Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-11-28
pREvEnT1oN OF COLDS
Suggestions for Protection Against
Dangers Of the Winter.


From the New York Herald.
Now that the season for ''colds, coughs
and neuralgia pains is with us, the careful
man is ON the lookout for such preventive
measures as will guard him against the
eager and nipping air. that may pre-
pare the way for a winters sickness II
is the proper adaptation to his environ
ment that must settle the question OF his
immunity against the ever threatening
weather ailments With the changeable
climate of our northern ATTITUDES the task
is often difficult one. Thus suooeh
drop in temperature is often followed py d
yeritable epidemic of catarrhal trouoies;
The ordinary phenomenon of COD Is
explained by rapid cooling of the sur
face whereby the superficial circulation Is
temporarily arrested and internal conges-
tons are produced: The primary eneet
Is generally upon the mucous membranes
of the nose, throat and upper AIR passages.
In consequence of this revulson chiliness,
lassitude, headache, sneezing and cough
generally miserable. Then, when it Is too
late. he doubts fhis resisting powers
against drAughts, gold rooms, undue ex-
posure and tRe-it Hike, and is ready to resign
himself to the coddling process for the
remainder of the winter. Strange as IL
may appear. is this misguided care1ui-
ness that explains most of the chronic
catarrhs of the season.
fTSt on the uSt Oh SuCH CduSdllSc
agencies are our overheated and in-venu-
lated apartments. Eminent medical au-
thorities maintain that the sudden change
from an overwarmed room to the cold ar
outside has more to do with the produc.
ton of colds than all other supposed
agencies combined. The air passages,
after having been dried, and, so to speak,
baked in our living rooms, are not only pc
culiarly sensitive to cold, but are In a con-
dition least liable to resist the influences
of the change.
The same principle might apply to over
heating the body by too much clothing
and enfeebling the skin by confined per-
spiration. The exact contrary condition
results from inurement to low tempera-
ture and the creation of habit of natural
resistance. The man who is accustomed
to bare his throat to the blast never suf-
fers from tonsiltiS, and the one who is
use to the cold morning plunge never
knows a SILVER, even in zero weather.
The real moral is to face the cold with a
bold front, to conquer rather than to
shrink from it and be overcome in the
end The hardened man makes his skin
an ever ready adjuster to all variations OF
temperature. The feebler one can APP
proach such a state of protection and may
in the end equal it.
like principle applies to exercise.
With ordinary garments the well individ-
ual never suffers from cold while in mo-
ton, but the one who sits or lies in cold
room or in draught from open door or
indiscretion.
These are simple enough rules in them
selves, but few think of applying them to
individual needs until reminded of their
lost opportunities.
The worst of all is that Cold taken
in early winter is apt to linger and thus
prepare the system for even more distress
ing ailments. The very lack of vital re-
sistance that invites the first attack OF
catarrh is apt to intensity the predisposi-
ton to subsequent colds. This in a great
measure explains the prevalence of pneu-
monia during the inclement season. The
microbe never attacks a healthy men,
brance, but lies Sin wait for the local de-
Utilization which furnishes the soil for the
seed. Ezaa
No m,re forcible argument could be
used in favor of preventive measures
against the slightest respiratory trouble
that may show itself at this time. Moth
ing lowers the vital resistance against all
winter diseases more than the initiative
and apparently Insignificant cold