The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1876-03-10
Colds-Their Prevention and Treatment.


It is well-known fact that persons
accustomed to brave all weathers, and
to pass much of their time in the open
air, rarely catch cold. The reason is
obvious. Their blood is continually
cleansed from impurities, and by ha-
bitual exposure to all skies they are
made hardy and vigorous. Such per-
sons have healthful and keen appetites
for nutritious and wholesome food, for
meat and bread, and the substantial ar
ticles of diet, rather than for condi-
ments and knick-knacks. Indigestion
rarely troubles them, cold feet and
hands give them little annoyance, and
the weather makes slight difference to
them. The sufferers from colds, on the
other hand, pass most OF their time
within doors, are careless of ventila-
ton, hug the fireside, stimulate their
appetites with spices and delicacies,
keep their feet warm over the register
or on the stoye-hearth rather than by
vigorous exercise, neglect bathing in
cold weather, and thus by their omis-
sipns and commissions load
the blood with impurities under which
the whole system grows weak and una
BILE to endure any unusual change. Wet
feet, damp garments, a dranght of cold
air, will give such people q cold that
may result fatally But if the predis-
posing cause had been avoided tempo
rary exposure to wet and cold might
have been endured with fmpunity. When
the habits of life are temperate and pure
and the blood is healthy, people can en-
dure cold and wet long time before
they take cold. On the plains, in 1866,
a company ofone hundred meE, women,
and children slept on the ground, with
out tents, exposed to hail, rain, wind,
and snow. They endured midday heat,
and the cold nights of the mountains
They forded ice-cold streams and walk
ed all day with wet garments were ex-
posed to all the usually exciting causes
of colds, intensified and long continued,
yet from Fort Lavenworth to Salt Lake
no one had 4 cold.
A "cold'' is an Inflammation of the
lining or mucous membrane of the nose,
throat, lungs or bowels, by which more
blood than usual is brought to the part
affected; this excess of blood increases
the amount of lubricating fluid which
nature prepares for all the internal por-
tions of the body to keep the machinery
in easy working order. The scold"
may be in the head, throat, lungs, or
wherever there is q mucous lining.
Generally, it win affect most seriously
the weakest part ofthe body. Allcolds
are preceded by more or less chilliness,
although it may be so slight as to es-
cape notice; then comes the reaction of
fever, then loss Of appetite, and if the
cold affects the lungs, adry cough in
two. or three days; after . while it
loosens and the cold wears away.
When one has habitually breathed foul
air or slept in unaired beds, or worn UNI
clean clothing, the body has become
loaded with impurities, and the cold will
take some typhoid form, for be it
always remembered that typhoid is only
another adjective in place of foul, Of
fensive, effete, applied to matter which
the body has tried vainly to throw off,
OF having thrown off, has received again
by breathing or absorption. Typhoid
poison is filth in one form or another
and nothing else. As soon as cold has
been taken the patient should endeavor
to diminish the quantity of blood by
going without food, unless it be dish
of stewed prunes or fruit having like
effect, keep'in room of uniform tenn
perature, about 20 deg. Fahrenheit,
drink largely Of hot teas until perspira-
ton is freely induced; then cool off
gradually and stay in the house until the
cold is cured. Only fruit and coarse
diet should be used until the trouble is
over. A catarrhal cold, DIR. Hamilton
says, can be cured in about ten hours
by using the following recipe: Take
ten drops of carbolics acid, seven
and half drops of iodine, and the
same of chloroform. A few drops oil
this mixture are to be heated over q
spirit-lamp in test tube, and as soor
as the liquid vaporizes, the mouth of il
is to be applied to the nostrils. Thu
operation is to be repeated after an in
terval of two minutes, when the patien
will deliver q number Of vigorou.
sneezes, and then the troublesome
symptoms. will quickly disappear
Great relief may be experienced il
catarrhal colds by drawing up int
the nostrils warm salt water, alst
by a snuff made Of pulverized whit.
sugar and borax in equal parts, also BY
inhaling ammonia. These remedies arr
simple and easy. Of access. As t.
coughs, the London Lancet, which
ought to be good authority, says
"Anodynes, narcotics, cough mixtures
and lozenges, are practically of nj
good, and but too often increase the de
bility and hasten the fatal end. TIL,
best method Of easing cough is Il
resist it with all the force of will pos
sible, until the accumula
ton of phlegm becomes