HISTORY OF A COMMON COLD.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 814, 15 March 1910, Page 4

HISTORY OF A COMMON COLD.

A SCIENTIFIC DESCRIPTION

“An acute febrile, specific, infectious, and contagious disease, probably produced by many microorganisms,” was the definition of “a common cold” given by Dr. Seymour Taylor in a recent lecture at the West London Hospital. “It is,” he said, a fever or heal rather than a cold, and is widely spread through the community owing to the carelessness ol sufferers, and the want of precautions taken by others.

“The cold confers no immunity from subsequent attacks, but, on the contrary, predisposes sufferers to subsequent invasions, and relapses during convalescence are apt to occur, just as they do in typhoid cases. It is most frequent in young adults, though no age is exempt.

“Lowered vitality is a long predisposing condition. Draughts do not cause the disease, but a draught which lowers the temperature of a body insufficiently clothed is often the culminating causal factor.

“Autumn is the most frequent time for epidemics, and injection is often caused by vapour rising up into the streets through the ventilating pipes of sewers. “1 know of rto remedy with which it is possible to cut short or avert a cold,” he declared, “but if the sufferer from a severe cold will only remain in bed, or keep in a warm, well ventilated room and take liquid nourishment, with a plentiful allowance of oranges and other juicy fruits, and frequent libations ol barley water, linseed tea, toast water, and the like, he will be agreeably surprised at the speedy relief which he will obtain and the short course of his attacks. ’ ’