Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1905-11-30
The Prevention OF "Colds."

Now that the season for 'colds,
coughs and neuralgic 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 prepare the way for winter 9
sickness 1t Is the proper adaptation TO
his environment that must settle the
question Of his immunity against the
ever threatening weather ailments.
With the changeable climate of our
northern latitudes the task IL often a
difficult one. Thus sudden drop in
temperature is often followed by YER
liable epidemic Of catarrhal troubles.
The ordinary phenomenon OF cold
is explained by rapid cooling OF the
surface whereby the superficial circula-
tion is temporarily arrested and internal
COMPOSITIONS are produced. The primary
effect IL generally upon the mucous
membranes Of the nose, throat, and up
per air passages. In consequence OF this
revulsion chilliness, lassitude, headache.
sneezing and cough follow in turn, and
the patient becomes generally miserable.
Then, when it IL too late. he doubts his
resisting powers against draughts, cold
rooms, undue exposure and the like,
and Ia ready to resign himself TO the
coddling process for the remainder OF
the winter Strange az it may appear,
it IN this misguided carefulness that OK.
plains most OF the chronic catarrh5 OF
the season.
First on the list Of such causative
agencies are our overheated and i'll
ventilated apartments. Eminent medi-
cal authorities maintain that the sud
den change from an oyerwarmed room
TO the cold air outside has more to do
with the production OF "colds' than all
other supposed agencies combined. The
air passages. after having been dried,
and. 40 to speak. baked in our living
rooms, are not only peculiarly sensitive
10 cold, but are in a condition least
liable 10 resist the influences OF the
change.
The same principle might apply 10
oyerheating the body by too much
clothing and enfeebling the skin by con
fined perspiration. The exact contrary
condition results from innrement TO low
temperature and the creation OF habit
Of natural resistance. The man who IL
accustomed 10 bare his throat to the
blast never suffers from tonsilitis. and
the one who is used to the cold morning
plnnge never knows q shiyer even in
zero weather. The real moral is to face
the cold with bold front. IN conquer
| rather than to shrink from 1t and be
overcome in the end. The hardened
man makes his skin an eyer-ready ad-
| iuster 10 all variations of temperature.
1 The feebler one can approach such q
state Of protection and may in the end
| equal IT,
A like principl applies 10 exercise.
With ordinary garments the well IN
| diyidual never suffers from cold while
in motion, but the one who sits or lies
| In cold room or In n draught from
open door or window IL sure 10 become
victim OF his indiscretion.
\ These are simple enough rules in
| themselves, but few think Of applying
them to individual needs until reminded
OF their lost opportunities
The worst OF all Ii that cold" taken
In early winter In apt TO linger and thus
prepare the system for even more dis-
| tressinQ ailments. The very lack Of
| vital resistance that invites the first at
| tack OF catarrh is apt 10 intensity the
predisposition TO subsequent colds. This
| In great measure explains the prevail
cnce OF pneumonia during the inclement
season. The microbe never attacks a
healthy membrane, but lies In wait for
| the local debilitation which furnishes
| the soil for the seed.
No more forcible argument could be
used In favor Of preventive measures
against the slightest respiratory trouble
| that may show itself Mt this time. Moth
| ing lowers the vital resistance against
all winter diseases more than the initla
tive and apparently insignificant cold. "
m " Herald