Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-01-21

Almost every one you meet nowadays
has cold or has just got over one.
What causes this universal Winter
complaint
Maybe the old belief was nearer right
than we suspect, and that cold weather
does have something to do with it, after
all.
There can be little doubt that germs
or some other such agency help in the
spread. ANY one who has watched the
passing of a bad cold through an entire
family will refuse to argue about this.
Also there may be something to the
belief Of some that our eating habits
are at the basis of this widespread
sneezing and Snuffling and shifting and
coughing which goes on so persistently.
Everywhere one goes, in offices
street, one meets men and women suf-
fering from colds.
Some keep on their feet, others &c
home to bed. We have been waited on
by clerks who snuffled so badly that
It was a matter Of wonder how they
managed to keep going.
A friend told us the other day that
on returning by rail from Northern
city he found a gentleman occupying
his berth, and when he at last pre-
vailed upon the man to move, after the
latter had argued and sneezed, and
argued and sneezed, he turned to the
culprit and said:
You will find the accommodations
just as good there, and you can sneeze
all over yourself, instead OF me-"
Which righteous remark, he added
was very much resented by the other
party.
It Is dificult to make a man relin-
quiSh his theory who believes that some
species Of wrong eating causes his colds
We have Speculated upon this bit OF
reasoning for a long time, and have
yet to prove to ourself that it is wrong
But when one attempts to pin down
the foods which he believes foster con-
ditions favofing the easy catching OF
colds he finds himself in q dilemma
for no sooner does he believe that he
has isolated one food than he catches q
cold. So he begins his observations
anew. Just as he thinks he is on the
right track he comes down with a case
Of the grip. And so 1t goes.
Whether all this proves anything OF
nothing he does not know. He does
know, however, that as q layman he il
treading on holy medical grounds, and
that the doctors are the first ones who
are ready to sheer at his attempts to
md out for himself what is the matter
with him and how to treat himself
They resent evidently his empirical be-
llefs and his improved work Perhaps
they are right. Maybe no one should
think for himself outside the little
sphere which earns him his bread and
butter. We have q suspicion, however
that most persons who suffer from colds
and coughs will continue to attempt tc
solve the matter for themselves.
And why not? Results can be Sc
cured, even If the reasoning behind
them is poor. Often mankind's best
effects have been achieved on faulty
premises. The man who becomes inter.
ested in his own colds Is not likely tc
sit still and do nothing about It. While
he may have the flrmest faith in the
medical profession, he also has faith In
himself. No doubt he has tackled many
q problem about which he knew les
than he does about the common cold
and came out with some knowledge in
the end. He will not be able to see
why he cannot do much the same thing
with the cold, allowing for the fact
that he viii be working with an in
tangible.
Sugar, starch and coffee are three
commodities which we have heard &C.
cused by persons of causing their colds
We found one gentleman who had the
fixed idea that all he had to do was to