American citizen., 1879-03-29
CARE OF THE HEALTH,

Imong the unsolved medical problems,
They used to be thought due to the sup
preston of the excretions of the skin
ACE is exposed to cold, and often with
out harm, and colds are sometimes
AIKEN when onl y a few square inches of
surface are exposed. 1t is fact, too,
that men and animals may be vanished
producing the symptoms of a
cold. Still, the ordinary medical view
is that the passing off of effete matter
from the skin being checked, the blood
is altered in character. The corrupted |
blood then in its turn affects the heat |
regulating apparatus.
A cold is a slight fever. 1t begins
with a chilly sensation, followed by
heat. The fever runs its course in a
day or two. Like other fevers, howev-
er, it may nave various complications.
Hence rheumatic pains, headache, nasal
Siafis (eruptions around the mouth).
Sweating, whether by medicines ad-
ministered internally or otherwise, is
the main reliance for Fastening cure
But the pores should be kept somewhat
open by warm clothing, or the heat of
warm room, for several days, during
which there should be no exposure
Youths Companion.
THE NECESSITY OF PLENTY OF
SLEEP.-A writer in Scribner for Feb
ruary, considering "The Relations of
Insanity to Modern Civilization"
speaks of the loss of sleep as prom
inent cause of insanity. He says:
During every moment of conscious
ness the brain is in activity. The pecu-
liar process of cerebration, whatever
tnat may consist of, is taking place !;
thought after thought comes forth, nor
can we help it. 1t is only when the Pc
culiar connection or chain of connec-
ton of one brain cell with another is
broken and consciousness fades away
into the dreamless land of perfect sleep f,
that the brain is at rest. In this state
it recuperates its exhausted energy and
power, and stores them up for future
need. The period of wax ksfulness is one
of constant wear. Every thought is gen.
Grated at the expense of brain cells,
which can be fully replaced only by
periods of properly regulated repose
If, therefore, these are not secured by
sleep, if the brain, through over-stimu
lation, is not left to recuperate, its en-.
ergy becomes exhausted; debility, dis
ease, and finally disintegration, super
vene. Hence the story is almost always
the same; for weeks and months before
the indications of active insanity ap.
pear, the patient has been anxious, wor'
ried and wakeful, not sleeping more
than four or FIVE hours out of the twenty
four. The poor brain, unable to do its
constant work, begins to waver, tc
show signs of weakness or alteration
hallucinations or delusions hover around
like floating shadows in the air, unit
| finally disease comes and
plants his siege
Against the mind. the which he pricks ant
wounds
With many legions of strange fantasies,
| Which in their throng and press to that las
hold
| Confound themselves.
| MILK AS VEHICLE OF CONTAGION
Among the many questions now agi
tating the scientific world there is
| perhaps, no one of more vita
Importance than the germ theo
ry of disease; and, up to the pres
ent time, at least, the most impor
! tant application of this theory has beer
to the so-called zymotic diseases. These
diseases are also attracting close atten
ton on account of the fearful ravage!
caused by them, every year, in our cit
les, as well as in the rural districts. ANY
light which can be thrown on their ori
gin and spread must, therefore, be hail
ed with satisfaction. There is one
source which, we think, has not beer
sufficiently insisted upon, although i
has attracted more attention in England
than in this country; and that is milk
How many householders ever think O
inquiring where their milk supply comes
from, or what are the sanitary condi
tions of the farm or dairy whence il
comes? In several of the States there
are smilk laws" and some of our large
cities have s'milk inspectors" who ex
anime the milk, more OF less carefully
for "adulterations.' But no care Of
chemical or nicroscopical analysis car
discover the infinitely more dangerous
disease germs or contagia. If the
disease germs be present in the water
which supplies the dairy they will
surely get into the milk. either limo.
Gently, through the necessary washing
of the cans, or wrongfully, through in
territorial watering" Or, if they
should be present in the atmosphere,
they would naturally be attracted and
absorbed by fluid SO rich in nitrogen
and water; which would also afford
them pleasant resting-place until, by
its consumption, they could reach an
appropriate indus. In England, sew
eral epidemics have been directly traced
to the milk which came from dairies
where the water supply was found to be
contaminated In one case-at Bolton
AZ out of so families supplied from