Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1866-01-15
EVENING STAR.
PRACTICAL SUGGESTIONS.
The Danger of Neglecting Colds.
IErorn the New York

-sss4 Prom the New York lancet -...
Colds are generally considered but simple
much neglected. How often do you hear the
remark sOh it is only cold" True. only
colo. but what Is being done for it'll Frequent
ly nothing Many long and dangerous, ana
sometimes fatal III of Illness might ne prevent
&C by paying that proper attention 10 cold
which IL so seriously demands. Most OF the
causes Of consumption come rom 3 cold being
diseases does II also give rise. In a climate
ike this where we have sometimes two and
three changes in a day, IL is impossible TO avoid
taking cold, unless due precauuon be observed
Persons should clothe themselves az much as
possible IN keeping with the temperature of lhe
atmosphere.
With the thermometer above zero, clothing
should not be as warm as at or below zero, as
by so doing the pores are opened TO an undue
extent, sometimes profuse Precipitation in
duced, and, IS Il natural consequence, cold is
taken. Drafts in every way, whether in or out
OF doors, ought TO be avoided. Too much i'm
portanCe cannot be given 10 this, but vet we
zee 1t daily neglected. How often do we see
persons in this city, on one of the bleakest DAYS
stepping 10 talk at the corner of the street in n
draft Of wind. This, too, is generally the case
after walking fast and becoming heated. How
is u possible, under such circumstances, to
avoid taking cold! And yet persons will so in
nocoEtIy tell you, Il don't know how 1 could
have taken cold; have not exposed myself in
any way"
AS important, also, is the mode OF life in
doors, Tor on this much depends. Ladies are
very apt TO dress for going out, and then sit in
warm room for half an hour, perhaps more,
II Something delays them, by which perspira-
ton is produced, and in that state, from the
warm house into the cold air, they go. Ii must
be remembered that 10 the corresponding terl-
peTature of the atmosphere do the pores close
or open; uniform temperature should be OBJ
served, as by so doing the circulation is GU
larry maintained. ANY one leaving an atmos-
pierre OF eighty degrees, and going TO one OF
sixty degrees, experiences n great change, and
u they wish to avoid cold should be clad in
such manner as TO make up for the proper
uonate difference in temperature. For this
reason great uniformity in the temperature
of the house should be observed. Change the
atmosphere in the house frequently by adj
mltung, as often az possible. during the day,
fresh air.
Every house should be thoroughly ventilated
the first thing every morning. as to allow
The atmosphere of the previous night to escape
This can be done by first airing one part and
then another. BY doing this n house also can
be the more easily warmed. When there are
MANY persons collected in "A room, care should
be observed 10 keep a few inches of the window
open from the top, every one avoiding sitting
close 10 or under it, as, after a time, when there
are many collected together the atmosphere of
the room becomes impregnated with their ex-
halatlons, and the air is thus rendered impure
by perfect ventilation there is a uniform
amount of oxygen, which is the vital part of
the atmosphere. and which is necessary 10 our
very existence, maintained. Who has not
noticed the disagreeable feeling produced on
going from the fresh air into a room with
many persons, In which the ventilation is
imperfect
At night, also, fresh air should be admitted
INTO the room, for II is, If anything more neces-
sary that there should be plentiful supply of
oxygen. We have often been asked the ridicu-
lous question, If enough AIR did not come in
through the key-hole. Certainly not. That is
not fresh air. Make II a rule ALWAYS to sleep
with part of your window open from the top
avoiding IT'S blowing On you. Fresh air never
hurt any one, for by IL we live. Ii is the want
OF II that INJURIES. Persons seem 10 forget that
they spend One-third of their lives in their bed
rooms We frequently see q man building a
house bestowing all his attention on the pIan
of the parlors, while the bedrooms are 10 a
great extent and in some instances entirely
neglected. 1t had better be rice rersd
Another thing TO which we wish to draw at
teItion is that of neglecting to change shoes
and stockings after being out on a damp or
rainy day. Though they may neither appear
nor feel damp. yet they should be changed
care being observed 10 keep the feet ALWAYS
warm. As long as one is walking, the circuia-
non Is kept up, no matter how wet the feet
may be. but the instant you remain quiet il is
checked, unless the stockings and shoes he
changed. Holding the feet but a few minutes
TO fire over register, is not sufficient as Won
only by that dry the external part of the shoe
or boot. If the feet are cold they should be
rubbed thoroughly with a rough towel until
warmth has been restored when they might
be, If desired, held for a short time before the
nre- Jumping out of bed and walking about
on the carpet, as is too often done, should be
avoided A pair OF slippers can be so placed
by the bed al night, when retiring, as TO be ac-
cessible on rising.