The Health bulletin [serial] - University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

THE HEALTH BULLETIN. 175and regulated by isolation and quarantine;and we should hasten thetime when they will be thus sensiblyregarded and scientifically treated."7. Colds are shown to be more orless infectious by the fact that theycan generally, in their earlier stages,be successfully treated and effectuallyaborted by the use of antiseptic nosewashes and germicidal throat gargles."8. That common colds are of an infectiousnature is further suggestedby the well known fact that a severecold seems to confer a short-livedimmunity upon its victim. That is,a healthy, robust person, who Is justrecovering from a very bad cold, isnot likely to have another such attackfor several months, maybe notfor a full year. Some folks have theirregular colds once each winter; thenthey are seldom bothered for anotheryear."PROVIDENCE NOT TO BLAMEWe often see resolutions of condolencebeginning with: "Whereas ithas pleased an All Wise Providenceto remove from the scene of his earthlysuffering, and after a long and painfulillness, our beloved friend, JohnSmith, whose death from typhoidfever occurred on the blank day ofblank," etc. Some day in the not fardistant future a death from typhoid,the king of filth diseases, will invokea resolution from the mourningfriends of the deceased which willread something like this:Whereas, through the criminal neglect,carelessness and incompetencyof our city officials, our water supplywas permitted to be polluted withsewage and other dangerous filth, tothe extent of making it unsafe to use;and,Whereas, as a result of such criminalcarelessness, neglect and incompetencyof our city, our beloved friendand fellow townsman, John Smith,was killed with typhoid fever; therefore,Be it Resolved, That we condemn thelack of care and vigilance shown bythose whose business it is to safeguardthe public health and whosenegligence and disregard of their oflBcialduties have caused the death ofour friend and brought sorrow to hisfamily; and,Be it further Resolved, That weearnestly urge upon the public prosecutorthat he take immediate stepsto bring before the bar of justice themen who in their official capacitiesare responsible for the death of ourfriend and for the presence of a dangerousand loathsome disease in ourcity.In the light of sanitary science weare becoming less and less inclinedto place the blame on Providence forthe sickness and suffering that aredue to our ignorance or carelessness,or both. God's agencies, if left towork unmolested, make the waters ofour lakes and rivers pure. Men defileand pollute them. So, when anepidemic of typhoid breaks out In acommunity and is traced to a pollutedwater supply, the resulting sicknessand loss of human lives should not becharged against an all wise and mercifulProvidence, but rather to an ignorant,unenlightened and carelesscommunity. Chicago Health Department.