The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1943-01-11

colds is that everyone carries
some germs in the nose. These do
no harm most of the time and in
most people they do no harm any
of the time to the individual who
carries them because he has
formed an immunity TO them.
When he gets a cold, however,
the resistance of the mucous mem
brane of the nose is lowered and
these germs get a foothold which
they do not ordinarily have in
health. Besides that, a person
carrying a certain set of germs
around may be immune to them
himself, but when he coughs or
sneezes he scatters them in the
air where they can be picked up
by others who have not acquired
immunity to them; in that way
they do harm.
Germs in the Nose
Just how frequently are germs
found in a normal persons nose!
How many are found, and what
kinds? These questions were put
to an experimental answer by two
Chicago physicians who took 500
consecutive patients who had been
admitted to a medical service for
reasons other than nose and throat
diseases. In other words, none of
these people had a cold either in
the nose, throat or chest. They
varied in age from four weeks to
rs years and were, therefore, a
fairly representative cross-section
of the entire population.
All 500 of these patients had
q two kinds of germs without ex-
ception: the staphylococcus albus
and the diphtheroid bacillus. The
staphylococcus albus is the germ
which causes the formation of pus
and this probably operates in the
later stages of a cold when there
is pussy secretion from the nose.
The diphtheroid bacillus is prob
ably not the kind that causes diph-
iberia, but is simply something
like the diphtheria bacillus in
form.
1t is often said that pneumonia
Is carried in the nose and throat,
but the germs Of pneumonia were
found in very few Of these pa
tients-only about 7 per cent and
in these there was some history of
sinus disease Of the nose and the
nose was not perfectly normal
Evidence of Sinus Disease
II was also found that a small
percentage had x-ray evidences Of
some sinus disease. This latter
group amounted to about per
cent. In them q larger variety Of
organisms was found, including
true diphtheria bacillus, strepto-
coccus and pneumonia germs. The
study would seem TO indicate that
people with sinus disease natu-
rally catch cold more easily be-
cause they have more germs which
are likely to bring on trouble than
= iiOA maj
As soon as cold is implanted on
the mucous membrane of the nose,
the germs which are present be-
gin to grow and embed themselves
and probably cause the symptoms
which last for the two or three
weeks of convalescence.
The study certainly proves what
has been a general belief: that
those who have colds should have
the social responsibility Of cough
ing and sneezing in handkerchief
and that everyone should avoid
close contact with a person who
has a cold, and particularly should
keep out Of the way of the spray
which he throws out in coughing
and sneezing.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
V. X: should like TO ask some
questions about multiple sclerosis:
From what does this disease orig
mate? Is it contagious or heredi-
tary? Is there a cure? How long
does it usually linger!
Answer: Multiple sclerosis Is
not contagious and probably not
hereditary. 1t is a condition Of the
central nervous system in which
plaques Of scar tissue form. It is
likely to have periods of improve
ment which may last for some
time. l have known Of certain cases
which went on for over 80 years
without very much permanent in
jury. Treatment has little effect
on the progress of the disease.