Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1870-03-14
How Colds are Caught, and How
they are Cured.

DIR. Symes Thompson, Professor of
! Medicine at Gresham College, Lon
don, has recently delivered a Gre
sham lecture" on catching colds. The
| following extracts will be of interest
to our readers:
The prevention of colds is to be ac-
complished by keeping the skin ia
| healthy and vigorous state, so that it
may at once resume its proper and
normal condition when chills have
been suddenly applied to it; then the
internal cOngestiOHs are avoided or
removed simultaneously with the ex-
ternal contraction and stagnatiOn.
The habitual use of cold bathing in
the early morning is one very power
full means to this end it trains
the vessels Of the skin to
rise vigorously into renewed
action after the application of a chill.
The relaxing infiuepee of over-heated
apartments should be avoided, be-
cause that saps the power OF vigorous
reaction; but, in cold weather, the
utmost care should be taken TO have
the entire skin efficiently protected by
warm clothing. The powers of the
system in periOds prove to the pro-
duction Of colds, and most especially
when the temperature of the external
air is between thirty-two and forty
degrees Farenheit's heat scale (foT
that is the condition in which the dan
ger is found to be most certainly in
curred) should be most carefully MAIN
tained by the judieious use of sustain !
ing food, and by the avoidance of
every kind of injurious arrangement |
or excess. When once internal con-
gestion has been set up, and
the cold has been "caught,p the
thing to be done is Immediately to |
bring back vigorous circulation and !
Inhalation in the skin. The Turkish |
bath is one Ofthe most convenient and |
certain Of all cOntrivances for insuring |
this object; in its absence the vapOr |
bath, or hot air bath, may be en-
plOyed. The action of the bath is to |
be reinforced by the administration of
stimulantS, first and foremost among |
which stands concentrated food.
There is one eXpedient both for pre- |
venting and curing "colds,p which |
was not alluded to upon this occasion |
(says writer in Nature), but which 1
is nevertheless as powerful as any of 1
the measures which were described, |
and 1t may be drawn upon in circum-
stances when those plans can not be 4
adopted, in consequence of the sufferer
being compelled by the exlgencies of
life to continue to meet exposure to
chilling influences. This is sabstinence
fcOm drink and liquid of any kinds
until the internal congestion is re-
moved. The remedial action through
the skin does its work, by drawing
away the SGperabundanee of the cir
culating fluid from the overcharged
part, but this desirable result is even |
more certainly insured if the general
bulk of the circulating fluid, or blood,
is diminished by Withholding supplies
of the more liquid or watery ingredi-
ent, which may be done where the
power is unimpaired, without
in any way diminishing the riches or
more Immediately ynOurishing portion.
The instant the general bulk OF the
blood is diminished, the
excess contained in the cOngested
and oyercharged membrane Is with
drawn and the colds relieved. Some
what severe thirst sets in; but curious
simultaneously with the oc-
of this thirst, the cOngested
membranes grow moist, and
eXhale gently and naturally in cOnse-
quence Of the reliefof the Overcharged
vessels, All that is then necessary is
to keep the supply Of drink down to :
the point which enables some measure
Of thirst to be maintained: and d. 'di..Tino,
It's maintenance, there is not the
chance of the occurrence Of
The cold.