Evening star., 1914-12-29
ONLY A COLD.
By Frederic ]. Haskin.

By Frederic J. Haskin. i
In many American cities the boards
Of public health are beginning to
recognize the connection between the
increased death roll from December to
April and the bad colds" which are
so prevalent during that period. In
some cities the winter death rates
show an increase of % per cent over
those of the months preceding or fol-
lowing. In others it is 10 per cent
.sreater, but even this increase is OF
sufficient Importance to warrant some
action looking toward it's reduction.
Physicians now agree that colds are
caused by germs. These germs are
not bred in the cold out-of-doors, as
some people seem to believe, but al
most always in the dust of the aver
age home When the house is closed
up and the heating plant called into
activity the dust is circulated and the
germs find their opportunity to attack
the human system. One reason why
March is considered SO deadly a month
in some localities is not SO much be
cause of its especially rough ana
stormy weather, but rather because by
that time the numerous germs bred IN
he badly ventilated houses have mad
an opportunity more Thoroughly TO In :
corporate themselves in the bodies or
human beings whose physical resist
ance is less than normal.
This is the gold germ theory. a.
rvrdinS TO the views OF the average
modern physician,
Colds Catching, and the deductions
to be drawn from it
ody u0ctofS. seem so reasona-
bic that most people are likely to ac-
ccpt it. One evidence of the germ
theory is the rapidity with which
cold contracted by one member of the
family is usually taken by most of the
others. y little care and the isolation
of the first cold victim have proved
safeguard in protecting the rest Of the
family from similar attack. 1t is
only recently that cold has been recog
nized as contagious even by physicians,
and the average family has not given
It this recognition at all.
Common cold, which is technically
known to physicians as coryza, is much
more serious than mumps, chickenpoX
and similar ailments which the aver
a-c mother win do all in her power to
child who has q severe cold and is kept
i'll the house is privileged usually to
cIl1 all his playmates into close,
warm room to share his Imprisonment.
What wonder that the cold disease rap
idly spreads to each? In children, a
common cold may result in serious ear
trouble. ranging from earache to mas
toiditis. 1t is largely responsible for
adenoids ana other ailments requiring
operations of more or less severity, and
it may develop into pneumonia or tu-
berculosis.
In adults. the result of cold is
equally disastrous. Pneumonia, bron-
chitis and tonsi-
Common Colds litis, not to men,
Cause Other Ills. .arn, on '"f ohaa ohac Ca
tisn and numerous other ailments, can
all be traced to the general system
having been weakened by the attack
of a common cold. \ physician, recent
ly addressing an audience of women
upon the subject. said: 1.-THE coryZa
bacillus is the bad little boy of gang
Of toughs. After he has gained admis-
sion to the human body he attracts the
bigger and more dangerous germs, say
iiig, Come on, fellers, the doors are all
open:
The cold disease is Inflammation OF
some part of the respiratory tract. Its
presence is usually announced by Il
stuffy feeling in the nose, sometimes
producing snuffies, especially in chill
slren. The inflammation produces en-
largcd blood vessels in the head and
nose. which account for the stuffy
feeling. Usually there is a rise in tenn
l'erature. and headache and backache
arc frequent accompaniment.
f1.o Il rr1$ $I.,
he discharge from the nose, and the
eyes are likely to be inflamed and
watery- II the inflammation centers
iD the back of the throat the cold is
known as pharyngitis. a mild sore
throat. If the vocal cords are affected
the voice will be hoarse, and it may be
diagnosed as Iaryngitis. When it
strikes the lungs 1t produces pneumo-
uia- When il reaches only the bron-
ciial tubes leading to the lungs it is
bronchitis. The stages between these
phases are quickly passed and the least
of them may speedily develop into the
most serious.
IL proper precautions are taken with
a cold at the start it can usually be
conquered with comparatively little
trouble. But because of the careless
ness which has existed throughout the
centuries regarding cold many other
maladies have been developed and
thousands of lives sacrificed annually
:. 4
The child helping department of the
Russell Sage Foundation in New York
city has recently is
Treatment Tor sued the following
roll u;o+; posters to mothers,
which are being
posted in conspicuous places:
colds are caused by germs. Cough
ing, sneezing and splitting scatter these
germs. Keep your baby away from any
one who has q cold.
Many serious diseases come from n
cold If your baby coughs and sneezes
get u doctor at once.
Fresh air and sunshine drive out
serms and prevent colds. Therefore,
zee that your baby is out of doors a
part of each day.
When any member of a family evil
Gences symptoms of cold he should be
promptly isolated in a warm but well
ventilated room If there is a dis
charge from the head it is better to
Use cheesecloth squares instead of
1rindkerchiefs. and burn them at once
If handkerchiefs must be used they
should be soaked in disinfectant and
well rinSed with running water before