The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1914-12-29
THE HAsKIN LETTER
ONLY A COLD.
By Frederick J. HasI<in.

In many American cities the boards
OF public health are beginning to rec
ognize the connection between the In
creased death roll from December to
April and the bad colds. which ara
SO prevalent during that period. IN
some cities the winter death rates
show an increase of 9 per cont, over
those Of the months preceding or fol-
lowing. In others It Is 10 per cent.
greater. but even this Increase Is of
sumctent importance to warrant some
action looking towards 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 average
home. When the house is closed up
and the heating plant called into ac-
tivity 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 because Of its especially rought
and stormy weather, but rather De-
cause by that time the numerous
germs bred in the badly ventilated
houses have had an opportunity more
thoroughly to incorporate themselves
In the bodies of human beings whose
physical resistane is less than normal.
This is the old germ theory. ac-
cording to the views OF the average
modern physician, and the deduc-
lions to be drawn from 1t seem so
reasonable that most people are like
~ to accept 1t. One evidence of the
germ theory Is the rapidly with
which cold contracted by one men,
Der of the family is usually taken by
most Of the others. A little care and
the. isolation Of the first cold victim
have proved a safeguard in protecting
the rest Of the family fror1 a cimilar
attack. 1t Is only recently that cold
has been recognized as contagious
even by physicians, and the average
family has not given it this recogni-
ton at all.
Common cold. which is technically
known to physicians MS coryza. is
much more serious than mumps.
chicken-pox and similar ailments
which the average mother will do all
In her power to protect her children
from. Yet the child who has a
severe cold and is kept in the house
is privileged usually to- call all his
playmates into close warm room 10
share his imprisonment. What wonder
that the cold disease rapidly spreads
to each? In children, common cold
may result In serious ear trouble
ranging from earache to mastoiditis.
1t is largely responsible for adenoids
and other ailments requiring opera
lions of more or less sevelity, and it
may develop into pneumonia or tu-
berculosis..
In adults. the result of cold is
equally disastrous. Pneumonia.
bronchitis and tonsilitis, not to men
ton chronic catarrh, rheumatism and
numerous other allmenst, can be
traced to the general system having
been weakened by the attack Of a
common cold. A physician, recently
addressing an audience of women up
on the subject, said: 1.-THE coryza
bacillus is the bad little boy Of a
gang of toughs. After he has gained
admission to the human body he at
tracts the bigger and more dangerous
germs, saying, 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 a
stuffy feeling in the nose, sometimes
producing snuffles, especially in chill
dren. The inflammation produces en-
larged blood vessels in the head and
nose which account for the stuffy
feeling. usually there is rise in
temperature, and headache and back
ache are frequent accomplishments.
If the cold is in the head there will be
a discharge from the nose and the
eyes are likely to be infamed and
watery. II the inflammation centers in
the back of the throat the cold Is
known as pharyngitis, mild sore
throat. If the vocal cords are affect
ed. the voice will be hoarse and 1t
may be diagnosed as laryngitis. When
1t strikes the lungs it produces pneu-
monia. When 1t reaches only the
bronchial tubes leading to the lungs
- 10 > hC 6LdScS U6lWGeu
these phases are quickly passed and
the least Of them may speedily devel-
op into the most serious.
If proper precautions are taken
with cold at the start, 1t can usually
be conquered with comparatively lit
tie trouble. But because of the care
lessness which has existed throughout
the centuries. regarding cold, many
other maladies have been developed
and thousands of lives sacrificed an
nually.
The Child Helping Department OF
the Russell Sage Foundation in New
York City has recently issued the fol-
lowing 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 anyone who has a cold.
Many serious diseases come from
a cold. If your baby coughs and
sneezes get doctor at once.
Fresh air and sunshine drive out
germs and prevent colds. Therefore,
see that your baby is out-of-doors a