The Detroit times., 1914-01-20

D
Metropolitan BiRt building.
WASHINGTON. IL e.. 5an 10-
BeN rr oi communicable diseases
iu winter Grippe. common colds pneu
mouu, diphtheria
ana other diseases
Winter which spread rap
Diseases idly IN cold wealth
err when people
uddie too much 900 uny houses are
unnecessary The germs OF these
diseases arc almost everyV here AT
ghis season cot tuc year but they will
lose heir error Mhen persons Ito
more 90 increase their power OF re
-isrance and improve their general
health The success cor non success
oi thu attacks made on the body by
the germs ot grippe pneumonia and
other winter diseases depends entire.
ly ON person's physical condition
and his ability to ward on these az.
lacks
This statement by Or ~ G. Rucker
assistant surgeon general az the t'nI
tcd States public health service. was
made during the past week when Jhe
first severe cold spell d the winter
was accompanied Bog reports of n
creased sickness and suffering among
persons i'm all Walaks of life
The frequent chilling which peo.
pie get from draughts. Wet Feet and
other causes IN cold weather lowers
their resistance. says Dr Rucker
and they easily become infected ulth
organisms with which they may come
ia contact every Hour OF The day For
Instance perfectly healthy person
might carry in his mouth the bacillus
OF pneumonia or diphlheria and suffer
no harm When this person has his
resistance lowered 10 a sufficient de-
gree however. the attack OF the dis
ease germ is effected.
Much Is heard about the risks run
by the present-day woman because
of her styles OF light and abbreviated
dress. In my opinion the preseutday
styles oil dress are far more sensibl,
than those ot a generation ago, when
persons bundled themselves up IN
heavy clothes. The day for wearing
heavy red tlannels like our grandiath
ers and gI5sndmothers put on in the
early part OF each fall has passed
The average person In the city To-
day lives a summer temperature al
the year around while indoors and az
cordingly il is wise thing TO weal
clothes OF about the same weight dur
ing all the months OF the wear. u
this Is done. and Ii persons wrap M
properly when they pass ont into a
colder atmosphere there viii be- HttlJ
or no danger from cold ana better
health Will be enjoyed.
Many women arr criticised TO-DAY
for wearing opAn-necked waists. on
the theory that they are running a
risk OF catching cold In my opinion
/ think the danger is very slight. ii
there is any Light clothes are just
the thing for women who spend most
OF their time In Tire Well-ncated houses
of today. When they go out into the
cold open air aud carry a coat and
wear furs. there is little danger oi
catching cold Besides a woman car
stand more exposure about the neck
and shoulders Than man can.
lt Is important that persons give
the proper attention 90 the heating
and ventilation OF their homes during
the winter months. Usually the only
thing the average person has in MIND
in regulating the atmosphere of his
home Is the degree OF temperature
II is just as important that attention
be given 10 the relative humidity. In
some homes there is less moisture in
the air than can be found in that OF
the driest desert in he world For
less than 81 an instrument can DE pur
chased which viii indicate with q
good degree OF accuracy the amount
OF humidity and offer a guide for the
proper control OF moisture in the air
Fortunately. on some CT the radiators
now constructed humidifiers are pro
vided Hot. dry air causes Irritation
OF the mucous membranes OF the nose
and throat, and opens the way for the
successful attack OF the germs OF
pneumonia, colds and other winter
diseases.
1T is important that every one
should get plenty OF exercise during
the cold months Of winter. as we'll as
in other seasons of the year. Many
persons discontinue exercising in The
open air TO a large extent during the
cold months. and in this way the pow
or OF resistance is lowered and bad
health Is the result Sufficient sleep
dependent uposs ones age and con
dition Of health. is also just as import
ant during the winter as through the
months OF the year when the temper
ature is moderate Cold baths, taken
with proper precautiOn, are good al
any time and especially In the win
ter. Care must be used. however. be
ee,llse-lha- cold plunge may do more
harm than good TO many who are IN
usued to IT, With some persons bit
ter cold water produces "A reaction
which throws an unnecessary burden
Upon the circulatory system.
Much is heard from some persons
about the danger OF draughts. The
chilling caused by draught when
ones resistance is lowered merely
makes il possible for the germs OF a
disease TO attack successfully per.
son who with full power OF resistance