The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1932-04-29
tn rs NOT in THE BREATH

Our Michigan reader sends in copy of .
handsome bulletin on s'Coldse published by the
opinion Of Benjamin Franklin as given in q
letter he wrote to DR. Rush: Il nave long Deeh
satisfied from observation that people often
catch cold from one another when sitting near
and conversing SO to breathe one an
others TRANSFORMATIONS. It Is the air which We
breathe which is contaminated by other per,
sons suffering from colds, and not from cold
Franklin was pretty warm, at that. But we
know now it isn't the air we breathe that car
ries the disease. 1t is the mouth spray gwen
off when one of the disease coughs sneezes or
talks The breath does not carry germs. The ex-
pired airsof even patient with diphtheria or
other highly infectious disease is not DANGER
Gus for another person, unless the air contains
the spray Of moisture droplets from coughing,
sneezing or talking. Franklin was indeed very
warm when he observed that people caugnt
cold from conversing with one another.
This official bulletin of the education asso-
citation goes on to explain how the moisture
spray is given off when person coughs or
sneezes but it is curiously silent about CONVEX
sationals spray The only difference between
open face coughing and sneezing and ordinary
polite conversation is that the cough or sneeze
spray carries farther. up to ~ or ~ Leet,
whereas conversational spray carries less than
five feet. suggest that you keep this In nina
when you are striving to avoid catching an al
legged ''cold" some friend or business associate
offers to share with you. Often it is quite pos
sible to keep beyond the five foot conversation
al spray range and avoid infection.
This same beautifully printed bulletin dwes
on the observations of Franklin and other
thinking men, that sailors, members OF Arctic
exporting parties, woodsmen, hunters, soldiers
fighting in the trenches etc. have suffered Sc
vere exposure to cold and wet yet they nave
remained notably free from alleged colds
And then the bulletin drags in the good old
bag OF horse feathers. 1t offers the hackneyed
advice about keeping your resistance" up. You
know the old .ine-fresh air, clean cold water,
wholesome food and well regulated" bowels.
All of which is sheer hooey. To begin with,
there is no such thing or state as resistance, "
other than immunity and immunity is specific
and measurable condition, not a general or
vague one. Pure food, pure water and keeping
your bowels open has nothing wnat eyer 70 S 40
educational" bulletin doesn't mention at all.
such as exposure of naked skin to sunlight and
and adequate ration of Vitamin A in medicine
or food may help to develop immunity against
some of the respiratory infections.
But the bulletin gives excellent advice. 1t
urges one to drink plenty OF cool, pure water.
Should it not advise folks to- breathe, too?
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
What Would You
what wouId Won advise by way of relief for
a congcsted condition OF the frontal region OF
the head and the nose? Would you say there
is any danger of 1t developing into sinus trou-
BILE? (B. M. c.
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. by your physician
Iodin Ration
sent to you for instructions for taking an
iOdin ration. followed your instructions. 1t
has almost cured an aDscess In tear duct under
corner of eye had had this for IL years.
I am SO thinkful. "a. G.)
Answer-The iodin ration is beneficial in
most cases of general" staleness," WEAKNESS
and premature aging in persons of adult or
mature age. But it is not plausible to think it
had any erect on the trouble you describe.
That was merely coincidence.
Reading In Bed
Please advise me whether it is strain ON
the eyes 10 read in bed. in moving cars, troll
leys. etc. IT. C.L)
Answer-It Is. Patients should ask their
physicians for permission to read In bed. Well
folk should read sitting up, and go to bed
when they are through reading The unstead-
mess Of the page and the poor or unsteady
light combine to make reading in moving cars
a strain ON the eyes. In all reading strive to
have sufficient light but no intense glare, and
sit so that the source Of light will be behind
your field OF vision. A spot light on the page
with surrounding gloom or darkness is not Sd
restful as dim lighting Of the whole room and
an adjustable reading lamp for the illumina-
ton Of the page.
| lcopyrisht John b. Ollie Cob