The Big Stone post. (Big Stone Gap, Va.) 1890-1892, 1891-03-27
DAvGER OF "coLDs."
How Co,ds .day be Infil'ioiy Averted
Certain Forms That are Contagious.

Much the greater part of the sickness
which occurs IN winter is due TO taking
cold, says the Boston Herald.
Many diseases and arrangements are
directly caused by it; there are many
others which this accident induces lndl-
rectly.
Beyond these there are affections which
find ready victims among those who are
suffering from a "hard cold," during
which the system is in n condition which
invites their attacks.
The significance of"a cold can scarcely
be rightly estimated except by physicians,
for they alone know its hidden effects and
the grave results that it is capable OF pro-
ducing If a person who has been sud-
denly taken i'll is assured that he has
"nothing but cold" he no longer feels
any anxiety about himself, but treats his
attack with indifference, and generally
needs to be urged to use proper precau-
tions against exposure while recovering.
All this is wrong \ cold is an accident
to be much dreaded; and when it occurs
treatment should be promptly applied, for
there is no knowing where the trouble will
end Of course complete recovery from
colds is the rule, but the exceptions are
many, and not few fatal Illnesses have
been ushercd in by little injudicious en-
posure. And there are to-day thousands
upon thousands of invalds who can trace
their complaints to colds which ut the
time of their occurrence gave no concern
and were therefore neglected.
Persons who are young and vigorous 90
not take cold easily. And there are some
people quite well on in life who can safely
bear exposure which would threaten to
kill many others Of s..ame age. Elder
" people arc extremely susceptible TO
cold and the same is true of all who are
feeble, whatever he their ages. In con-
ditions of the system in which the cir
culation is not as active as it ought to be,
whether the cause be arrangement or dis
ease colds arc easily taken.
Probably dyspeptics are among the most
frequent sufferers from exposure. The ct
fects of cold on them arc often unusual,
and therefore they frequently experience
them without knowing the actual cause.
Persons of sedcntary occupations take
cold easily. insufficient exercise is the
primary cause, and in consequence OF this
faul; the system becomes chokcd up with
waste material, and circulation and func-
tonal activity Of all vital organs are more
or less impaired. Ladies arc also frequent
sufferers from colds, and the reasons must
be obvious to ALL Confined as they are,
much of the time, to ovcrheated rooms,
they can only safely bear exposure when
very warmly clad; and but comparatively
few arc so. Again, they walk but little,
and circulation being sluggish, the body
is easily chilled, and when it is so its heat
is but slowly restored.
1t is well-known fact that after 4 sud-
den fall in temperature colds arc-for Il
time very prevalent.
Everyone must know that if the body
cools too rapidly after it has been over
heated cold is quite sure TO result, OK
cept in persons who have became insured
to sudden ard radical changes III temper
ature This class, however, is a very
small one, and to all outside of it such
exposure is highly dangerous. One may
also take cold without having been pre-
viouSly oycrhcatcd: and of these two
causes of cold this is the most to be
dreaded, because the affections induced
by it are, as Il rule, the most severe and
eep-seatcd
The surcst preventive for a cold while
under exposure is exercise. One needs
never fear this accident while on the move.
If he has been several hours in an over
heated room, and on leaving it he enters
his carriage or Il strcct-car TO ride tor i
mile or more, the chances are that, If the
weathers intensely cold and he is not
very warmly clad. he will be somewhat
chilled before he reaches home. But all
danger Of this might be obviated by a
brisk walk of few blocks, during which
circulation would he restored and the
body accustomed to the radical change in
temperature.
There are many persons who, when our
in the cold cannot take exercise enough
to keep them well warmed up. OF course
the exposure they are sub to should
he az brief rs possible, and on reaching
home and entering warm room, until
they arc thoroughly warmed, they should
still wear all their outer clothing, and, If
need be, they should put on additional
clothing.
In the majority Of cases cold first cf-
tccts the head, then travels down the
throat into the larger bronchial tubes.
Unless nterfcred with by treatment, such
attacks run all the way from one week to
several months Individual peculiartcs
have something to do with their intensity,
and while recovery quickly occurs in some
people, in others it is long delayed.
What are known as full-blooded people
generally suffer most from colds which end
in bronchitis, because in them there is 4
natural congcstive tendency which inten-
sites the Inflammation and obstructs re-
covery.
Bronchitis generally limited to the
larger bronchial tubes, but it may go deep
or and involve the smaller tubes. The
dcedcr the inflammation the more serious
it is, and the more :ardy the recovery.
Fortunately, it is very seldom, indeed,
that the mnutcst bronchial tubes become
inaamcd; when they are, the disease is
then capillary bronchitis, and a tata!
termination may be expected.
One frequently hears the expression,
"a cold goes to the weakest part. At
least those who are subject to colds in the
head would advocate the substitution of
the word Vulnerable for "weakest."
And by this change the expression would
be brought much nearer the truth. An
organ or other part of the body would not
necessarily need 10 be weak to have its
susceptibility TO cold increased. AIRY de-
rangement in if, and especially conges-
tive tendency renders it an easier mark
under exposure.
There is one fact regarding colds in the
head which all will do well to remember,
namely, that oftcntimes they are conta-
gious Frequently where one member Of
family is attacked other members about
the same time, or soon afterward, suffer
from the same complaint. They attribute