Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 35, Number 42, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 30 January 1903 — HAVE NO FEAR OF TYPHOID. [ARTICLE]

HAVE NO FEAR OF TYPHOID.

Arabs Are Practically Immune from * Attack* of the Disease. ' Although typhoid fever prevails to a great extent in the regions along the north coast of Africa, largely inhabited by Arabs, these people are seldom afflieted with it, although Europeans living in the same region fall easy victims to the disease. It is said by those who have lived there that an Arab can bear'any kind of exposure to typhoid fever without taking it. They account for this peculiar bodily condition of the Arab by the fact that ever since his early infancy he has been reared on impure drinking water, which, in countries where the Arabs abound, is notably bad. It is saturated with all sorts ot contamination. This has hhd the effect of weeding out the weaker ones and leaving only those who can stand typhoid fever germs. The grown Arab, therefore, 4s able to bear exposure that would give a European typhoid fever at once. This, however, is not intended as any argument for the use of impure drinking water, it only shows that the human system is capable of adjusting itself to unfavorable conditions. Rut while the Arab is immune .from typhoid fever, he is especially susceptible to consumption. This fact is accounted for-tty the reason that he has been accustomed to the very pure air of the mountains, and when exposed to the climate of Europe he quickly succumbs to consumption. He cau stand our drinking water, but he cannot stand our climate.

The whole subject of national susceptibility to disease is a very interesting one. It may be, after all, that our climate, which Is so peculiarly provocative of catarrh, will at last produce a race of people that will be practically immune from catarrh. We hope so, at least. At present it Is a national disease anil nearly everyone has it. . The very best authorities on chronic catarrh state that there is such a thing as immunity from this disease. The cold bath every morning, gargling the throat with cold water, splashing the neck and chest with cold water —if this Is practiced thoroughly every morning It will practically render anyone Immune from catarrh. Paddling the feet every evening In cold water might also be added to this regimen. This practically hardens the nervous system against the vieissitiMes of ; tlie weather and will soon produce a condition of the system in which the subject need have no fear of catarrh.