Before revision: Physician taking the temperature of a young patient "Feed a cold, starve a fever" is an adage or a wives' tale which attempts to instruct people how to deal with illness.
After revision: Physician taking the temperature of a young patient "Feed a cold, starve a fever" is an adage or an old wives'<ref> 67 years of using the English Language ref> tale which attempts to instruct people how to deal with illness.