The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-01-29

the conclusion that a cold is a specific in
fictitious disease, and that without the
possibility of infection it is impossible to
catch it. That is to say that il is due TO
a micro-organism, and that without the
presence of this micro-organis the dis
ease cannot be contracted, be the exposure
what il may. What is the bearing of this
belief? Is it of any Importance to us, if
true it be, to recognize it's truth? Contrast
it for moment with the commonly ac.
cepted theory, which may be roughly stat
ed as follows First, that the greater
number of Illnesses begin with a cold
rms is more or less correct. Secondly, that
all colds must necessarily be due to expos
ure of some kind, to draughts damp cold
or wet, though this exposure may be 50
slight that the sufferers are often quite
unconscious Of it, and say: Il am sure
don't know how 1 have taken cold" The
practical result of the theory is that. in
their fear of these unrecognized exposures,
people are apt to take more and more
care of themselves-in other words, 10
coddle more and more This treatment
tends to make them more and more deli
cate; less and less able to Withstand eX-
posure; more and more sensitive to the
depressing effects of cold; less and less
capable of reacting hedlthily against IT,
and, what is far worse more and more
afraid of fresh air and good ventilation
On the back blocks of Australia the writer
has actually known monthly nurse
strong in the consciousness OF unquestion-
ed wisdom, and armed by the authority
of established custom, even when the
Thermometer stood at 80 in the shade, re-
fuse TO open the window, lest her patient
should take cold.) And this coddiing
treatment, when it is applied to children -
especially injurious, causing them 70
grow up delicate instead of STURDY
and strong. and in the long
run tendin to undermine the
robust health and hardlhood of our English
race. Now, if this commonly accepted
theory is, after ALL an erroneous one; II an
this over-carefulness is not only injurious
in many ways, but is altogether useless as
a precautionary measure-given exposure
10 infection which must sooner or later ne
incurred-then surely it is important mat
we as nation should give up our trad'-
tional belief, howsoever much we may nave
cherished it. If the alternative theory, that
OF infection, be the true one, and If u uo
frankly accepted, many consequences must
follow, which il is impossible to conslue-
here. But one thought forces itself upon
us. If il be true that exposure Is not 'iio
direct cause of the disease; If, as seems
probable. it only acts by lowering our
fiiiiitNf anu ~ NAidp4ihB tLit SSiAAi-
a foothold, surely the more we become l.
ured to such exposure the less likely VIII
it be to affect us in this way-a thousN
which, If acted upon. would so far toNdi'
preserving that hardness which IL so emu
acteristic of our nation, which would pro-
as effective a protection against cod "'
against other enemies.
May we hope for anything fur'heI
Shall we ever be able to avoid colds anu
sether? Probably We shall probaoF
long our psychologists having discoNtlft
the hostile mcrobe, having learnt MS ~ ,
its. traced his life history and tracked hiln
to his lair. win be able to show us ny
we can get the better Of our foe, 80 'r
in the oft-recurring struggle he, not 70
viii succumb, and we shall soon cease
fear him.