Colds Are Cheap To Acquire But Very Costly To Have

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 13, Issue 94, 1 June 1949, Page 6

Colds Are Cheap To Acquire But Very Costly To Have

(By the Department of Health) The most universal affliction of civilised people is called common—a common cold. Colds are cheap enough to avoid and cheaper still to acquire. But once you get one, the cost of the common cold begins to make itself evident. In time off work and in reduced efficiency, this ailment costs even a small country like New Zealand probably thousands of pounds a year. Add to that the misery and inconvenience caused to the individual sufferers and those about them, and you can form some idea of the importance with which the common cold should be regarded. No medicine or injection yet discovered can guarantee immunity against a cold. Nor is there yet a quick, magic cure for it. Your best chance of immunity is to build up and maintain a bodily condition highly resistant to the all-pervad-ing cold germs and avoid conditions conductive to colds.

Keep well away from all people with colds. Don’t get within six feet of them if they cough or sneeze. Never use a towel, brush or other such article after a person with a cold has used it. When yo go outside in winter, wear enough extra clothing so that you do not feel' cold. Keep out of- drafts, especially if you have been perspiring. Harden your body by exercise, preferably with little or no clothing on. Fresh air in the most generous measure possible is important. After moderate exercise in fresh air conditions, you will notice immediately how quickly the body Can stand cooler temperatures with, less clothing. But that doesn’t mean it can stand a sudden reduction in heat, from a warm room to outside condiitons. Regular baths are important to keep the skin healthy and the circulation adequate. This is particularly so with your feet, for few single bodily conditions are so conductive to colds as are cold, wet feet. The best way to keep feet warm is to bath them daily, change sox daily and use warm insoles in shoes.

Sea and sun-bathing during the warmer season leaves an addiiton to bodily resistance to help cope with the colder months.

Munich Zoo has replaced the parrot that used to screech “Heil Hitler.” American G.l.’s have spent some time with the new one. It says: “Buy American goods only,” and “I love my wife, but I love you, too, honey."