Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1919-10-13
People Do Not Catch Cold
But Become Infected
With Germs
COLD, DANGER SIGNAL
There is no Such Thing as a Harm
less "CoId"' or Sore Throat"-May
Transmbit Infection to Others.


A man stopped me ON the street the
other day and said, Doctor, win you
kindly tell me what is cold and how
is it caused. / mean the ordinary
common cohi.in the head, combined
sometimes with sore throat, that
seems to, afflirt mcst of us during the
fall and winter seasons?
i was very glad to answer his ques-
tion and as it is one of general pub
lie interest at this time, will give
my explanation of this very annoy
ing and otter serious affldctlcn.
The trouble which is generally
spoken of as common cold in Ii.
head. is a condition caused by germs
arI IS highly contagious. When theS'
germs extend the infection downward
in,o TIE THROAT, we have the coadl-
ton popularity called "sore throat.
A "cumnlon cold" is name tina.
people apply to almost every mhld
infeotiogl cf the nose, throat or lungs.
If the ta'cuble is located chiefly n
the nose, it is called "cold in th"
head" and if in the throat and lungs.
"a cold on the chest" But it must be-
membered that "cold" is only the
popular name to describe condition.
and has no scientific meaning. 1t is
lust about as descriptive as to say
person has oliver trouble" or "stom-
ach trouble.
A so-c'4I.ed 'ccld' is no trifling mat
ter. as it indicates an infection by
one or more forms of the various dis
ease producing germs or bacteria as
we call them, that are able to cause
more or less serious diseases CT the
respiratory tract, such as rh:nlts.
torbsilatis, plfaryngitis, diphtherla'
pneumonia, etc. The" "pneumococus,"
the germ, causing pneumonia, IS Of
ten present and is frequently the
sctual cause Of a So-called cold,
which later anay develop true case
of pneumonia. If the germs remained
in the nose ard upper part CT the
throat, you might have simply long
eonrinued and, very obstinate cod.
But if condjG orss are favorable. the
nneunor'cocci work on down into the
lungs and pneumonia follows.
You win often hear person IN de-
scr;b;ne SOME friends sickness, say,
"He caught bad cold and it later
turned into pneunonia." People do
not "catch cold" but become infected
with germs that cause known dis
ease. Such germs are generally passed
from one, person, to another by tn"
act of coughing, snee1ging: or loud
tsaking:. This is what we call srpay OF
droplet infections and such diseases
as -influenza, grippe, measles, whoop'
ing cough, pneumonia and tuberculosis
aae usually .transmitted in this man
ner.
Did you ever notice that if one
member of a family "catehes cold,
the Others generally follow in line
The reason is very simple, as most
people look upon "cold" as very
harmless affair, hence take no pre-
cautions to prevent injection. So it is
not hard to understand why the
sscold" soon passes from one member
of the family to the other.
A "cold" must not be considered a
disease in itself, hut merely sym
ptom of disease ts.at may or may
not fully develop later. But all viii
depend upon prompt treatment oil
upon the kind of germs causing the
trouole, or the degree of natural I'M
munity of the person. or the genera
good health and powers Of resistance
Any form of "sore throat" parti
cularIy in children and young people
should always be regarded seriously
Diphtheria begins with a mild sor,
throat and is often looked upon as
simple 'scold." if this disease is no
prdmpdly recognized and protectiv
measures taken at once, many othc
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