The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1928-11-03

NC danger.
Here arc the salient points
states Public Health Service
report of its study of the prev
Nlence Of common colds:
October 10 the worst month
\ Of the year. Clear across the
country, an epidemic OF colds
sweeps IN the latter half Of Oc-
tober and November. Then there
70 gradual decline In Decem.
Der followed by q rise about
New Years time.
Comparatively few persons es.
cape unsatisfactory 10 per
cent.
The average number OF colds
per person during the i've and Z
half months Of the heating sea-
son IL 10.
Close to six and q half days
Il the average period Of disable
ity per person due to respiratory
disorders.
"why does this appalling condi-
ton prevaill How can guard
against it," are questions every
thinking person will ask. You can
avoid colds by keeping away from
persons who have them, BY eating
properly and by eliminating the
waste from your body properly. by
exercise, cold sponge baths and
other articles Of personal hygiene.
But one Of the most conspicuous
points IA the Governments survey.
report II that the great epidemic
occurs In October. That 10 the
month when we 60 indoors and
''turn on" the home-heating sys-
tenn. This coincidence suggests
that heating systems have some
thing to do with nose, throat and
lung sicknesses, which IL precisely
the conclusion modern science has
come to.
Blames "dothouss Habit"
Likening the average overhead
ed under-humid American home to
a human dry.kiln," DR.. Thomas
Hubbard Of Toledo. O., past
president of the American Medical
Association, In an article recently
published in the Journal Of that
organization, said:
"Unhygienic lcxting combined
with foolish estheticlsm in clothing
results In acute and chronic dis
eases OF tho upper and lower
respiratory tract. Our present
high temperature standard SO low
ers natural resistance to minor and
major infections that restoration
to normal health Is retarded"
1.-THE dollhouse habit" DR.. Huh
bard calls the American practice
OF living in excessively warm dry
indoor temperatures. Louis II.
Blanchard, A. B.. NJ. D.. of Buffalo,
n. y, Is another medical authority
who has expressed himself on this
subject In print.
IAN abnormally dry air." says
DR.. Blanchard, ''such as Is pro-
duced by heating systems without
adequate humidifving equipment,
causes an excessive loss OF mois.
ture from the body and concentrn-
ton of body fluids. Even though
the temperature In a room may he
high. the rapid evaporation cools
the skin and there is sense Of
chilliness.
Dssert.Air In Modern Homes.
AT the same time the moisture
in the respiratory tract 10 lost so
rapidly as to irr.tnte the mucous
membranes and increase suscepti-
billty to the respiratory diseases.
In the average home the air IL
drier than the atmosphere over the
deserts"
This last statement Is borne out
By figures recently issued from the
Office Of the Surgeon General OF
the United states Army. He cited
observations showing that. in Az
<rnge home and ONCE conditions,
the relative humidity through the
winter was but % per cent.
1.-THE indoor humidity thus oh.
served was tthe same as the aver
age obtained IN Death Valley,
Calf" this statement points out.
sand lower than that during tha
drleSt month OF the year AZ Yuma.
Artz.. Santa Ts. N. H.. and Pueblo.
Colo"
So the evidence Of modern medi-
cine favors tho conclusion that one
OF the greatest causes OF the an
nual epidemic Of colds and the
prevalence Of other dlsorders OF
the breathing apparatus II lack OF
proper humidity In our homes.
Just What b Hunldlty1
Relative humidity. the Holland
Institute Of TECHNOLOGY explains,
Ia the amount Of moisture suspend
ed In the air ~ compared with the
amount the air could hold. When
the air contains all the moisture It
can stand the relative humidity Il
said to be 100 Per cent II the
relative humidity Of the air n Z
room II 80 per cent, It contains
3ust half a. much moisture as II
could possibly hold at that par
ticular temperature.
Airs Ability to hold moisture
ihcreaiet a. the temperature riAes'
II winter tho tstDperatuge oS out