The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1909-02-06
HOW DO WE CATCH CoLDl

This winter has had a variety of
weathers-cold and warm days, wet
and dry days, snowy and slushy days,
and it is likely this will continue till
the early rhubarb pie makes its ap-
pearance and dandelion greens are
found on the table.
In consequence of our variety and
multiplicity of climates, it is thought
there are more than the usual num-
Der af colds and cases of grip affecting
the people.
But when we come down to fine
points, we find there is a certain
amount of mystery about contracting
a cold. At one time, with the great
est amount of exposure, no cold re-
suits, and at another, with all care,
the sneezes and grip duly arrive.
1t is the popular notion that if one
be amply provided with warm cloth
ing, wraps, a macintosh, rubbers and
an umbrella little risk is run of taking
cold, yet it is matter offrequent ex-
perience that in spite of all reasonable
precautions catarrhal affection may
be developed or pneumonia set in.
The fact that WEAKNESS, depression
of spirits, fright, anxiety or some
thing which has affected the nervous
system unfavorably has preceded the
attack is frequently overlooked.
When free from every form of nerv-
GUS debility person may expose
himself to draughts, dampness and
other usual causes of colds and escape
entirely, while at another time, when
weary or depressed from any cause,
he may become the victim of a fatal
attack of pneumonia from a much
slighter exposure.
The nervous origin of colds seems
to be recognized by all physicians
who have made special study of
acute diseases of the lungs and throat.
It is explained that the temperature
of the body Is maintained by the nerv-
Gus system and that the least failure
or relaxation of nervous energy causes
a change of the bodily heat and i'm
pairs the power of the body to resist
the approach of disease.
1t is a wonderful fact that under
any change of outside temperature,
even if one go from the Artic regions
to the equator, the heat of the body
remains at about o8 Is degrees. But
for its regulation by the nervous sys-
tenn the heat of the body would not
remain constant, as every muscular
exertion would raise the temperature.
WEAKNESS, anxiety, depression and
the like lower the amount of nervous
energy and render the body suscepti-
bic to colds from the least exposure
by disturbing the process of regula-
ting the temperature. While warm
clothing and all the common means
of protecting the body are important,
it is even more important to avoid
needless exposure if the nervous sys-
-rCm DC HOT III us DcSt COn0lttOu.
If this be correct-the relation of
the nervous system to the tendency
to take colds-then we have an in
ducement to join the Don't Worry
Club. The happy, contented man is
seldom a sick man. A cold cannot
successfully attack sunny temper or
an ever present, genuine smile-one
growing out of actual feeling and not
the outcome of habit.
The worrying, fretting, anxious,
over-worked, avaricious, grasping man
never has good nervous system.
He is everlastingly having his sick
spells. He takes cold easily and won
ders why.
Laugh more out of inherent good
feeling and fret less and colds will be
fewer and the grip not so common
Lancaster Examiner.