New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-01-22

perhaps only where civilized man. exist. A.,
that in some favored spots. a. In ST Kn. ~
disease when 1T has been introduced rapd,r
comes extinct. This is known TO be the g.
sailing vessels during long voyage. ana \. 4
one Of the reasons why such a voyage Is "a
beneficial to patients suffering from cor.nN
ton. who are so sadly liable after any cats..ae
attack to lose the grou I'D they have been 80 80
gaining. 1t would seem. too. that the ins.ssy
is generally carried by human agency. ana III
noteworthy that some at least OF every ss,..s
crew or passengers must take il with ~
when they go aboard for apparently every -
which reaches st. Kilda brings the cold p,v
ably those who carry IL are often quite NM.
scious that they have anything wrong .ts
them. the disease being as it were. laten,
would seem. too. that practically all human !,
ings irrespective Of age or sex. and even W.
I'm good health. are highly susceptible to colas
they have been for some time free from ~
and 50 have lost immunity.
Additional evidence that colds are infection,
furnished by what we observe among on, ~
nestle animals Cats seem TO be especially nv
ceptble Probably they often bring home f,o
their nocturnal rambes those mysterious -
tarrhal attacks which so rapidly run throus
the house. 1t is an old saying. The cat Is snes,
ing: we shall all have colds" Sheep too \,
liable; a whole flock may suffer. and may sho.
that curious eruption around the lips Qerus
labialis) which we all know only too well az an
of the most unpleasant accompaniment n
bad cold in the head. On the Australian shee,
runs, when the shearing season comes round
the men who congregate at the sheds are m
uuently smitten with an Illness Of catarrha
nature. which rapidly takes hold OF them, AL
often affects some 80 per cent. Sometimes ii ).
comes very serious, and may even develop int
a fatal pneumonia. To all appearance b
caught from the sheep.
Horses. too. are very subject to nasal catara
and it is a widely prevalent belief among coach
a a cfaN
and specially If a horse which has been out Al
grass goes into a stable with other horses 4
Wil he most likely to develop cold.
All this evidence sec ms TO force US to the con
clusion that a cold is specific infectious dit
case ard that without the possibility Of infec
ton it is impossible to catch II. That Is 10 zI
that it is due to a micro organism. and TIM
without the presence of this micro-organsm III
disease cannot be contracted. be the expOsun
what IL may. What is the bearing OF this b
lief? Is it of any Importance to us, IL true Il b.
TO recognize its truth? Contrast it for moment
with the commonly accepted theory, which mar
be roughly stated as follows: First, that TIA
greater number Of illnesses begin with a col
This is more or less correct. Second that all coa
must necessarily be due to exposure Of SOM
kind, draughts. damp. cold or wet, though tho
exposure may be 50 slight that the sufferer
are often quite unconscious OF It, and say; I
am sure I don't know how ! have taken cod
The practical result of this theory is that
their fear Of these unrecOgnZed exposures PEI
pie are apt to take more and more care Of then
selVes-in other words, TO cOddle more al
more. This treatment tends TO make then
more and more delicate; less and Ia
able to withstand exposure. more and mon
sensitive to the depressing effects Of COLI
less and less capable Of reacting healthy
against it: and. what is far worse, more and
more afraid OF fresh air and good ventiatDa
In the back blocks OF Australia the writer be-
actually known monthly nurse. strong In tk
consciousness Of unquestioned wisdom and |
armed by the authority OF established custom
even when the thermometer stood at 80 in tM
shade. refuse to open the window lest he. pa
tcnt should take cOld) And this coddlns treat
ment, when IL is applied to children, espe-
Cially injurious causing them 10 grow up DELI
cate instead OF sturdy and strong. and In The
long run tending to undermine the robust health
and hardihood OF our English race.
Now. if this commonly accepted theory
after all. an erroneous one il all this Oyercare
funess is not only injurious in many ways oa
is altogether useless as a precautionary measun
given exposure to infection which must soona
or later be incurred-then surely II Is imporAa |
that we a nation should give up our trad
tonal belief hoWsoever much we may han
cherished it, If the alternative theory, that
infection, be the true one, and II III
frankly accepted. many consequences nus
follow which IL is impossible TO consider here
But one thought forces itself upon US. II tnl
true that exposure is not the direct cause Of u
disease; if, as seems probable. IL only acts
lowering our vitality, and 80 enabling the gefu
to get a foOthold. surely the more we becon
Injured to such exposure the less likely will hnl
to affect US in this way-a thought which,
acted upon would go far toward preserving I'M
hardness which is so characteristic OF our ~
ton which would prove effective prots
ton against cold as against other enemies