The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1917-02-15

phire II fairly common.
not cover his mouth and nose when
he coughs are breeders Of these in
fections. The little living bodies
which cause colds are so small that
a million could rest on the head OF
a pin. When a person coughs or
sneezes a fine spray carrying with
il untold numbers Of these germs
is spread into the surrounding at
mosphere TO a distance Of several
feet and may be easily taken to the
mouth and nose with respired air.
More direct contact such as kissing,
the common drinking cup, the COM
mon roller towel, by pipes, toys. PEN
ellis, fingers, food, and other things
which have been contaminated by
the mouth and nose secretions of a
person having a cold may carry the
disease.
IL is an obligation on the part OF
persons having colds to see to 1t
that they do not spread these colds
TO somebody else. The person who
neglects TO cover his nose and mouth
whe6 he sneezes and coughs, the
careless splitter, the person who per-
mits his germ-ladden discharges to
contaminate things which are going
to be handled by other people is a
menace TO the community. II such
la person uses public swimming
pools, il he is not amenable to rea-
son and persists in distributing his
infection, he should be avoided as
spreader of pestilence.
A good deal has been said about
hardening people so that they will
not contract colds. There is an ele-
ment OF danger in this since to ex-
pose a weak person TO the rigors OF
cold bath ad cold drafts is apt to
flower resistance, thus favoring the
very conditions which it is desired
, TO avoid. At the same time, it should
/ not be forgotten, that the Arctic ex-
, plorer does not ordinarily have
!. colds so long as he stays out in the
: open and that il is not the engineer
, and fireman in the cold, drafty cab
) who have colds but those who ride
= in the close, dusty, overheated
!. coaches behind. When all is said,
5 i, must be admitted that dusty, I'M
7 ventilated rooms perhaps play the
: greatest role in producing colds.
!. Since colds are a serious con-
!, dition they should be treated as
such. A great many people think
! that they have an infallible remedy
J. for breaking up a cold. This may
: be harmless in itself but usually II
: is not and consists Of combination
: of harmless drugs and alcohol, the
latter usually preponderating. The
;. sufferer takes these preparations in
9 large quantities and if he is strone
: enough he may survive them and
y eventually get the best OF his cold
: Self medication or medication by un-
: trained persons is always dangerous
II is especially dangerous to those
having colds and should always be
!, scrupulously avoided. As a rule
= much time, inconvenience and sur
:. fering will be obviated by consulting
y an intelligent physician promptly
l II this is not practicable a brisk
n saline may be taken and the patient
Q put 10 bed. This gives his body an
4 opportunity TO regan its vitality and
: at the same time isolates him from
8 other people. The sick room should
be well ventilated and the windows
!, so opened as to keep the air moving
Q freely. Il is also wise TO moisten the
4 air a little bit by putting a pan oil
: water on the radiator or over the
r register or on the stove. The hand
I kerchiefs and bedding used by the
;, patient should be sterilized by boil
ing.
Kissing, and the use OF drinking
cups and towels, etc, in common
v with other members Of the housholo
should be forbidden, ii being borne
h in mind constantly that colds are
$ infectious and readily spread from