The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1935-02-22

i-.sszee-.ezI cry UdCLcIlul hiICA
we have in our lab
oratories, and it cannot be seen with
the microscope But some day some
scientist will be able to "catch" 1t In
some kind of net, and then when we
can isolate it from other germs, we
will be able to work on it, and the same
scientist, or some others, will be able
to discover the way Of killing it. Let
us hope these discoveries come soon.
The common cold is certainly the cause
of an amazing amount of discomfort In
this world.
Medical science, however, has learned
that there are two types of colds-one
that is contagious and one that is not
The non-contagious type is the one
that most chronic head cold sufferers
have. The infectious type is the one
that most of us get. 1t is the one that
comes in waves"
Medical science, too, has determined
pretty we'll THAT we all have the cold
virus Ga germ is called virus when
it is so small that you cannot see it
with a microscopy in our noses and
throats constantly. When we are well
the cold virus doesn't bother us any
more than a dust spot on healthy skin
bothers us. But let us get below par,
then-well, the cold virus is there
ready to attack, and loses no time "get-
ting in it's work"
In experiments which we have been
carrying on in the University of Illinois,
we have learned that the temperature
of the lining of the nose has a great
deal to do with whether or not we are
resistant to cold. Briefly the action
is this: In normal healthy person,
when cold water or cold air strikes the
body anywhere the temperature of the
lining membrane of the nose drops in
stantly below normal, and before the
temperature of the skin drops. Then
within the space of few minutes, the
temperature of the lining of the nose
rises above normal and stays there long
enough to counterfeit the bad effect of
the below normal period. Then 1t set
ties back to normal In other words,
a healthy body machinery has the abil-
ity to adapt itself, within reason, to
exposure to cold, and to ward off its i'll
effects.
But now supposing the body is be-
low par. Then when cold air strikes
the skin at any spot, the temperature
of the nose goes down instantaneously,
but instead of going up again immedi-
ately as 1t should, it stays down for
perhaps half an hour or longer. And
when the blood holds away from the
surface for longer than ten minutes
we have found, the cold germs seize
the chance to get in their work, and
in very short time our noses are run
ming and we are sneezing. The cold
germs are multiplying by the millions
and ready to fasten themselves on any
person that comes in contact with our
wet handkerchiefs or the spray from
our mouth. 1t is in this beginning
stage that the common cold is most in
fectious.
But it is now that quick work on
our part can often stop the cold. If
we can get the temperature Of the
nose to rise above normal for a while
so that we can sweat and the blood
in the nose can come to the surface
to battle against the germs. and we
can rest our bodies for bit, the
chances are pretty good that we can
conquer the cold within a few hours.
The best tactics to use at this time are
those grandmother used-a steaming
hot foot bath while wrapped in blankets,
hot lemonade to drink, warmed bed
to get into. and then rest there until
the next morning.
But If the soft underlying tissues of
the nose become water-logged with
serum filtered through the walls of the
blood capillaries, the cold will run its
normal course. 1t is too late to try
to abort it when the serum is deposit
ed in the tissues outside of the blood
vessels. Nothing will remove the clot-
ted serum within the walls of the
nose except the ferments in the white
blood corpuscles. This third and last
stage is not considered by most author
tiles to be so infectious as the first and
second stages.
The best way to prevent infectious
head colds is to keep the lining of the
nose and its underlying vascular net
work in normal state of function.
The skin of the whole body must be
kept in "tone," and this can be done
by warm morning bath followed by
cool shower, or at least a washing of
the face, arms and hands with cold
water and cool rundown of the rest
of the body. Then be out in the open
air at least an hour day. Eat plenty
Of fruit, vegetables, dairy products,
lean meats, and go easy on starches
and sweets
And avoid as you would pestilence,
the person who is in the sneexing stage
of cold and who is showering the air
with germs. No one is resistant enough
to Withstand a too big dose Of fresh
cold germs.
G. Western Newspaper Union.