The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1914-01-26

spread rapidly in cold weather when
people huddle too much in stuffy
houses are unnecessary. The germs of
these diseases are almost everywhere
at this season of the year, but they
will lose their terror when persons do
more to increase their power of re-
sistance and improve their general
health. The success or non success of
the attacks made on the body by the
germ of grippe pneumonia and other
winter diseases depends entirely of
persons physical condition and his
ability to ward Oft these attacks"
This statement by Or. w. {. Ruck-
er. assistant surgeon general of the
United States public health service,
was made during the past week when
the first severe cold spell of the win
ter was accompanied ty reports of I'M
creased sickness and suffering among
persons in all walks of life.
THE frequent chilling which PEG
pie get from draughts. wet feet and
other causes i'm cold weather lowers
their resistance" says DR.. Rucker.
"and they easily become infected with
organisms with which they may come
in contact every hour of the day. For
instance. a perfectly healthy person
might carry i'm his mouth the bacillus
Of pneumonia or diphtheria and suffer
no harm. when this person has his
resistance lowered to Il sufficient de-
gree however. the attack of the dis
ease germ is effected.
Much is heard about the risks rum
by the present day woman because of
her styles of light and abbreviated
dress. In my opinion the present day |
styles of dress are far more sensible
than those of a generation ago, when |
persons bundled themselves up in
heavy clothes The day for wearing |
heavy red flannels like our grand
fathers and srandmothers put on in
the early part of each fall has passed. |
THE average person In the city to-
day lives at summer temperature all
the year around while indoors, and ac"
cordngly it is Il wise thing to wear
clothes of about the same weight dur |
ing all The months of the year. If this
is done. and if persons wrap up prop |
erly when they pass out into colder |
atmosphere, there will be little or no
danger from cold and better health will |
be enjoyed.
MANY women are criticised today
for wearing open-necked waists. on
the theory that they are running a risk |
of catching cold In my opinion |
think the danger is very slight, if there
is any. Light clothes are just the
thing for women who spend most of
their time in the we'll heated houses
of today. When they go out into the
cold open air and carry coat and
wear furs there is little danger of
catching cold. Besides, a woman can
stand more exposure about the neck
and shoulders than man can.
1T is important that persons give
the proper attention to 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 to the relative humidity. In
some homes there is less moisture in
the air than can he found in that Of
the dricst desert in the world. For
less than 81 an instrument can he pur-
chased which will indicate with a
good degree of accuracy the amount
of humidity and offer a guide for the
proper control Of moisture in the air.
Fortunately, on some of the radiators
now constructed humidiiiers 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 otEer winter dis
cases.
1T is important that every one
should get plenty of exercise during
the cold months Of winter as well as
in other seasons of the year. Many
persons discontinue exercising in the !
open air to "a large extent during the
cold months, and i'm this way the pow
er of resistance is lowered and bad
health is the result. Sufficient sleep, !
dependent upon 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 tempera-
turc is moderate Cold baths, taken
with proper prccaution, are good at
any time, and especially in the win
ter. Care must be used. however be-
cause the cold plunge may do more
harm than good TO many who are un-
used To 1t. 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 10y draught when
ones resistance is lowered merely
makes it possible for the germs of a
disease to attack successfully a per-
son who with full power of resistance
would throw them off. Every thing
should be done therefore. to increase
ones power Of resistance To inure
ones self to cold weather, as some