Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1917-03-09
COMMON COLDS

The most prevalent illness in ths
United states is the common cold. a
disease group included under one name
and considered of such minor import
J ance that vital statistics do not record
the enormous number of persons who
annually are subjected TO suffering. in
convenience, and economic loss thereby
Remarkable as it may seem. the wide
spread familiarity with this condition
has bred a contempt which hides its
seriousness. yet when the sum total of
the ravages committed by common
colds is made. 1t becomes evident that
instead of being a group of trivial af-
fections. common colds must be classed
as serious diseases.
The phrase common colds" like
charity" covers a multitude of sani-
tary sins, and curiously enough, the
name has been applied to a group OF
affections which far from depending
absolutely on cold are frequently the
direct result of living in close, over
heated surroundings having a lower
relative humidity than the dryest des-
ert known to man.
The word colds" means an acute in
fection Of the lining membranes of the
nose, tonsils throat and larger bronchial
tubes. The process may be even more
extensive and amount to a general in
| IF ho A Cf ba
breathing apparatus excepting the
smaller terminal portions in the lungs
may be involved, and as a matter of
fact the disease may, and often does.
spread to these, thus producing pneu-
monia In this connection it may be
pointed out that pneumonia kills more
people in the United States than any
other disease excepting tuberculosis and
heart disease. Many pneumonias begin |
as common cold Colds do not produce |
tuberculosis, yet unfortunately what is |
considered as a cold may be in reality /
the first symptoms of the white plague
The causes of colds are multiform
and not entirely understood. In every 4
case, however, they are dependent upon
the growth and activity of living germs
which are always received from other
people. 1t is true that almost every
body harbors disease organisms in the
mouth and nose, and that these under
favorable conditions will produce a
cold in their host. But these germs in
every case were received from some
other person. In other words, colds are
infectious. 1t used to be thought that
sitting in a draft or a prolonged stay
in the swimming pool would produce a
cold. This is erroneous, but the chilling
of the body which the draft produces
and the weakening of the vital forces
by too long swim, lower the
powers of resistance and permit germs
which have hitherto been harmless to
their host. to produce their disastrous
effects.
1t is not necessary to describe a =
cold. Everybody is familiar with it in
all its variations. from the simple or
ming at the nose. OF the sore throat.
he aching chest. fever. and generally
knocked OUT feeling. The cough. the
'neeze, the headache and the varying
iegrees of inefficiency which a cold
PRODUCES are. alas. only too well known.
Common colds occur in epidemices and
re distinctly contagious. They sweep
through an entire household. an entire :,
'ity, an entire state. attacking the
-oung, the adolescent, the middle aged,
nd frequently carrying off the aged.
he weak and the debilitated. Schools.
actories stores are suddenly crippled
y epidemics of this sort and the COM
locations and serious disorders follow
lg the disease add to the great econo-,
lie loss produced in this way. Infec-
on OF the cavities beneath the cheeks
nd brows, ear6erangements. chronic -
ing infections. rheumatism. heart dis 'e
rders. kidney impairment and depress-
1 vitality may all follow in the train -
this widespread infection.
To prevent a cold it is necessary
rst of all TO keep the body resistance
high point of efficiency. This
cans that the body machinery should
kept in good order at all times.
ood wholesome food in proper amount
enty of sleep. the careful attendance
the voiding of the body wastes. the
king OF regular exercises in the open
r, keeping the body clean. keeping
e mouth and nose clean. the avoiding
hot. stuffy, dusty rooms. the avoid II
ce of exposure to sudden changes of it
nperature, the prevention of the chill Ar,
: of the body enther by cold or wet. -,
e all protective measures. 1t should
borne in mind, however, that. even N'N
bust persons may contract ccids from ah'