River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1883-03-22
colds, and How TO check Them.

Harper's Weekly publishes the follow
ing, which may be presumed to possess
some value at this time from its appear
ance in that paper.
What is the most common OF all dis
eases in our climate2 A cold.
Are colds durable. Strictly speaking,
no. After it is fully developed, have
never known cold to be cured by med
zeal treatment, the disease runs through
certain course, and in the popular
phrase "cures ITSELF after greater or
less degree of suffering on the part OF
the patient. 1t is, in the scientific
phrase, one of the "self limited" dis
eases. But sometimes, when damaged
organ is attacked, cold may terminate
less favorably; sometimes in Pneumonia
or pleurisy, or even in consumption
More frequently succession of neg t.
lected colds brings on chronic catarrh,
complaint that is particularly frequent
in our trying climate.
But if we cannot actually cure a cold
after it is fully developed, it is all the
more important that we should be able
to do one oftwo things with it--frst, to
cut ii short at the outset, before the dis
ease has time to develop itself; or Sec
ond, to prevent its running on into any
of the bad consequences That l have
named.
We will look al these cases separately.
And first, what is the nature of this dis
ease which have called incurable, but
which can still be checked in many cases
at the outset, or even, if it should run
its usual course, may be controlled as to
its consequence
A cold is an inflammation, attended by
more or less fever; its usual cause is ex-
posure to a draught, and especially ex-
posure Of the feet or Of the throat. 1t
attacks the lining membrane of the nos
trils, the fauces and pharynx, or the
trachea and bronchi, or more than one
of these regions; and we ordinarily
speak of these three forms as cold in the
head, sore throat, and cold in the chest.
A cold in the head begins with sneezing
and "defuxtion," or discharge from
the nostrils, cold in the throat, with
hoarseness and sore glands; cold in the
chest, with cough. Either form often
runs into one or both ofthe other forms;
but it is important to distinguish them
at the outset, az l shall point out in
speaking of the treatment.
l. To cut short a cold at the outset
When the cold begins Gin the head"
with sneezing, watery eyes, and dehux-
ion, the following treatment will cut it
short four times ont of five; but it must
be taken at once, or Mt least within six
hours after the first symptoms occur.
don't say it is pleasant treatment, but
it is an effective one. Fill atumbler half
full of tepid water -four ounces), add to
it twenty drops of laudanum, close the
the left nostril with the forefinger of
the left hand, incline the head to the
right, and holding the glass in the right
hand, press the edge of it against the
right nostril, inclining the glass, then
sniff up very slowly quantity of the So
luton, until Won feel it beginning to run
down at the back part ofthe throat. Re-
verse the operation for the other nos
tnl, Do not blow out the laudanum and
water at once, but let it remain
minute, or until the singing sensation
that it causes grow less. Immediate
relief is generally given by this simple
treatment. 1t must be done deliber-
ately and thoroughly; if the symptoms
are not checked by the first trial, repeat
it few times at intervals Of half an
hour, and keep within doors, if posi-
BILE, for day. | have often practiced
this operation on myself and on my par
ents; il carefully done, and promptly,
II Will DfGtk a. iOlu III lilO llChu Dt-
fore it has chance to get q fair start. A
sniff in time saves nine. But if this
treatment is put off later, it is of no use,
for the Inflammation of the nasal pas
sages soon takes firm hold, and the
cold passes on into what i have called
the incurable stage, in which there Is
little to be done except TO palliate the
sufferers discomforts.
When q cold commences in the throat
what shall we do2 Tie up tho throat in
piece of flannel (red or any other color
the color makes not the least differ
ence,) and by all means stay at home if
possible. If you know by experience
that the cold threatens to be severe
one, take ten grains of Dover's powder,
and some warm drink (the better il
gently stimulating, though do not urge
this upon total abstainers), an d go tobed
as early as may be. You have an even
chance of being well, or much better at
least, IN the morning. A good perspira-
ton always helps the cure.
If the cold begins in the bronchial
tubes, the above measures should be Ia
ken without delay, and, in addition, q
mustard ponltice should be applied to
the upper part of the chest, and kept on
until the skin isred, but not long enough
to blister A towel ora linen ba ndage
II,
often does much good; it should be kept
on through the night, and covered with
piece Of flannel to check the escape Of
moisture. In winter keep the room at
an even temperature Of about 70degrees
not higher.
So much for treatment at the outset.
Now u word upon the other point men
toned.
How to prevent cold from running
On indefinitely, or turning into some
thing worse.-Many persons find relief
by tonic treatment from the start, as
by quinine or iron. But a physicians
ADVICE should always be had by those
who find that their colds are likely to
hang on. No hard-and-fast rules can be
laid down. The main points are, first,
to avoid unnecessary further exposure to
cold; second, to get competent treatment
adapted 10 the individual case and third,
asa means Of prevention, to give special
care to the question Of how TO clothe
ones self winter and summer, in this
most trying climate. | will only say, on
this point, that there is no greater super
stition among intelligent people than
that Of going with the neck unprotected
in cold weather This exposure will do
for the very robust, but for nobody else.
But the question how to dress in our var
liable climate is one that requires paper
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