The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-10-19
TO PREVENT COMMON COLD.
Put on Heavier Clothing and Keep
 Warm as temperature Falls.

From the New York World.
 Coughs and "colds" are just now very prevalent in consequence of the lowered temperature of the last few days. The sudden change has taken us unawares and there is widespread suffering as the result; indeed the catarrhal affections are almost of epidemic form. We are hardly prepared for almost winter weather in early autumn. In many homes the fires have not been started and the discomfort ing chilliness is doing it's work.
 The ordinary attack of cold is the con sequence of a general cooling of the body, whereby the blood from the surface Is forced upon the internal organs. The mucous membranes of the nose and bron- chial passages are those most affected, becoming congested and inflamed and re- lieving their turgidity by copious secre- tions. Nature is always kind enough to give us due warning of an attack of the distemper by a sense of shivering and chilliness. The longer these sensations last the more the danger. The continu- ance of the coldness not only lowers vital resistance, but indirectly causes a more or less permanent congestion of the dc6pCI pdilS Dl lH6 DOuS. HIS COllul- tion is brought about more particularly by sitting in cold rooms, by exposure to draughts and by insufficient clothing
 The strong and healthy individual is least liable to such influences, but sooner or later if the cause be continually work ing he succumbs. It is the penalty of inattention to little things. In this climate one cannot live by any rule of seasons. The almanac Is no criterion for dressing to keep comfortable The ther- mometer is the only true interpreter of our needs in that regard. In coming cold weather the first change should be with the underclothing The Englishman un- derstands this necessity better than we do, puts on his under. woolens, and even during winter can endure a low tempera- ture in his room which would make the average American visitor extremely un- comfortable. It is matter of training the body to meet constantly occurring emergencies
 We say his house is always cooler than ours, which is true enough. but he wise ly conserves his bodily heat by proper clothing rather than obtain it by an over- driven hot-air furnace. When we admit that weakened vital resistance is the usual forerunner of catarrhal troubles we have the strongest reasons for counter acting such influence.
 The cold morning plunge has answered tnlS question very SatlS1actOrlly TOT Sucn as have the hardihood to keep up the practice the year round. Such persons seldom take ''cold.' when their weaker brothers would be certain of a severe seizure. They have the extra glow of skin, an increased surface warmth that acts as an extra garment, always with them and always a ready protective against any sudden change of tempera- ture.
 The opposite to this condition is that induced by the American habit of over heating our apartments and making us doubly susceptible to the cold outside. We can keep comfortable without baking ourselves. All these precautions may seem trival to the one who does not stop and think. Now is the time, however, to make the good resolutions, backed by sensible practices, that will enable most of us to escape all the numerous ,catarrh- al troubles which we are made to be- lieve will come to us whether or no. Then, too, the pneumo-coccus may be waiting for his fatal inning.