“NO-COLD CLUBS.”

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXX, Issue 5429, 27 May 1929, Page 4

“NO-COLD CLUBS.”

AN AMERICAN IDEA. A LIST OF RULES. Believing that common colds are costing the country hundreds of millions of dollars, health authorities are joining efforts in an endeavour to control and eventually banish this malady by the organisation of “No-cold Clubs.” The city of Syracuse, New York, claims to have the first organisation of this kind as an active communitywide project, although the idea came through the use of the term in a Chicago Health Department bulletin, according to the “Journal of the American Medical Association.” The campaign launching the club lasted two weeks. Industries and business houses have been led to try to reduce the number of colds among their employees. Wide publicity was afforded through the distribution of humorous posters and 60,000 illustrated pamphlets. The Mayor and other prominent persons made public application for membership. The local newspapers co-operated and the radio was used. Some by-laws of the club are that members must avoid persons who spread “cold germs” through coughing or sneezing. They must avoid over-fatigue, and their room temperature must be 68 degrees rather than 70. Members in the club comprise three classes : “regular fellows,” who steer clear of colds ; “members on probation,” having one cold a year; and “members in disgrace,” having two colds a year. Colds, according to Dr. Arnold H. Kegel, Health Commissioner of Chicago, are a starting-point of more dangerous diseases, such as tuberculosis, pneumonia, and influefiza, in addition to causing large economic losses through lost time and inefficiency of workers. He gives a list of the underlying conditions which make an individual susceptible to colds, and these are applicable to any part of the country. First is the contagious factor, passing it on from one to another. Then comes lowered bodily resistance ; over-heating and uneven room temperatures ; insufficient humidity; fatigue or lack of exercise ; improper diet and resulting ills ; irritant dust and smoke, and lack of sleep. “Modern medicine,” says Dr. Kegel, “recognises two kinds of colds—the cold you ‘catch’ from others, and the cold you develop even though no one round you has one. Chicago has deemed the housgrheating problem so important that it has passed a special ordinance regulating the heating of apartment houses.” In the recommendations of the “board of strategy” organised by Sur-geon-General Cumming, the following eleven rules were issued to combat common colds and the spread of influ-

enza :— Avoid needless crowding. Walk to work when possible. Take advantage of sunshine. Sleep with windows open. Avoid people who are coughing, sneezing, and snuffling. Wash your- hands before eating, and do not put your fingers in your mouth. Do not use napkins, towels, spoons, forks, knives, and drinking cups unless they are clean. Use plenty of clean water, both inside and outside. Eat wholesome food. Sleep at least seven hours. Keep away from houses with influenza. Avoid undue chilling of the body. Avoid dust and overheated rooms. In case you do contract the disease, go to bed as soon as symptoms develop and remain there until thoroughly recovered. Call a physician at once.