The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1920-01-26
THE COMMON COLD.
A Plain Talk About This Much Neg
lected Ailment.

The cold is probably the commonest
! illness during the winter months in the
! United States. II is an inflammation
of the mucous lining of the nose and
throat usually due to germs. 1t shows
| itself by sneezing, by dryness of the
nose. and general discomfort followed
by difficulty in breathing and watery
later purulent- discharge from the
nose.
IL is of the greatest Importance to fix
in your mind firmly the fact that colds
are dangerous. The germs may spread
to other parts Of the body, attacking
the ear, lungs, heart, joints, kidneys
and brain.
A so-ealled cold may be the only sign
of the start of measles, whooping cough,
diphtheria or scarlet fever.
Never neglect cold, for, paradox
ically, it may not be true cold, but
may be natures warning signal of the
approach of very serious illness.
How a Cold Develops.
When your body is in good health
and in good condition, externally and
internally, your system will throw
off, cold before It starts. Health is
natures defense against illness.
A cold viii develop if the general re-
sistance of the system is not great
enough to withstand the poisonous ac-
ton of the germs that settle in the
nose and throat. The more poisonous
the germ and the lower the resistance
particularly of child-the more chance
there Is for cold to develop.
One catches cold" from someone else
who has a cold. When you have cold
you may know that you caught it, in
one of these ways:
By direct contraction example, kiss
ing; or shaking hands and later carry
your own hand to your nose or mouth.
By being nearby when someone with
a cold coughs or sneezes. A cough or
sneeze forces host of germs into the
air; you breathe them in
By indirect contact for example, us
ing the same handkerchief, towel, drink I!
ing cup, or eating utensils used by a |
victim of cold.
Children particularly are prone to
catch cold" by using the family hand !
kerchief' or by using the same pencils /
or toys, or by swapping chewing |
gum or candy.
How Resistance Is Lowered.
There are always germs in the nose |
and throat. These are made harmless
by the protecting substances of the
healthy blood. If these substances are
lost, then the resistance of the body to
disease is lowered, and the germs can
develop and produce a cold. Resistance
TO colds is lowered by;
Chilling especially through wet
md cold feet. Infants may become
,hilled because of being dressed too
lightly, and also by exposure after be-
ne oyerheated through oyerdressing
2Loss of sleep Plenty of sleep is
great restorer. In the ordi-
nary terms, il restores vitality"
3-Over eating, which places too
,reat a tax on the stomach and bowels,
INVITING constipation or Indigestion.
Jnder-feeding. which makes a poorly
lourished body and weakens IT, Wrong
Of food, or a poorly bal
need diet, which does not supply the
,ody with the proper combination Of
Irowth or health elements.
Constipation. People who keep )
heir bowels open by proper eating and
roper living are always freer from !
isease
5-Lack Of plenty of fresh air-espe-
tally breathing a dusty atmosphere
Ricketts,
1-0verwork, whether physical or
rental. A physically exhausted, worn !,
ut" body is in poor shape to fight in ,
ection.
S--Adenoids and large tonsis, They a
re nests" for germs.
Results of Infection. Ii
The younger the child, the more dan
erous is the result OF the infection. /
. simple cold of the parent given to {
he baby may mean death-dealing h
neumonia n
After the germs have gained an en- 4
rance to the body, they may be car I
led by the blood to various organs,
reducing valyular heart disease. rheu- s
iatism, kidney disease or meningitis. I
A cold may be the forerunner of tu n
erculosis-often called Consumption. h
Adenoids are not only usually the i,
esult of repeated colds, but once estab- n
shed they invite more colds.
A cold lowers the resistance, so that
hildren having a cold are more likely n
. catch the acute infectious diseases I,
lch as measles. scarlet fever and diph
leria.
Infants that have colds are apt TO :
evelop serious feeding disturbances.
cold interferes very seriously with
le nutrition of an infant, because il :
snnot nurse well when its nose is
topped up.
Summing it up: A cold must never
: neglected, or regarded as "of no i'm
ortance." The person, young or old
no has cold, is Gin shape" to take
any other diseases of a most serious
lture, or to develop chronic troubles
a most dangerous kind.
If you have a cold, do not pass il on
, your neighbors, little or big ones
on must see to it that the discharges c
ON your nose and throat do not come
contact with anybody else.
Always cover your mouth and nose =
n. u 4