Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1897-05-14

oyereatiug says the New York Press
The laboratory where the microbes are
caught. cultivated and tanned like lit
tie beasts for several years have been
trying to identify the germs OF colds,
as colds seemed to lead 20 many dis
eases that have weil-known germs.
The first discovery was that IN colds
there are several varieties that produce
the same results.
Germs look altogether different I'M
der the microscope and in the Gull
ture tubes, where the microbes are
bred, after they have been identlhed
and separated from others by being
shared from the common FEEDING
ground of all sorts of bacteria) with
platinum needle. Then TO make GER
tain that the real microbe of given
disease is found the germs must be
injected into a rabbit or guinea pig
(or some dispensary patienD to see II
the same disease will appear. Microbes
which cause colds are always in the
body or in the air.
There are twenty different forms OF
bacteria constantly present in the nose,
Including nine or ten which are dan
gerous under certain circumstances.
There are ninety forms of germs in the
mouth. forty OF which may cause seri-
Gus disease.
Every one knows that colds are usu-
ally caught by getting oneself over
heated and cooling off too suddenly.
When the surface of the body is over
heated all the microbes in the air
seem to be attracted to the body, espe-
cially il the air around is chilly or
damp; microbes cannot be killed by
cold or damp, but they do not like 1t,
and are always on the watch to find a
resting place in man, especially in
one who Is overheated and whose skin
is covered with perspiration. II the
nose is always in condition of "ca-
tarrh" it is easy to see how fresh cold
or acute attack of catarrh is caused by
exposure to chill. But how about
the various symptoms in other and dis
tant parts Of the body which generally
follow cold?
When the body is overheated and
then chilled the immediate effect of the
| cold on the surface of the body is to
excite contraction Of the blood vessels
near the surface. Thus the blood is
| driven from the surface to the inner
| organs, carrying along with it any
| microbes that may have been lodged
| near the surface. This eXcites infiam-
| mo in, 20
the first point affected. The way it
seems to act is as follows:
All processes going on in the body
are governed by the central nervous
system. If, as result of exposure to
cold, the regular routine of nutrition
and of circulation is checked in one
part of the body, the nervous force
sent out from the central nervous sys.
tenn, II shut off in one place. will bt
increased in another. Such increase /.
really Inflammation. If any organ /.
liable to chronic Inflammation this will
be the place picked out for the acut,
trouble as a result of having caugh
cold. All the unemployed microbes
will collect there. and unemployed mi
crobes in slightly inflamed organ ar,
certain to make trouble. There is. how
ever, one safeguard which saves tn
body from destruction every time
cold is caught.
There is in th> body a set of valuabl
street-sweepers who do in the bloo
vessels and tissues exactly the wor]
of the STRENGTHENING department
These are the white blood corpuscle
or leucocytes. They differ from Co
Warnings white brigade in that the
eat up the debris, the microbes an
such things wherever they find then
The more germs and bacteria collecte
together in one organ the more IN
white corpuscles swarm in just like tn
regular street-sweepers in the dirt
downtown districts.
II these white blood corpuscles a,
caught while at their work their roun
bodies may be found filed ZIP with tn
bacteria they have eaten. In case ,
sudden emergencies 0ike pneumonia
an immense swarm of white corpuscl,
will appear.
There are all sorts of ways of trea
ing Inflammation in an organ. Mar
are as familiar to the public as to IL
, doctors. The old-fashioned porous
mustard plaster is simply a means
t collect quickly larger number
! white blood cells in the places whe
0 they are needed. The same is true
e all hot applications. blisters, paint,
with iodine or red flannel rags.
The new idea of cold, then. is tn
: 1t is nervous disease, which, to
o any serious harm, has to work throu,
r the microbes, which are always prese
in the body or in the outer passag
d waiting for a chance to make troub
8 The best way to prevent colds is
e keep all parts Of the body properly cl
e and free from any undue exposure. I
i 1t is the disturbance Of the balance
g circulation and the nervous control
i the blood vessels that really causes I
a trouble.
It If the feet and the nose and I
II | mouth are kent in ROod condition .