der. | consider it an outrage that the
citizens of this city have to be subjected
to the dangers resulting from breathing
such an atmosphere, In my daSy rounds
Gs a physician | pass through whole blocks
of this detestably Initiated atmosphere,
n | canno wonder that the people of
the neighborhood are ILL.,"
"Do you think that the smoking of
cigarettes makes one more liable to con
tract cold2"
Yes. The smoke from the stuff that
is put into cigarettes irritates the mucous
membrane of the bronchial tubes until they
become inflamed, and in that condition
they are more susceptible to the attacks
of cold. But the subject of colds is such
a wide one and SO varied that It is impos-
sible now to enter into a detailed discus
sion. | think that you may safely put
down the remarkable prevalence of the
many troubles that are classed as colds to
the extraordinary climatic changes that
We have recently experienced and to the
foul stenches that beset us from the torn
up streets"
sit is news to me that colds are SO
prevalent" aaid DR.. Anthony Ruppauer,
the next physician visited. But | do find
q prevalence of bronchial troubles which
are often mistaken for colds, such as
bronchial catarrh, bronchitis, tonsilitis.
pharyngitis, laryngitis, and all such
troubles that are commonly d~enominated
colds. They are in reality the natural
results of breathing the abominable gases
that arise continually from our streets.
h solid particles in these noisome va.
pors continually strike on the mucous
membrane, and finally cut it away. This
produces violent inflammation, and in
that condition one becomes thoroughly
susceptible to climatic changes. ] regard
New York as the healthiest city in the
world on account of its magnificent situa-
ton. 1t is washed on either side by a
mighty river, and a pure ocean breeze
blows over it continually. But if it were
not Tor this splendid situation 1t would
be the unhealthiest city in the world, for
the municipal government seems to be
doing all in its power to achieve that end.
NAy, the street here IN front OF my office
mas oeen dug up and repaved four sep
arate tlhnes IN as many months, and each
lime we nave been assalied by the same
disgusting and poisonous odors.
.another thing That develops and az
gravates these throat troubles is smoking.
n 1t doesn { make any difference If the
tobacco IS the best, 1T has i'll effects, not
SO much as poor tobacco or the contempt
Die cigarette, but 1T is bad enough. Now
you or any other gentleman can make an
experiment ior yourself. When you get
up some morning sit before your mirror
ana look INTO your throat: You VIII lind
ina ~ IL color OF boiled salmon, which
is natural. linen smoke cigar Tor tive
minutes and look again. You will lind
Ihat the salmon color has given place to q
deep red. smoke for fifty minutes and,
you VIII lind your throat has the appear
ance OF raw beef. In that condition it Is
susceptible to climatic changes. There
Iore, as a health move, l would do away
Win DOTH Inc vie gases OF the streets
ana smohlng, out especially with the for
ner; Iheir existence is a menace to the
pubic health.
pr. J. ). Robertson was SO i'll with a
cold that he could scarcely speak when
Inereporter called, u the subject pleased
MN n he talked on 1t with much free
qom; DE agreed tnliy with DR.. Sayre and
". tsuppauer concerning the effect OF the
gases irom the streets and the habit %
cigafette moElng on producing colds and
throat onple lie said that two years
ago Wnen the streets were being opened
ne had twenty-seven cases OF liberated
sore throat at ono limo IN the Broadway
hoteis petWeen l~wenty-thlrd and Forty
second streets. he had observed since
that the people along the line of any
thoroughfare that was being disrupted
We're subject to throat troubles, coughs
ana colds, q condition that he attributed
wholly 70 the miasmao condition of the
atmosphere in such neighborhoods.
but there are other influences that
must De considered. he continued. In
the nrst place, we Inv here on an island
ana N a continually damp atmosphere.
AS a result, we are aftticted with catarrhal
troubles. New York has 50 per cent. more
cases OF eatarrh than any city In he world
except Boston. Now this catarrhal con-
dition IS SO susceptible to climatic inhu-
.snce tnat any lutte change in the weather
brings on a3cold In some shape.
Another very Important factor in this
matter Is the carelessness OF people in
crossing themselves: MAJ comes home
from business at night, throws OIL a heavy
SUIT OF clothes, Jumps into full dress,
although the tpmnpratnra has fabian on