Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-01-18
Winter
Diseases.

| n:... rapldly IN cold weather
"eoSoS' when people huddle toe
much in stuffy houses are unnecessary
The germs Of these diseases are almos,
everywhere at this season of the year
but they will lose their terror when per.
sons do more to increase their power OF
resistance and improve their general
| health. The success or non-success OF
\ the attacks made on the body by the
germs of grip. pneumonia and other
| winter diseases depends entirely on a
| persons physical condition and his abil.
ity to ward off these attacks"
This statement b. DR.. w. c. Rucker,
| assistant surgeon general of the United
States public health service, was made
during the past week when the first Sc
we're cold spell of the winter was ac-
coppanied by reports of increased sick
| ness and suffering among persons in all
| walks of life.
The frequent chilling. which people get
from draughts, wet feet and other causes
| IN cold weather lowers their resistance y
| says DR.. Rucker, land they easily be-
come injected with organisms with which
they may come in contact every hour
OF the day. For instance. a perfectly
healthy person might carry in his mouth
the bacillus of pneumonia or diphtheria
and suffer no harm. When this person
has his resistance lowered to a sufl-
cient degree. however. the attack of the
disease germ is effected.
Much is heard about the risks RIM
by the present-day woman because of
her styles of light and abbreviated
dress In my opinion the prcsent-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 fannels like our grand
fathers and grandmothers put on in
the early part of each fall has passed.
The average person in the city today
lives at summer temperature all the year
around while indoors. and accordingly it
is wise thing to wear clothes of about
the same weight during all the months of
the year Ii this is done. and if persons
wrap up properly 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 well heated houses Of today. When
they go out into the cold open air and
%
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 venti-
| latlon of their homes during the winter
| months Usually the only thing the aver
age person has in mind in regulatin the
atmosphere of his home is the degree OF
temperature. 1t is Just as important that
attention be given to the relative humid
! ~ Tt,t h.,
in the air than can be found in that
of the drlest desert in the world. For
less than 81 an instrument can be pur-
chased which will indicate with good
degree of accuracy the amount of humid
ity and offer "A guide for the proper con-
troll of moisture in the air Fortunately,
on some of the radiators now construct
Ell humidtfiers are provided. Hot. dry air
causes irritation of the mucous men,
branes of the nose and throat. and opens
the way for the successful attack of the
germs of pneumonia, colds and other win
ter diseases
1t is important that every one should
get plenty of exercise during the cold
months of winter. as Well as III other
seasons OF the year. Many persons dis
continue exercising in the open air to a
large extent during the cold months and
in this way the power of resistance is
lowered and bad health is the result.
sufficient sleep. denendent upon ones age
important during the winter as through
the months Of the year when the tenn
perature is moderate. Cold baths. taken
with proper precaution. are good at any
time. and esnecia!iy in the winter. Care
must be used however, because the cold
plunge may do more harm than good
to many who are unused to it With
some persons bitter cold water produces
reaction. which throws an unneces-
sarv burden upon the circulatory system
about the danger of draughts. The
chilling caused by draught when
ones resistance is lowered merely
makes it possible for the germs of a
son who with full power Of resistance
would throw them off Everything
should be done therefore to increa Sc
ones power of resistance. to inure
ones self to cold weather as some neo-
pie sometimes say. Automobile riding
serves well for this purpose. but those
who have not yet acquired ma chimes
NAV have their power of resistance
raised by walking in the open air as
much as possible. and. in way. this
beats automobiin". for one gets fine
exercise at tn" same time.
During these cold winter months par
ents should take every precaution and
protect their children from dangerous
diseases. If the child has never been
vaccinated. then now is the accepted
time. because smallpoN infection is most
common during the winter months.
Children should never be exposed to
measles or any of the other so-called
"childrens diseases" which in some
cases are more dangerous than small
pox. 1t should be remembered that
many of the diseases which occur more
frequently in winter are spread by
mouth secretions, and for this reason all
persons should guard against the use
of the common drinking cup. which is a
frequent carrier of the germs of these
diseases. Keep the children awav from
parties where they are likely to play
post Office or other kissing games.
Children are the most common swap
pers of germs in the winter. and in the
school the use of lead pencils and pen
holders which are often put in the
mouth frequently accounts for the
spread OF colds. diphtheria pneumonia
and other diseases. Promiscuity of this
Kind should always be guarded against
carefully.
Lastly, among all the other winter
diseases, watch out for the common cold.
Colds cause greater economic loss
in this country than many dangerous
diseases, because of the many persons
who are compelled to lose time from
work on account Of them. severe
cold also lowers vitality and power of
resistance, and sometimes acts as the
forerunner of pneumonia. tuberculosis
or some other dangerous disease"
:. ::
The work of spreading the gospel of
good health to the general public is to-
day almost as much
The GOSnel of the concern of edu-
~ Gators of the country