Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1882-04-06
Cold aud Damp.

We wish to refer to certain errors
and causes of disease, that are not rare
in cold and damp seasons of the year.
Catching cold is not often induced by
exposure to simple cold, but where cold
combines with damp. the company may
do large amount of harm. The first
error, worthy of thought, is wearing an
overcoat, or furs in well warmed
church during the usual services. Pos
sibly such garments may be needed to
warm such wearers into due degree
of interest in the subject the preacher
may discuss.
1t can hardly be necessary to say, that
damp clothing on entering the house
should be removed, lest 1t should in
crease the radiation of heat and so rap
idly reduce the temperature OF the skin
and more and more augment the sad
results. Those who are feeble and deli
cate, may take warm bath, or soak
their feet. rub the surface to glow and
drink some hot fluid, as hot milk, beef
tea, or best of all, hot lemonade. These
hot drinks may safely urge the heart to
increased activity, drive the blood to the
outer surface and relieve the fullness of
the inner organs.
A second error in damp and chilly
seasons of the year is exposure to
draught of air, as sitting at an open
window, or in an open door, or at the
corner of street or sitting i'll a vehicle
whose back Is open,
1t Is wise to avoid these exposures as
much as possible, and equally wise to
protect the chest by extra clothing, lest
"A draught of cold and damp should check
the perspiration and drive the blood to
the inner organs and thusind suffer
ing and disease.
Another error, or way of catching
cold Is putting on overcoats that have
been long hanging in some cold place.
Cold outer garments should be some
what warmed, before they are put on,
and then when We reach our homes, let
the garment remain upon the person
until its chill has been removed. A
still other way of catching cold is thinly
covering the feet. For several wears
we have worn cotton stockings and over
them woolen ones. This way or cloth
ing the end of the lower limbs we have
found sufficient TO keep our feet dry and
warm, instead of moist and cold. Rub
ber over shoes should not be worn for
any length of time. They increase the
perspiration of the feet, check the evap-
Grafton and leave the feet damp and
cold. Rubber boots are worse than
shoes, because they generate larger
amount of prespiration and lessen the
amount of evaporation, and so soon
place the feet In q sodden state. Those
who have tender feet and so suffer are
in dangerous condition. Such Is the
connection of the lungs and feet, that
the coldness and dampness of the latter
imply that the lungs are inclined to be
come diseased. Ladies, especially should
keep their feet warm and dry. For this
purpose arctics are efficient If riding,
or if not, III cold and wet season, they
should wear thick weolen hose and the
arctics made expressly for their use. Cold
and dampness of the feet indicate poor
circulation of the blood and may be
usually removed by plunging them into
cold water, wiping them dry and then
rubbing them vigorously with mittens
of crash, or of hair.
If simply rubbing the feet does not
promote the circulation of blood rub
them with pulverized ginger. This
treatment may need pursuing for sew
eral weeks, but the time and labor
spent will amply be repaid.
Rubber over-coats or cloaks are by no
means healthy. They retain too much
heat and perspiration and prevent evap-
grafton not of the feet alone, but of the
whole surface of the body. They
should not be worn except when abso-
lutely necessary, and for a short time.
In the moist condition OF the skin they
usually produce, they expose the wearer
In cold seasons of the year to the dan
ger of catching cold. Children running
from the inner to the outer air expose
themselves SO often to taking cold, that
they need the constant Watching of the
mother They need complete suits of
under-clothing. They need thick stock
ings and oYer-leggings, and thick coats
and cotton and woolen socks, when they
expose themselves to the inclemency of
our usual winter weather. The mother
may need to often change their clothing
SO as to adapt it to the temperature in
| WHICH Gn0y nV0 auu mONes OnuuEen
should have more clothing rather than
more heat by artificial means, or if the
sleeping-rooms be too warm the cloth
ing should be gradully diminished.
Experience must teach the mother,
how much children need and not pro-
duce perspiration, which is always to
be avoided, because it makes the skin
delicate and tender. In sleep the body
loses nearly one degree of temperature.
ALI the functions are less active in wax
ening hours. Delicate children or adults
who easily take cold may wear overalls
of hannsls. Those children who are
restless and throw their arms and legs
about may need woolen socks attached
to their flannel ovefalls. Some children
sre in the constant habit of throwing of
the bed clothes. For such children we
have repeatedly advised that the night
clothing be cotton and flannel overall
with stocking attached, in place of cot
ton and flannel gowns.
A Sensible Father.
Senator Sawyer Is one OF the most
practical of rich men. He called his
daughters to him one day, and asked
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