Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1921-04-16
Health Talks by DR.. Brady
copyright, 1921. National Newspaper Servlcel
Drawing the Danger Line.


.Coryza (the accent is on the eyes though
me germs are busy in the nose) is known to
GRANDPA as "dtstempor," to almanac readers
as acute catarrh," to doctors moro skIllful In
words than In deeds as acute rhinltis" and to
tire mentally deaf, dumb and blind rs cold in
the head" Coryxa is an infectious commune
caple disease which is caused only by the In
'asion OF the tissues (not the surface) Of the
nose and throat lining by various well rccog-
hized germs. Exposure" in the common sense
Oh tho word has no more to do with this or
other respiratory infections than Il has to do
with diphtheria. typhoid fever or smallpox.
notwithstanding strong popular theories or
RANCHES. the notion that chilling of the body
surface through any kind Of exposure" tends
10 lower resistance" and therefore is at least
n "predisposing" or~"contribut!nr" cause OF
coryza and other respiratory Infections there
)s no evidence Which warrants that belief On
the contrary. every scrap of actual evidence
available, and every actual experiment carried
out with the purpose, OF proving that Eek
posture" increases susceptibility to the rcspira-
tory diseases only adds to the incredibilty of
that ancient idea. There is but one question
which need concern anybody about exposure -
including drafts. dampness. leaving of
clothing. changing from heavy to light or no
underwear, wet feet, and the like, and that is:
Am conifortable?" II the exposure is not
particularly discomfortins, it liz rather health
full.
But what IL the Exposure" is uncomfort-
aele? Well short of frostbite or freezing,
don't worry. 1t may be unpleasant, but II can
not cause any Illness in child or adult. II l
am wrong aoout that. then utterly unit
to give any advice about health or hygiene
Coryza is spread precisely rs diphtherla
measles. tho nu. whooping cough and all the
ether acute respiratory infections are spread.
chiefly through spray or dropct infection.
but also By direct contact as in kissing or
shaking hands or swapping pencils. candy or
other articles possibly freshly contaminatc ed
with saliva.
In spray dropct infection Irresponsible
for the majority of the respiratory Infectious
dscases) tho Individual with the coryza
dphtheria or whatever 1t may DO sprays the
air for distance of ten feet on all sides with
invisibly fine droplets OF moisture In which
the germs arc carried. when coughing or
,sneezing without properly covering nose and
mouth. Even when laughing or conversint,
in ordinary zones tho individual i'll of the al
legged cold" coming down with such an
Illness just recovering from tho illness,
sprays tho air for n distance of some four
feet around. Therefore a conscientious. clean
ly intcll gent Individual with diphthera, coryEa
or any other acute respiratory Infection. is not
n menace to persons who do not enter his
nvc-foot tarrage. The only isolation neccs-
sary or effective in preventing tho spread OF
such diseases is hguratHe chalkcd circle
having a radius of twelve feet from the pa
TENTS face, II he Is careless about
muzzling coughs sneezes.