Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-03-31
COLDS,

To the Editors of the Union and American:
SPRINGFIELD, Tenn, March q, 1872.
Many persons live in almost constant fear
of some "catching" (contagious) disease,
but l know of none which mankind are
more universally subject to catch than cold,
and although not often, if ever, fatal in
itself, physicians tell US it is the inceptive
step to some more serious disorder, and is
itself not unfrequently exceedingly trouble
some and annoying. Most every man will
tell you that he catches cold several times in
a year, and whether he tells you or not, you
know it by his voice.
As preventiOnIis better than cure, take it
a preventive of colds would be blessing to
mankind, and having heard a probable pre-
ventive suggested lew days since l have
concluded to give the world, by your per-
mission, the benefit Of it through the me-
dunn of your excellent paper, hoping that
some one may suggest means OF practical
application of it, as therein lies the Difficult
ty for reasons which will appear more fully
hereafter.
[ regret that l shall have to expose the
gray hairs of not very old but rather tas-
tidous gentleman and as he is not unknown
to fame as the manufacturer of remedy for
number of ailments ofhumanity shall take
the liberty of using his name. Then, to be
short, DR.. Hurt, better known here as
"Rangum Root" says that up to about four
years since he, like other men, was subject
to ftequent colds. At that time he was at the
early age of forty-two from life of study,
l suppose, a man of gray hairs or rather
whiskers, for the real color of the few hairs
he has on his head is not brought in ques
ton in this article at all. q run no risk Of
a duel by this statement, as l had the pre-
caution to get the Doctors consent to it,
At about this time he began
to color his whiskerS with
a solution of nitrate of silver,
applying it as often as once every fortnight,
since which time he says he has never had
the least symptom of cold, and his habits
of life are more favorable than otherwise
to catching the malady. He says he con-
stantly inhales the solution and does not
know to what else to attribute his freedom
from colds and hopes its merits as proven
tive may be fully tested.
And now to illustrate the difficulty of its
general and practical application, your cor
respondent, who in this case is none other
than myself you know, was once attempt
ed to be made the victim of little sell in
this wise: Some ladies proposed to initiate
him into a new order. Odd Fellowship
among women, would be an appropriate
name, called the seven wonders. He, with
all others not in the secret, was expelled
from the room with the understanding that
he was to be first recalled, thanks to the
ladies, for being first with them. On re-
turning to the room he found every word
and action closely mimicked aud initiated by
the ladies, cOmprehending the situation at
once, as the politicians say, and rejoicing in
a mustach and gotee, he took comb and
commenced to leisurely comb them; but
sincerely hope the ladies will not be shut
out from the benefit of this preventive
of a troublesome disorder, if it should re-
ally prove to be efficient, and seriously
commend it to the consideration of those
competent to Judge, trusting that it will at
least be deemed worthy of trial.
Y. ROBERTSON.