Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-08-24

it, Modern medical science has given
the subject a good deal OF atten-
ton.
It differentiates q good many causes for in
termination of the mucous membranes that line
the nose. for the red and watery eyes, the nose
that pours out fluid, the fits OF Sneezing ana
shortness OF breath, the pain IN the cheeks ana
the other symptoms associated In the SERIES
Among the conditions that may bring ABOUT .
flock of symptoms like these are infections OF
the sinuses (the air spaces that surround the
nasal cavity hay fever, the common cold. acute
rhinitis and number Of rare infections
Unfortunately, no one has as yet determined
A single germ that is certainly the cause OF al
of the common colds. Prom time 70 tame
announcements appear to the effect that the
little invader has at last been discovered but
months pass and the results Of the Investigators
are not confirmed.
Then a new announcement Is made and the
old announcement is forgotten by every one
except the cautious bacterioiogstS with historf-
cal background, who are exceedingly cynical
about new announcements of this character.
Almost every medical scientist believes, how
ever. that the common cold is contagious,
because it acts like a contagious condition ana
because most of the experimental evidence
points in that direction. There seems TO De
no doubt that chilling Of the body. sudden
cooling after exercise, the wearing of wet shoes
and clothing viii precipftate the onset of cold,
but these things alone will not do it. Appar-
entity some other factor-probabiy germ or
body smaller than a germ called fiterable
virus-is the necessary item.
TT Is not quite certain just how the changes
I'm temperature or exposure bring about the
infection The general belief is that these
changes and exposures influence the eircula-
ton in the mucous membrance OF the nose
and that In its depressed condition the germs
find it easier to take hold and to propagate
and to dominate the situation.
Then the lining Of the nose begins TO itch
and to burn little and to swell little. The
head feels stuffy, the voice gets thick. the
sneezing begins. the thin fluid begins to ac-
cumuIate, the patient gets uncomfortable and
the family hunt for cover. If the infection
is sufficiently severe there may be o little fever,
aching of the body generally coldness OF the
hands and feet. slight chill, and even in
testinal upSetS. Usually Id from three 70 nve
days the patient gets better.
Almost everybody has q cure for q cold.
The patient can gargle antiseptics and spray
his nose with them If there is little Oil
and menthol in the spray the sensation Is
cooling and the oil Aim protects the inf1amed
places This is relieving. but does not really
cure the cold
Sometimes the patient takes widely adver-
Hsed tablets of q sedative character. They
make him feel a little better because they
help to keep the temperature down and they
nut they do not cure the cold.
Not infrequently the person afflicted battles
his feet in hot water drinks hot lemonade or
gets what Is now generally called "prescrip-
ton" puts a mustard plaster wherever he
feels a mustard plaster viii be decorative. puts
q buckeye in his back pocket. ties q bag Of
asafetida around his neck, lets q manipulation
pull his legs or punch him here and there
and after three TO five days he feels better
Thae things also have not cured his cold.
The tendency of the cold is to get well in
from three to five days, unless the person gets
a wiple lot worse and develops secondary
complications affecting his ears. his throat OF
even developing pneumonia.
TTHE0E are apparently few hardening pro-
ce0Eres which will make a person more
resistant to colds. The human body develops
little permanent resistance. because it Is possible
to get a new cold the next week after one has
Just recovered from an old one. Thus the COM
mon cold differs from measles or scarlet fever
in WHICH one attack develops so much resistance
in the body that the person is not likely eve1
to get those diseases again. But colds 60 on
forever.
~OMss IN colds affect athletes as often q!
~ they 20 ladies of the chorus. About all yot
can do 70 protect yourself is to keep your feet
dry, youf bowels open, wear suitable clothing
avoid exUames, and keep away from the chronic
snee5er. cgugher and splitter. Then If you arr
lucky you yin probably have fewer colds thar
otherwise. On not get the impression, however
that the common cold Is light and easily dis
regarded condition It's effects are sometimes
so severe that 1t is highly desirable for thu
patient to take o vacation In q warm, DIR!
climate, so that he may recover fully and no