The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1888-11-30
CAUSES OF COLDS.
SOME EXPLANATIONS GIVEN BY
WELL KNOWN PHYSICIANS.
Violent Climatic Changes, s.encies of the
Street and tho Contemplate Cigarette
Other capeea

Street and tho Contemplate Cigarette
More Or Less to Blame in the Matter.
Other Causes.
"Do you think that the vile smells ema.
mating from tho 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 IN
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 un-
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 daily rounds
as physician pass through whole blocks
of this detestably vitiated atmosphere,
and cannot wonder that the people of
tho neighborhood are i'll ~
"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 infamed, and in that condition
they are more susceptible to the attacks
OF cold. But the subject Of colds is such
slble now to enter into detailed discus
sion. | think that you may safely put
down the remarkable prevalence of the
many troubles that are classed as colds to
tho extraordinary climatic changes that
we have recently experienced and to the
foul stenches that beset US from the torn
up streets"
ut is news to me that colds are so
prevalent, aaid DIR. Anthony Ruppauer,
the next physician visited. But do find
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 i'll reality tho natural
results of breathing the abominablc gases
that arise continually from our streets
The solid particles in these noisome va
pors continually striko on tho mucous
membrane, and finally cut it away This
produces violent Inflammation, end in
that condition one becomes thoroughly
susceptible to climatic changes. Iregard
New York as the healthiest city in the
HG1ASi Cl1 tlCCOlub VI llS lQc5illllCSuC SlUlleL-
ton. 1t is washed on either sido by
blows over il continually. But If it were
not for this splendid situation it would
be the unhealthiest city in the world, for
tho municipal government seems to be
doing oil in it's power to achieve that end.
Why, the street here in front of my Office
has been dug up and repaved four sep
arate times in as many months, and each
time we have been assailed by the same
disgusting and poisonous odors.
Another thing that develops and ag-
grayates these throat troubles is smoking
And it doesn't make any difference if the
tobacco is the best, it has ill effects, not
so much rs 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
that it is the color of boiled salmon, which
is natural. Then smoke cigar for five
minutes, and look again. You will find
that the salmon color has given place to
deep red. Smoke for fifty minutes and
you will find your throat has the appear
ance of raw beef. In that condition it is
susceptible to climatic changes. There
fore, as a health move, would do away
with both the vile gases of the streets
and smoking, but especially with the for
NOR. Their existence is menace to the
public health" I"
DR.. 7. S. Robertson was SO i'll with
cold that he could scarcely speak when
the reporter called, but the subject pleased
him and he talked on it with much free
dom. lie agreed fully with DIR. Sayre and
Dr. Rnppauer 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 ;ad tN'enty-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 line of any
thoroughfare that was being disrupted
were subject to throat troubles, coughs
and colds, q condition that he attributed
wholly to the miasmac condition of the
atmosphere in such neighborhoods.
"But there arc other influences that
must he considered,' ho continued. "In
the first place, wo live hero on an island
and in o continually damp atmosphere.
AS 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-
ence that any little change in the weather
brings on cold in some Shape
Another very important factor in this
matter is the carelessness of people in
dressing themselves. A man comes home
from business OF night, throws off heavy
suit of clothes, jumps into full dress,
although the temperature has fallen 20
degs., and starts for the theatre. His
wife rigs out in some fanciful costume
that does not keep her half warm and &C.
companies him. They stop in the lobby
of the theatre and remove their wraps SO
that the audience may have full
view Of their spiendor as they prom
enade down the aisle. Meantime,
they arc in chilling draught.
Between the acts tho man comes out and
Stands about smoking cigarette or else
he-r,lns across the street to get drink.
After the theatre it is little supper at
Delmonicos, where they havo to wait in q
draught half all hour for q table. Then
they will probably sit by 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 i'll just that way, and in
!acC MuSt CONFESS InaG my own severe
hoarseness is due to just that cause.
''But colds are caught in thousand
ways, such as walking fast and stopping to
talk a few minutes, overheated rooms,
draughty cars and so onad infnitum. Most
colds come from the open pores Of the skin
heing suddenly closed and tho blood being
thus driven from surface or skin circu-
lation to the lungs. In other words, cold
is congestion. It is almost impossible to
avoid this evil. and my individual expert
ence shows that it has been increasing
every year for tho past three years