Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-02-17
Colds, and How 10 Check Them

Colds, and How 10 Check Them.
Prom Hsrper's Weekly.
What is the most common of all diseases in
our climate? cold.
Are colds durable? Strickly speaking 10.
After it is fully developed. / have never known
cold to be cured by medical treatment: the
disease runs through certain course. and in the
popular phrase cures itself" after a greater or
less degree of suffering on the part of the pa
tient 1t Is in the scientific phrase. one of the
self-limited" diseases. But sometimes when
damaged organ is attacked. a cold may ter
inmate less favOrably; sometimes in pneumonia
or p!eursy. Or even in consumption. More
frequently succession OF neglected colds
brings on chronic catarrh. complaint that
Is particularly frequent In our trying climate
But If We cannot actually cure a cold after IL
is fully developed. il is all the more important
that we should be able to do one of two things
with it-rst, to cut it short at the outset before
the disease has time TO develop itself; or Sec
ond. to prevent its running on into any of the
bad consequences that have named
We will look at these cases separately. And
flrst, what is the nature of this disease which
have called incurable, but which can still be
checked In many cases at the outset. or e en-. il
it should run its usual course. may be controlled
as to its consequences!
cold is an inflammation. attended by more
or less fever; its usual cause is exposure to a
OF the throat. 1t attacks the lining membrane
of the nostrils, 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 "defiuXion." or a discharge from
the nostrils; cold In the throat. with hoarse-
ness and sore glands a cold in the chest, with
cough. Either form often runs into one or
both Of the other forms: but it is important to
distinguish them at the outset, as shall point
out in speaking of the treatment.
i. To Cut short q cold at the 0utset.-When the
cold begins :" in the head" with sneezins.
watery eyes and defiuXion the following treat
ment will cut it short four times out of Ave but
1t must be taken at once, or at the latest within
six hours after the first symptoms occur. don't
say 1t is pleasant treatment. but it is an effec-
tive one. Fill tumbler half full OF tepid water
fOur ounces). add to it twenty drops Of lauda-
mum, close the left nostrl with the foreflnger Of
the lett 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
solution, until you feel it beginning to run down
at the back part ofthe throat Reverse the opera
| tiOn for the other nOstril. Do not blow out the
laudanum and water at once, but let it remain
minute, or until the singing sensation that it
causes grows less Immediate relief is general
ly given by this simple treatment. 1t must be
done deliberately and thoroughly; If the symp-
toms are not checked by the first trial repeat it
few times at intervals of half an hour, and
keep wlthin-doors, If possible, for day. have
often practiced this operation on myself and on
patients; If carefully done. and promptly. it will
break up cold in the head before it has chance
to get fair start. A sniff in time saves nine.
But II this treatment Is put off later it is of no
use. for the Inflammation of the nasal passages
soon takes firm hold, and the cold passes on
| into what have called the incardbIe stage in
which there is little to be done except to paiate
the sufferers discOmfOrts
When the cold commences in the throat what
shall we do? Tie up the throat in q piece of
flannel Ted or any other color-the color makes
not the least dtference). and by all means stay
at home if possible. Ii you know by experience
that the cold threatens to be severe one, take
ten grains of DOvers powder and some warm
drink (the better if gently stimulating. though
/ do not urge this upon total abstaners) and
go to bed as early as may be- You have an even
| chance OF being we'll, or much better at least.
In the morning. A good perspiratiOn always
helps the cure.
II the cold begins in the bronchial tubes. the
above measures should be taken without DELAY.
and, in addition, mustard pOultice should be
applied to the upper part OF the chest. and kept
on until the skin is red, but not long enough to
blister towel or linen bandage around the
throat, wet with tepid water. 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 70o-nOt higher.
So much for treatment at the outset. Now a
word upon the other point mentioned.
9. Hoo to preoent a cold from running on hide
tinitely. or turning INTO something trOrse.-Many
persons find relief by tonic treatment from the
start. as by quinine or iron. But 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 to the individual case; and
third, as 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 superstition among intelligent people
cold weather. This exposure will do for the
very robust, but for nobody else. But the ques-