DAMPNESS AND COLD.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXX, Issue 5377, 21 January 1929, Page 4

DAMPNESS AND COLD.

A MEDICAL VIEW.

Tlie dhahce of catching cold through sleeping in damp beds tihrouugh wearing damp .clothes is negligible, writes Sir W. Arbuthnot Lane, Bart., in the London Daily Mail, though it must be borne in mind that a cold is due ,to a germ that is able to attack the body when the resistance is lowered, owing to 'the temperature of the bcjdy being belbyr normal. Most medical authorities are agreed that a damp bed will cause ,po harm, providing enough covering is Supplied to keep the occupant war ( m; and the same applies to clothes.

Thq reason qolds are caujgbt in this way is that, on account of ithe dampness covering is needed to maintain the body at the same heat as that to which the person is accustomed.

In the same; way t'lie sudden Opening o£ a window would not give anyone a cold, providing that sufficient clothing was then put op to prevent the Ic-ss of heat, which varies so much with each individual, and I s very largely the result of habitl.

Many doctors ordqr cold c.ompiresses for various ailments, and there are some who even advise i*heumattic patients to sleep wrapped in a sheeft that has previously been 'spaked in water and firmly wrung opt.

Coddling in every way shoulld be avoided by healthy young people, as it reduces their resistance. >flhe warming of overcoats, shoes, and othqr clothes before wearing them may be agreeable, but unless always carried out it produces chills ratiher than prevents them. Few normal ycjuug people would bq able to carry out this coddling process continually, therefore from fihe point of view of chills, aS we]l as fx;om the mental effect, i.t cannot be advoc,at'qd. In the case of ill, delicate, >or very old people, it is, of. course, an entirely different matter, as often they find it very difficult to keep warns at all, owing to illness induced bjjil faulty diet, habits, and other, or through degeneration of the> organs. people, of necessity,, cannot lead normal lives, and every 'artificial means !has to be resorted t<p in order to try and) add to their bjealth and comfort; but coddling her,mUEtt.be constant and not occasion jil.