Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-09-30
BEWARE OF DRAFTS.
Now is the Time for Catching
Colds


"As this is the beginning Of the season
for colds, a word of caution on this preVa-
lent cause of often serious trouble and
even fatalities, will be found timely" said
a northwest physician to a Star reporter
with the closing of the windows the
advent of the fresh air advocate Is also
here Fresh air is good thing in its place,
but too much of it has killed as many per-
sons as the lack of 1t. One Of the greatest
mistakes men make Is the foolish attempt
to tougher themselves by riding in cold
weather on the open cars. This IS haplt
handed down from the days OF the Depart
ed horse surface cars, when men would
stand out on the front platform on cold
chilly days for the air.
They got the air, and very often pneu-
monia, too, and very frequently severe COLDS
from which they suffered inconvenience or
actual indsposition. Men leave warm
houses in the morning. jump on an open
car and ride to the office, often facing a
cold wind. Then they feel chilly go around
for a few days wondering what is the
matter. until later the physician tells them
the simple cause OF their serious Illness,
unless he is called in too late. or the lung
congestion has progressed too far, In which
case unhappy consequences ensue
Women seem less likely to take cold
than men, largely for the reason that their
circulatory system is better, and their lungs
and the congestion spots of their frames are
better protected, Another great mistake
that men make is that of going around with
their coats unbuttoned on cold and windy
days, thus permitting the cold air to strike
directly upon the lungs. 1t is essential that
the lungs be kept warm to insure good
health in the cold months, and it is up to
every man to bear this simple fact IN mlno
and to dress accordingly.
This is for those who would care for
/, themselves. Then when you come in the
house, don't take off heavy street clothes,
don thin or scanty indoor attire and sit
in chilly or halfwarmed rooms, and ex-
, pect to be free from colds. You often hear
people complaining about taking cold right
at home when they do not thus suner
when they are out Of doors exposed to the
| elements This is the reason, accompanied
| by the deadly house draft from the win
dows which are partially open for the
| fresh air.
Ladies are especially prone to- discard
| heavy street wear for thin things in the
| house, and this Is one reason why they
| take cold at home and not SO frequently
| on the street, where their wraps and furs
protect them. In winter the rooms should
| be aired by opening the windows while the
occupants are elsewhere. room may be
| manner, and the fresh air fiends gain moth
| ing by insisting upon a prolongation of
| the window opening, for once a room is
| opened to refilling with fresh air you can
| get any more oxygen therein If you leave
it open for an hour. upon the same prin-
| ciple that when a bottle is filled with water
| it is full, and you can allow the hydrant
to run therein till doomsday without get
| ting more water In 1t.
| This fact is entirely overlooked by the
| fresh air extremists precisely as they over
| look the fact that a window a little down
at the top all day or for stated period,
sets the deadly house draft going on full
time. with resultant colds and illness. A
single illustration will suffice. l had lady
patient who suffered constantly from neu-
| ralgia, and her case stubbornly resisted
| treatment, yet it was one which l con-
sidered should have readily yielded. Fical-
ly learned that she slept in a room, very
| large one, with the windows open, and The
| bed was placed in such a position as to be
directly in a draft from another room. She
! was a fresh air extremist who did MT con-
slider my suggestion to positively close the
| windows after a preliminary airing had
| anything to do with her neuralgia, which
she insisted came from her nerves. as in
fact, it did. Reluctantly she obeyed my
| behest, her neuralgia disappeared, as my
| conclusion was correct, and she was forced
to abandon her fresh air advocacy. Many
a fresh air extremist has been placed in
extremis by a foolish persistency therein
in all seasons and weather"