Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1831-07-18
A SLIGHT COLD
From the Diary Of a late London Physician.


Consider "a slight cold" to be in tho nntur. of
nohill, caught by sudden contact with Your prave
or as occasioncd by the damp finger of Death laid
upon you as 1t were to marx you for HIS IN pass |
ing to the moro immediate object of his commits,
'ion. Let this DO called crooking, and laughed at
as such, by those who are wearcd of n painful |
round OF lfe," and on the lookout for tho n
dismissal from it; but be learnt Off BY heart and
remembered as having the force and truth of I;o.
pei, by all those who would "mcasure out tho;r
span upon the EARTH" and are conscious of any CON
slsutionai haw or tecbencs 81 who are distinguish
ed by any such tendency dcathward as lonr necks
narrow, chicken chcsts--vcry fair compexions-
requisite sympathy with atmospheric variations; or
In short exhibit any symptoms of an asthmatic or
cohSuhP'Ne character, If thoy choose to NEGLECT
A SLIGHT coLr.
Let not those complain of being bitten by rep
tile, which they have cherished 10 maturity in their
very bosoms, when thoy might have crushed II i,
She egg. Now, if call "a slight cold" the cyo
and pleurisy-intiammati ton of the lungs-asthms-
consumption, the vcnomous reptc-tho matter
VIII be no more than correctly figured. There are
many ways in which this egg" may be deposited
and hatchcd. Going suddenly, slightly clad. from
heated into cold atmosphere, especially if YOU
can conrive to be III state of pcrspraon, sitting
or standing in draught, however slight: it is tho
breath of Doath reader, and laden with the vapours
OF tho grave! Lying in damp beds-for there his
cold arms shall embrace you; continuing in wet
clothing, and negecti2g wet fcet-thess and
hundred others, some of the wa VS. in which Won
may slowly, imperceptibly, but surely cherish the
creature, that shall at last creep inextricably in
wnros, and lie collcd about your very lungs. Once
more, again-agan-again-I would say, attend
to this all ye whC think it small matter to-ne-
So many painful may say drca dfIl Illustrations
OF tho truth Of the above remarks arc strewn over
the pages of my Diary that scarce know which If
then to select: Tho following melancholy .n
stance" WILL hope, provo impressive, as think
ii interesting.
Captain c. had served in the peninsul,r
campaigns with distinguished merit and on the
return OF the British army sold out, and determn-
N
queathcd him by distant relative At the period
am speaking of, he in his twenty ninth or
turtieth year; and in person of the very finest
men L ever saw in envy life. There was nm air of
ease and frankncss about his demeanour dashed
with little pensiveness, which captvated every
body with whom he conversed-but the ladies esps
cially. 1t seemed the natural effect produced on
bold but feeling heart by frequent scenes of sor
row. Is not such an one formed to win over the
heart of woman Indeed it seemed so-for
at the period l am speaking of, our English
ladies' were absolutely infatuated about the mil
itary; and man who had otherwise hut lit
tic chance had only to appear in regiment
ais to turn the scale in his favor. One would
nave thought the of sodiery was about
to become suddenly extinct, for in almost every
third marriage that took place within two wears
OF the magnificent event at Waterloo. whether
rich or poor, high or low, a rcdcoat was sure to
be the principal performer Let the reader.
then, being apPrized of this influcnza-for what
else was it-set before his Imagination the tall
commanding figure of Captain C his fronL
and noble bearing-his excellent family his for
tune, upwards of Jour thousand year-and cal
oulate the chances in his favour. L met him seyo
raj times in private society during his STAY in town
and have his image wildly in my oye as he an
poared in the last evening we met He wore blue
coat, white wastcoat, and ample black neck ker
chief. His hair was very light, and disposed with
natural grace over remarkably fine forehead, the
LETT corner of which bore the mark of slight sa
bre-cut.-IIis eye, bright and hazel--clcnr and full
which you would in your mind instantly
compare to that of
Nav I
was capable of an expression of the most winning
md soul subduing tenderness. Much moro might
say IN his praise, and truly-but that have a me.
lancholy end in view. Suffice it to add that yyher
ever he moved, he seemed the sun of the social
circle, gazed on by many soft starlike eye, with
trembling rapture-the envied object of
IN DDS. bccks, and wreathed smiles
from oil that was fair and beautiful
lie could not remain long disengagcd. Intelli
gence soon found its way to town of his having
formed an attachment to Miss Ellen -, a veal
thy and beautiful northern heress whose heart soon
surrendered to its skilful assailan Every BODY was
pleased with the match and pronounced it suitable
In all respects had an opportunity of seeing Cap
tain C and Miss - together at an evening mar
ty in London; for the young lady's family spent the
season In town, and were, of course attended BIZ
the Captain who took up his quarters in -
street! a handsome couple they looked
This was nearly twelve months after their on
gagoment; and most of the preminarics had been
settled on both Sides and the even was fixed to take
place within fortnight of Miss - and fami
stay in town, they formed n large and CAV water
party, and proceeded up the river little beyond
Richmond, in beautiful open boat, belonging to
Lordss---, cousin of tho Captains 1t was
rather late before their return; and long ere their
arrival at Westminster stairs, the wind and rain
combined against the party and assaulted them with
fury against which their awning formed but an
insufficient protection. Captain c had ta
ken an for the last few miles; and as thew
had to pull against strong tide his task was |
not triAing When he resigned his onr
he was in perfect bath Of perspiration; but 10 !
drew on his coat and resumed the scat he formerly
occupied beside Miss - at the back of the boat !
The awning unfortunately got rent immodiatelv |
behind where they sat; and what with the splash |
ing Of the water his back, and the saual |
~ gusts of wind necessarily burst upon them
CAPT 9 got thoroughly wet and chill
led. Miss -- grew uneasy about him but he
laughed Oft her apPrehensions, her that they
were groundless and that he WINS "too old sol
der" to suffer from such trihing thing rs a lit
tlc "wind and wet" On their leaving the bo,t
nc insisted on accompanying them home to -
squTc and stayed there upwards of an hour b,1
sIyconversing with them about their departure on
the morrow. While there, he took glass or two
of vine, but did not change his clothes
On returning to his lodging, he was too busilv
and pleasantly occupied with thoughts about his
approaching nuptials TO advert TO the necessity of
usingmorc procautou against cold, before retiring
10 tod lie sat down in ms dressing room with
out Offering fire to TIC it, and wrote two or three
letters after which he got into bed. Now: how
easily would it have been for Captain G. 10
obvlate any possible i'll consrGrcnccs hv sin,rIr