Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-11-28
HOW TO PREVENT A "coLD.v
Quick Change Of Temperature Danger
ous-Grip Epidemic Threatens.

From the New York Herald
With the approach of winter weather
and with the lowering and changeable tenn
perature of the season. the usual colds"
are sure to- come. Already eatarrh pre-
walls to an alarming extent and most Of
the attacks are of a decidedly grippy char
acter. From the experience Of past years
1t is safe to say that a yeritable epidemic
of such affections must be expected.
How to prevent cold is at this time
a matter of no small Importance. The
question resolves itself into an attention
to little things In the beginning rather
than more weighty ones at the end. The
weak mortal is most apt to suffer from
any epidemic influence. The overweight
individual is relatively in the same cate
CORY. Thus it happens that the cold"
seizes the victim when he is tired. and Il
draught that would not affect him under
other circumstances is quite sure to show
its malignant influence within a few hours
after the slightest exposure
The shiyer and chill are natures first
warnings OF the trouble, then follow the
irritation OF the chest, the harassing
cough. the sneezing, nasal discharge and
Stuffy frontal headache. The careful man
needs these symptoms at once. takes to his
room and uses his home remedies but the
daring and thoughtless one trusts to the
vain chance of roughing 1t through. Then
neglected cold" and long list of lung eff
fections that follow in its wake.
Catarrhal pneumonia, a most fatal all
ment. almost invariably commences with
the simplest warnings. Although the dis
ease is considered infectious and due to a
specific microbe, the latter organism
never attacks previously healthy tissue.
The initiative cold places the mucous
membrane of the air passages In prop
erly receptive condition for the effective
invasion of the waiting organism.
Rapid changes of temperature, espe-
ciaIiy with increased humidity and raw
winds, always dangerous 10 over
come them man conserves the heat or his
body with WOODEN underclothes and suit
able outside covering He must needs be
always on the defensive. The lack Of pre-
cautions is what must eventually shoulder
the blame.
The best defense against cold is what
might be called the toughening process
of immunity against changes. The per
son who is accustomed to the cold plunge
the year round Is seldom surprised by a
frosty snap or a sneaking draught. On
the other hand, the one who overheats his
house and bakes In the dry and suffocating
atmosphere of most apartments is sure
to suffer from the slightest exposure
1t is truthfully said that American
houses are for the most part hot air ovens
during the winter time. There is no doubt
that this fact explains in great measure
the well-known prevalence or american ,a,
more humid and equally changeabie ell
mate are wonderfully immune against
cold" as Americans view II, ana TINS is
due in no small measure to their cooler
and better ventilated homes. their outdoor
habits in facing storms and In their aoiiity
to react by vigorous skin circulation
against any degree of cold or wei
Who knows how many COLDS might De
prevented during the coming winter bs
following these few simple sugsestlonsE
Eocb man should be able to manufacture
his own animal heat, and reasonable
amount of clothing and ordinary warmth
uitbin doors should do the rest in the
,aantng nrocess that will in the end
.ive him the best of all projections