The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1873-01-28
Taking Cold.

DR.. Hall, in communication to the
Philadelphia BUening Star, gives the fol-
lowing information about colds:
Scientifically speaking, cold is merely
negative state of matter-a diminished de-
gree of molecular motion. This may be
the occasion of disease, for all extremes of
temperature produce morbid conditions.
But the common causes of the disease
which is termed "cold," are just the OPP
posite of those mentioned in the article
quoted "Taking cold" as applied to dis
ease, would be more correctly expressed by
the phrase "talxing heat" Going from
very cold to very warm atmosphere sud-
denly, or exposing part that is very cold
TO hot fire, occasions hundred 'colds,"
while mere exposure to cold occasions one.
Indeed, it is impossible to stake cold" in
the technical sense of the term, by contin-
'uous exposure to cold, however severe or
prolonged.
The morbid condition that is termed a
-"cold," in medical parlance is either an
inflammation or fever or both. If in
f1ammation exist the part infamed is af-
'dected with heat, redness, pain and swell
ing, which together constitute the diagno-
sis of inflammation. If the general system
suffers from cbillness in some parts and pre-
ternatural heat in others the affection is
properly termed fever. In severe " colds''
here may be both local inflammation and
constitutional fever, as in ACUTE Icatarrh
influenza, epizooty, ETC. But in all of these
cases the essential disease though termed
a cold, or the consequence Of taking cold,
lis inflammatory and febrile.
Freezing part of the body, and burning
a part occasion the same disease, infiam-
nation. But the intensity of the infamma-
tion which is preceded by freezing will al
ways be in proportion to the suddenness with
which it is thawed. And herein is the i'm
portant rule applicable alike to the preven-
tion and treatment of all affections which
are termed " common colds" When any
part of the body, or the whole of it, ismuch
chilled it should be warmed as gradually
as possible. Chillblains are occasioned by
exposing the hands or feet to a hot fire
after being chilled. Many catarrhal affec-
tions would have been prevented had the
patient kept away from the hot stove until
his superficial circulation was restored.
The danger of cooling the body too sud-
denly when heated is very trifiing compared
with the danger of warming the body too
suddenly when chilled. 1t is always inn
portant to keep the feet warm, and it is
certainly true that it is very difficult to
"catch" serious cold unless the feet be-
come chilled; but no part rendered pain
fully cold by exposure to low temperature
should ever approach very warm room,
much less hot stove, until the sensations
have become entirely comfortable and the
circulation balanced.
Inthese days of snow, sleet, ice, slush,
and frost bitten moses and toeses," it may
be we'll for some persons to be reminded
that frozen parts should never be rubbed.
Friction is good to prevent freezing; but
when part is actually frozen to rub it is
to lacerate and mapgle the capillary YES
sells and blood-corpuscles by moving the
angular crystals of ice among them, and
endanger violent inflammation and posi-
bly, modification.