THE COMMON COLD

Waipa Post, Volume 44, Issue 3178, 17 May 1932, Page 6

THE COMMON COLD

'. PRINCIPLES OF PRECAUTION. {Contributed by the Department of Health). The common cold is something more than a nuisance, states a United States Public Health Service Bulletin, it may be an uncommonly serious matter. In the first place, it may be the forerunner of a much more serious respiratory disease,, such as bronchitis or pneumonia. In view of its possible association with these serious respiratory diseases, the common cold may actually become a menace to life. In the second place, the common cold is a very expensive "disease. In the factory and in the school more time is lost from the common cold than from any other disease. Industry and education are both hard hit, and the cost of time lost from work and study is a financial, burden of no small proportions. The parent, the wage-earner, and the taxpayer are paying the piper. Since the common cold is such a large factor in the health of the nation and such a waste of the nation's time, it is of the utmost importance that its ravages be prevented as far as possible. As a first principle in prevention we must recognise th facet that colds are infectious and contagious. Much time and effort have been spent in trying to discover the particular germ responsible for the common cold. The latest work seems to indicate that the cause of this disease ds to be found in a filterable virus, or one which will pass through a filter, and even a high-powered microscope cannot detect the offending organism. . ' ,' -.'' :.,. The infective agent is found in the nasal secretions of the victim, who has acquired the infection by direct or indirect contact with someone else suffering from the disease. If you wish to avoid a cold, give your sneezing, coughing friends a wide berth. The difficulty of avoiding infection is frankly acknowledged. During the cold season of the year, colds are very prevalent, and a large number of the patients are walking abroad in the land because they will not be kept in by "just a cold." The innocent by-standers suffer. They are sprayed with the infection liberated by a chorus, of sneezes. The hands of a person with are practically sure to' be infected from his nasal secretions, and the infection wi'l be conveyed to articles he handles and to other hands which he touches. Hence, it is almost impossible to •avoid direct or. indirect contact with the infection unless the people who have colds are willing to take measures for the protection of their fellovrs. ~ ■ , The best method of protection, for both the sick and the well, is for the patient with a cold to go hometo bed, if necessary and to stay there until he has recovered. The patient needs quiet, rest and proper care, and he cannot obtain these m office, shop or factory. While thus doing' the best thing for himself, he is likewise adopting one of the best methods of protecting' the general public. But the time has not yet come when everyone with a cold will retire from public contracts. Perhaps it is too much to expect in the case of a disease the uncomplicated form of which does not actually force a person to his bed. If he does go jut among his fellows, however, he should, in common decency make every effort to protect them. Every cough and sneeze should be covered to prevent sprayinsr the infection over helpless associates. The patients hands should be washed manv times a day to remove the infection which might otherwise be passed on to someone else. Keeping the hands scrupulously clean is a simple but worthwhile aid to the prophylaxis of the eommon cold. ,