Using var passed to function to reference an object

Using var passed to function to reference an object

I have just started using the data functions in jQuery for keeping track of a few items on the client. 
The user can click on links, which call a function that updates the display and stored data value.

I am storing data as a set of columns, named c1, c2, c3 etc.

I update the relevant column like this
function UpdateCol(column)
{
      if(column=='c1') $(#db).data.c1 = "1"
      if(column=='c2') $(#db).data.c2 = "1"
.....
}

The above works, but is ugly.

As I want the system to be expandable, I would like to be able to do this

function UpdateCol(column)
{
    $(#db).data.column = "1"
}
 
called as follows....
UpdateCol('c1)

Where "column" is the column named passed to the function.  I am having problems, as I don't know how to pass the variable to the .data method to be used as the "key". As I have written it,  I think it thinks the key is "column".

Is what I want to do possible...if so please could you advise on the correct way to do it.

Thank you