The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1879-03-29
COLDS.
BY DIR. J. II. HANAFoRD.

In ordinary language, the closing of
the pores of the skin, about an average of
100000, is called a cold. And since a
large amount of waste and poisonous
matter passes Off from the decaying
body--and about five-eighths of all taken
into the stomach, solids and liquids
through these openings and tube se,o-
erGge, it is certain that no inconsider-
able disturbance must result from q
sudden check of this natural flow. Fee
vers, infammations, lung, liver, stomach
and bowel arrangements are among the
almost inevitable consequences, often
producing the most violent forms of
disease. 1t is safe to infer that most,
if not all, of these symptoms are but the
evidences that nature is instituting
remedial agencies, as a means of avert
ing the poisoning and diseasing ten
denotes of such retention, such dis
turbing elements. In the fever, for IL
lustration, the undue heat of the body
is attributed to the combustion of this
waste, worn-out material, and to the agi-
tation of the system in the unusual eff
forts in the line of recuperation.
1t may be remarked that these colds,
with the attending symptoms, are not
alone attributed to undue exposure,
since it is q well-known fact that men
exposed to the most unfavorable weather
in our changeable climate, "out in all
weathers," really have the fewer colds,
though it is true that it is unfortunate
to be exposed to the marked vicissitudes
of our climate, since such harsh
ness must shock the system and
tend to waste vital force. 1t is folly to
brave all of these extremes simply for
! the sake of hardening" the constitu-
ton. The favorable results of appro-
priating generous supply of pure air
and sunlight may aid one in resisting
undue exposure, and yet all harshness,
all shocks, must prove unfavorable to
sound health. ~.
OF the causes of such colds, but little
will now be said 1t is true that the
debilitating results Of unnatural heat-
6 such as in most of our sitting-rooms in
the cold weather-are even more active
in the production of colds than is ordi-
nary exposure to cold and storms This
excessive heat so depresses the vitality
as to render even slight exposure I'M
favorable. The usual symptoms of
cold are often felt while remaining in
such hot rooms, in part from the de-
pressing influences and also from the
use of heating and irritating food. In
deed, it is unquestionably true that
many of the symptoms of colds, so
called, are attributable to the excessive
use of carbonaceous foods, such as are in
tended mainly for the production of the
animal heat, which must be sustained
at about 98 degrees Fahrenheit. 1t is
claimed that, just to the extent that this
carbon is employed beyond the wants
of the system, in connection with
warmth, the unfavorable effects will be
felt on the membranes of the throat,
nose, ears, etc, in sympathy with
similar irritation of the stomach. In
deed, it is law of our being that when
one such membrane is diseased con-
tiguous membrane, by sympathy. takes
on similar disease or irritation. 1t is
on this principle that we look at the
tongue to ascertain the state of the
stomach, as well as to learn the general
diseased condition. Hence there are
more cases of "cold," sore Threats and
catarrhal affections in the spring than
at other times, simply from the fact that
more carbonaceous food is the change
in the season. A very moderate use Of
the spices, the irritants, salt included,
will diminish this membrane irritation.