The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-11-07
CAUSES OF COLDS.
SOME EXPLANATIONS GWEN pY
WELL KNOWN PHYSICIANS.


mating from the torn up streets have any
thing to do with the prevalence Of coldsi'
asked the reporter of DR. Lewis A. Sayre
Most unquestionabiy | 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 al
extent that it becomes more easily affected,
not only by climatic changes. but by all
diseases The strong man may throw of
disease. but the weak one has 10 20 Tn
der consider ii al outrage that the
citizens of this city have to DO subjected
to the dangers resulting from breathing
such an atmosphere In my daay rounds
as physician pass through whole blocks
of this detestably vitiated atmosphere,
! and cannot wonder that the people OF
the neighborhood are i'll. -
"Do you think that the smoking Of
cigarettes makes one more liable TO con
tract coldT'
Eyes. The smoke from the stuff that
Is put into cigarettes initiates the mucous
membrane of the bronchial tubes until they
become inhamed, and in that condition
, they are more susceptible TO the attacks
of cold. But the subject Of colds is such
Il wide one and SO varied that it is lmpos
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 10
the extraordinary climatic changes that
J we have recently experienced and 20 the
foul stenches that beSet Us from the torn
up streets"
at IS news to me that colds are so
prevalent" aaid DR.. Anthony Ruppauor
the next physician visited. But 90 find
a 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 denominatcd
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 il away. This
produces violent Inflammation. and IN
that condition one becomes thoroughly
susceptible 60 climatic changes. regard
New York as the heSl;hiest city i'm tho
ton Ii is washed on either side by
mighty river, and pure ocean breeze
blows over il continually. But If 10 wcro
not for this splendid situation II would
be the unhcalthiest city in the world, for
the municipal government seems go be
doing all in its power 20 achieve that end
Why the street here in front AZ my Office
has been dug up and repayed four sep
arate times in as many months, and each
time we have been assailol by the same
disgusting and poisonous odors
Another thing that develops and ag-
gravates these throat troubles is smoking.
And it doesn't make any difference II the
tobacco is the best. it has III effects, not
so much as poor tobacco or the contempt
lille cigarette but IL 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. fou viii find
that it is the color Of boiled salmon, which
is natural. Then smoke q cigar for five
minutes. and look again You will find
that the salmon color has given place Go @
deep red. Smoke for fifty minutes and
YOU will find YOUR throat has the appear.
9nce Of raw beef In that condition 10 is
susceptible 20 climatic changes. There.
fore as health move, would do away
with both the vile gases OF the streets
aud smoking, but especially with the for
mer Their existence Is menace % the
public health
DR.. T. 5 Robert son was so ill with a
cold that he could scarcely SPEAK when
thcreportcr called. but the subject pleased
him aud he talked on it with much free.
dom. He agreed fully with DIR. Sayro and
DR.. Ruppauer concerning the effect n the
gases from the streets and the habit az
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 OF liberated
sore throat at one time In the Broadway
hotels between Twenty-thIrd and Forty
second streets He had observed since
that the people along the iiue Of any
thoroughfare that was being disrupted
were subject 10 throat troubles, coughs
and colds, a condition that he attributed
wholly 10 the miasmac condition u the
atmosphere ia such neighborhoods.
But there are other influences that
must be considered, he continued IN
tho first place. we live here on an island
and in continually damp atmosphere.
! A. a result. wo are afflicted with catarrhal
troubles New York has 30 per cent more
cases of catarrh than any city Ia the world
except Boston Now this catarrhal con
diti0n Is so susceptible To climatic Hillu-
ence that any little change in the weather
brings ON a cold ia somc shape.
Another very important factor IN TINS
matter is the carelessncss u, people in
dressing themselves A man comes home
from business 90 night, throws of heavy
suit. of clothes jumps into full dress,
although the temperature has fallen -
dogs. and starts for the theatre. His
wife rigs out in some fanciful costume
that does not keep her half warm and ac-
companies lin. They stop ia the lobby
Of the theatre and remove their wraps So
that the audience may have full
view Of their splendor as they prom
euade down tic aisle. Mcaut.mo,
they are ia chilling draugLr
/ Between the acts the man comes ON! AVID
stands about smoking cigarette or else
he runs across the street O. &C. drink
After tho theatre IL Is Attlo supper at
Delmonicos. where they have TO wait IN a
draught half an hour Tor q table. Then
they will probably SIT by half open Din-