Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1888-12-29

thing to do with the prevalence Of coldsY"
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 NAV throw of
disease, but the weak one has to 90 un.
der | consider 1t an outrage that the
citizens of this city lave TO be subjected
to the dangers resulting from breathing
such an atmosphere. In my daily rounds
as a physician | pass through whole blocks
of this detestably vitiated atmosphere,
and ann wonder that the people of
the neighborhood are ILL.,"
do you think that the smoking Of
cigarettes makes one more liable TO con
tract coldY"
"fes. The smoke from the stuff that
Is put into cigarettes irritates the mucous
membrane of the bronchial tubes until they
become infamed, and In that condition
they are more susceptible to the attacks
OF cold. But the subject of colds is such
q wide one and SO varied that it Is impos-
sible now TO enter into q 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 steuches that beset US from the torn
up streets.
1T is Lews to me that colds are so
prevalent" aaid DR.. Anthony R%uppauer,
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 denominated
colds. They are in reality the natural
results Of breathing the abominable gases
that arise continually from our streets.
The 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 n 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 n
mighty river, and a pure ocean breeze
blows over it continually. But if it were
not for this splendid situation 1t would
be the unhealthiest city in the world, for
the municipal government seems 10 be
doing all in its power to achieve that end.
Why, the street here in front of my office
has been dug up and repaved four sep
arate times i'll as many months, and each
time we have been assailed by the same
disgusting and poisonous doors.
Another thing that develops and ag-
gravates these throat troubles is smoking.
And it doesn't make any difference if the
tobacco is the best, it has i'll effects. not
so much as poor tobacco or the contempt
ible cigarette, but it is bad enough. Now
YOU or any other gentleman can make an
experiment for yourself. When you get
up some morning sit before your mirror
and look into your throat. You will find
thu. it is the color Of boiled salmon. which
is natural. Then smoke "a cigar for five
minutes. and look again. You will find
that the salmon color has given place to a
deep red. Smoke for fifty minutes and
you will find your throat has the appear.
ance Of raw beef. In that condition 1T is
susceptible to climatic changes. There
fore, us a health move, would do away
with both the vile gases OF the streets
and smoking, but especially with the for
mcr. Their existence is "a menace to the
public health"
DR.. T. 5. Robertson was so i'll with q
cold that he could scarcely speak when
IL reporter called, but the subject pleased
him and he talked on it with much free
dom. Ee agreed fully with DR.. Sayrc and
DR.. Ruppauer concerning the effect of the
gases from the streets and the habit of
cigarette smoking on producing colds and
throat troubles. He said that two years
ago when the streets were being opened
he had twenty-seven cases " liberated
sore throat at one time in the Broadway
hotels between Tw~enty-third and Forty
second streets. He had observed since
that the people along the line of any
~thoroughfarc that was being disrupted
were subject to throat troubles, coughs
and colds, t. condition that he attributed
wholly to the miasmac condition of the
atmosphere in such neighborhoods.
But there are other influences that
must be considered" lie continued. I'm
the first place, we live here on an island
and in a continually damp atmosphere.
As a result, We are afflicted with catarrhal
troubles. New York has SO per cent. more
cases of catarrh than any city in the world
except Boston. Now this catarrhal con
dition is SO susceptible to climatic influ-
ence that any little change in the weather
brings on a cold in some shape.
Another very important factor in this
matter Is the carelessness of people in
dressing themselves. A man comes HON
from business at night, throws off a heavy
suit of clothes, jumps into full dress,
although the temperature has fallen 20
dogs, and starts for the theatre. His
wife rigs out in some fsnciful costume
that does not keep her half warm and ac-
companies him. They stop in the lobby
Of the theatre and remove their wraps SO
that the audience may have a full
view of their splendor as they prom
enade down the aisle. Meantime,
they are in a chilling draught.
Between the acts the man comes out and
stands about smoking a cigarette or else
he runs across the street to get a drink.
After the theatre it is a little supper at
Delmonico's. where they have TO wait in a
draught half an hour for a table. Then
they will probably sit by a half open win
dow. The next morning they wonder how
they could have caught cold and grumble
at the doctors fee. Half my patients
caught cold in just that way, and in
fact | must confess that my W severe
hoarseness is due to just that cause.
But colds are caught in a thousand
ways, such as walking fast and stopping to
talk o few minutes, Overheated rooms,
~drqughty cars and so On ad intinitum. Most
colds come from the open pores OF the skin