St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1879-04-19
COLDS.
How They are Taken and How They may
be BELIEVED.

How They are Taken and How They may
be Rs lieved.
In ordinary language, the closing of
the pores Of the skin, about an average
of seven million, is called q cold. And
since large amount of waste and POISON
Gus matter passes off from the decayiug
body-and about fve-eighths of all taken
into the stomach, solids and liquids
through these openings and tube sew
erage, it is certain that no lnconsiderable
disturbance must result from q sudden
check of this natural flow. Fevers, in.
Examinations, lung, liver, stomach and
bowel arrangements are among the almost
inevitable consequences, often producing
the most violent forms of disease. It is
safe to infer that most, if not all, of
these symptoms are but the evidences
that nature is tuting remedial agen'
cies, as 8 means of avertirg the pois-
oning and diseasing tendencies of
such q retention, such disturbing ele'
ments. In the fevsr, tor illustration,
the undue heat of the body is attributed
to the combustion Of this waste, worn
out material, and to the agitation of the
system in the unusual efforts in the line
of recuperation.
It may be remarked that these colds,
with the attending symptoms, are not
alone attributed to undue exposure,
since it il q well-known fact that men
exposed TO the most untavorable 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 harshness must
shock the system, and tend to waste
vital force. It is folly to brave all of
these extremes simply for the sake Of
hardening" the constitution. The
favorable results of apprepriating gen.
erous supply of sunlight may aid one
in res sting undue exposure, and yet all
harshness, all shocks, must. prove I'M
favorable to sound health.
Of the causes OF such colds, but little
will now be said. It is true that the
facilitating results of unnatural heat
such as in most OF our sitting>roonas in
the cold weather are even more active
in the production OF colds than is ordi-
nary exposure to colds and storms. This
excessive heat 90 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 heat and irritating food. Indeed.
it is unquestionably true that many of
the symptoms of colds, so called, are
attributable to the excessive use of car
bonaceous food such as are intended
mainly for the production of the animal
heat, which MUST be sustained at about
SO 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
unfsvorable effects will be felt On the
membranes of the threat, nose, ears, etc.
in sympathy with similar irritation of
the stomach. Indeed, it is law of our
being that when one such membrane is
diseased a contiguous membrane: by
| sympathy, takes on a similar disease or
irritation. It 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
throats and catarrhal affections in the
spring than at any other time, simply
from the fact that more ca1bonaceous
food is the chan &c in the season. A very
moderate use OF the spices, the irritants,
salt included, will diminish this MEM
brane irritation.