The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1925-11-10

livery one. at times, suffers
~ from colds. and there is per.
haps no one common condition
that is so disagreeablc TO contend
with as this. Some people have
only one or two colds a year and
then they may not be severe: but
on the other hand, there are mil.
lions OF people who suffer from
many colds each year and some
OF them are so severe that not
only Is life made miserable during
these times. but it actually i'm.
pairs the health OF the body. A
cold is source OF continual drain
OF vitality and every time the
human organism Is subjected 10
il. the vitality and resistance is
lowered.
In different individuals colds
affect the body in different ways,
In some they settle in the nose
and head: in others in the throat,
and in some they affect the bron-
chial tubes and lungs. The part
affected depends very largely
upon the resistance which Is
present in the mucous membrane
in these different areas. If il is
the nose and head which Is ar
fected, II is assured that the
membranes here possess a com.
paratiyeIy low resistance and are
unable TO withstand the toxins
which have accumulated in tho
body.
Why a cold should be so called
is an unsoIved mystery. As
matter Of fact It is an iuflamma.
ton, and one Of the characteristic
features OF inflammation is that
excessive heat is present. In the
consideration of colds. we arc
necessarily led TO the considera-
ton Of what 1t is that produces
inflammation, not only here, but
in other parts Of the body. We
have been told that inflammation
Is produced by certain germs; but
II is a well.known scientific fact
that these and many other germs
are present at all times within
the body. and yet do not give rise
10 Inflammation or other diseases,
This oonclusively proves that the
germs are not causative factors
In the production OF disease. True
il is. that they are present, and
perhaps in large quantities. dur.
ing the course OF certain diseases.
but it Is equally certain that they
are also present when no such
disease exists. Many eminent
scientists are Of the opinion that
the germ Is not the cause Of dis
ease, but is merely one Of tho
manifestations of certain abnor-
mai conditions. The contention
Is held by many scientists that
the germ is merely scavenger,
that he is helpful 10 man and that
he is present in larger quantities
during disease, because at that
time there is greater destruc.
ton OF tissue and q greater need
for his presence.
However that may be. II can.
not be conceded that the germ Is
| the causatiye factor in producing
inflammation OF the nose and
head or Of any other area in the
body. There must be something
else, some other important CON
alteration which brings on a cold
nj those times when Il is least ex.
pscted. Contrary to the common
| w accepted opinion it Is compar-
atlvely rare that colds are con-
tracted following exposure 10 the
elements. They usually manifest
Themselves AT time when there
IL apparently no immediate cause
/. AS n matter Of fact . cold does
not have an immediate cause.
THAT IL, there Is no condition
which occurs Immediately before
| a cold manifests itself which can
he considered as n cause The
L 2EUHNTu OF An EUIIAIIn