Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1874-03-11
SURE CURE FOR "Loss OF yorcr. %

n DUKE CURE FOR "L0SS OF k0ICE."
DIR. John ". Corson, OF Orange, N.
j., communicates to the Medical Re-
cord of January lst a valuable paper
on "Borax and the Nitrate of Potass.,
in the Loss of Voice from Colds in
Public Speakers and Singers" DR..
Corson says that, some years ago, while
in charge of the class of /" Diseases of
the Chest and Throat" in connection
with the New York Dispensary, at the
suggestion of non professional friend
engaged in teaching elocution, he was
led to test the efficacy of bcrax, or the
biborate of soda, in many cases of sud-
den hoarseness from cold, which lie at
once found in mild attacks acted like
magic. Ten minutes before any con
tinuous effort at speaking or singing,
lump of borax the size Of = garden pea,
or about three or four grains, is to be
held in the mouth till it is slowly dis
solved and partially swsllowed-dist,l-
ling, as 1t we're, down the throat. For
an hour or so 1t frequently renders the
voice quite silvery and clear. For this
purpose it possessed three special ad-
vsntages. 1t is easily obtained, con-
veulent to carry in the vest pocket, and
perfectly harmless. Borax thus used,
as one may readily prove, stimulates
the secretion of saliva and makes the
whole mouth and throat "water" pro-
fuseIy. DR.. Corson is careful not to
claim too much for borax, aud he re-
marks that neither 10 chronic affections
of the throat. nor in acute infamma.
tion, nor in "tonsillitis," once estab
lished, has he found borax of any spe
cial efficacy a. curative.
The use of the other remedy above
named, "Nitrate Of po.ass.," is thus
introduced An early friend and pa
tient of ours, since deceased, New
York dock- builder, much exposed to
the weather claimed to have = secre.
remedy for s'colds." But he was too
generous to bury anything useful. At
length he confessed tba, it consisted in
covering up warmly in bed, drinking
glass of water, and sucking a piece of
the nitrate Of potass.-or "saltpeter,"
as he preferred to call 1.-THE size of
garden-pes or little larger, till it was
slowly dissolved and swallowed. We
think We improved his prescription by
sweeteniug the water, to cover the
mawkish taste of the "salrpetre," mix
ing them, and swallowing both together.
We also increased the dose, from graft /
flying personal experience, to fvc grains.
As courtesy from our profession to
clergymeE aud singers, We may suggest
that they will find it very convenient in
travelling to carry few five-grain pow
ders of the nitrate of potass., prepared
by the druggist for ready use.
Like the borax, it relieves the dry
ness of the vocal cords 1t is also
easily obtained in every household, and,
taken in the dose recommended, is quite
harmless. With the help of the extra
clothing and the glass of water, it ex-
cites for whole night gentle perspl-
ration, and thus, if taken at the very
commencement, 4" breaks up the cold"
1t accomplishes this as DO warm foot
baths, with hot teas, or Turkish OF Rus
sian baths, if used early, by opening
those millions of pores of the skin
which Erasmus Wilson counted through
his microscope. As :he aching, the
WEAKNESS, and the headaches of te-
we're cold tell US. the blood is slightly
poisoned By suppressed psrspiration.
And the simple lesson of cure is prompt
ly to open these pores. We MAY add,
that the efficacy of any of these reme-
dies is much increased By putting on
warm shawl or great-coat, and throwing
the arms about, and walking the floor
rapidly till the hands and feet are in a
perfect glow, before retiring to bed
Er.