Evening star., 1932-10-20
THIS AND THAT
BY CHARLES E. TRACEWELL.

Hence 1t comes about that every suf-
ferer from the common 'cold" has
found one remedy which may have
helped him at one time, but which he
forever after insists on thrusting down
the throats of all his friends.
The truth Is that medical science
itself is stumped by this prevalent
disease and its allies in discomfort and
danger. There is no one simple cure.
Many old beliefs about colds are
being scrapped nowadays, with others
likely to go by the board before long.
Recent Investigations have tended to
show that in studies of two groups,
persons who slept with windows oren
and those who slept with them closed,
there was absolutely no difference in
the number of colds caught; in fact,
the advantage lay, If anything. with
those subjects who slept in so-called
airleSs rooms.
Yet, no sooner is this finding men,
toned than some capable gentleman
Tin stock and bonds) will cry OUT
why. my whole family has slept with
wide-open windows for years!" He
fails to mention incessant ill-health in
that family for years. too.
The lay student Of colds will know
that every human being is law unto
himself in regard to them.
What Is one mans cure Is another
mans poison, in truth.
Astute students, through necessity, Of
colds, know their own personal symp-
toms.
They will be able to recognize the
coming Of cold by as many as 20
or more separate symptoms, none Of
which would be recognized as such by
the common sneeZer.
One Washingtonian has -ouri out
that If he speaks harshly to his wife
he is coming down with a cold. The
minute he finds himself becoming ir-
ritable, for no reason a. all, he says
to himself, "Ah, ha! am catching
a cold"
Sure enough, within a few hours he
will begin to experience the peculiar
suffusion of the eyes which commonly
is the prelude to a sneeze.
He who has studied colds for his own
benefit knows beyond any doubt that
colds are communicable. He has seen
too many of them spread through home
and Office.
A twofold program, he is convinced,
would do more than anything else to
keep down the annual toll of the COM
mon cold.
The program requires.
/. The isolation of cold cases.
q The end of public sneezing
Economic and other reasons, includ-
ing the strength of the active, are an
effective bar to any real attempt at
carrying out the first essential step.
II man is able to come to work, he
most often arrives. II he has cold, he
most often gives" it (unwelcome pres
ent) to his office mates.
His sturdiness may be such that he
throws it of" in few days. whereas
the associate to whom he has given
it is not so fortunate. nor so strong IN
resistance to this disease.
X X
The abeyance of public sneezing, on
the other hand. is a step which is re-
quired by public and private deceHcy.
A person ought not to wish to dis
gorge onto others the spray from his
| lungs. He ought not to be willing TO
do it.
Yet the plain fact is that thousands
of persons do it every day, all Autumn
and Winter through, -~71ch to the det-
riment of the public welfare and the
hurt of thousands Of their fellow citi-
Zens.
Sneezing ought to be regarded as a
vile" habit, instead Of being greeted
with smiles or derision, as 1t so often
is, even among those who know better
1t is a sign Of our common human
nature, which, along with our rudi-
mentary tails, we had better try to
forget.