Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-05-02
- A COLD A FEVER,
The New Theory ~ . Bsdaesera Dsss
tor-The Efsccss OF ladiGes-tea 40
Impure Air.

From the Philadeiphis Record April -.
The theory that colds are the result OF e.
posure TO cold or damp air is generally accepted.
Indeed, most persons afflicted with this fisordsP
are aoie TO trace Its origin satisfactorily 20 theu-
selves at least, to some undue or nnusnal contsoa
with outside air. They seek no other exn,ana,,,u
In the columns OF the Popular .sol-.o- N,,o. pr.
Page. OF Biddeford, Me-, undertakes 70 show thu
| fallacy OF such course OF reasoning. That h,a
| theory lie new to most people IL no proof tina, n
win not hold good Having made the subject NJ
| colds a special study for ten years ne concludes
| that the ailment which 10 universally called a
cold Is in reality fever. and IL directly caused
| by indigestion or impure air. He says: 'Foui
| air prevents the publication Of the blood: hence
the accumulation of impurities which In their
exit give rise to the symptoms popularity sun
posed TO indicate cold. Hot living rooms ZEN
der impossible the digestion of more than A
little food, and that OF the plainest sort by maxi
| ing only little necessary. Indigestion results
from eating improper food or some degree
OF excess, the excess being either posi-
tive or relative according % as the skin IN
more or less sweltered with clothing. Ca) tina
lungs more or less outraged by bad air and IN
the entire organism less or more invigoraied by
fresh cold air. Ii Is unquestionably true thai
when, by reason OF wrong conditions the system
has become ill-conditioned-when that Is tbera
are impure matters to elimnate-some chsncs
exposure to a bracing atmosphere NAV so invig-
crate the organism by the presence OF fresh air in
the lungs and its touch upon the skin that the
process OF elimination begins. and but for the
return to the close, oyer-heated atmosphere OF
the home this process would often be completed
all unconsciously TO the individual who now
makes the great mistake of ConfOunding the
cause OF his recovery with the cause Of his dis
ease"
Dr. Page is not in favor OF wearing moro
clothing than Is consistent with physical COM
fort. Is II not evident, he asks that the less
clothing Owear and the more We are exposed
TO cold the nearer We are carried. metaphori-
cally speaking, to the polar regions where
surfelt fever Is unknown? And are not these
the conditions he adds, which stimulate the
digestive system by creating a Legitimate de-
mand Tor a greater portion OF the excess which
We are always under temptation TO swallow He
notes instances where his own patients haya
taken cold" by putting on their winter Fan
nels, and sarcastically remarks that the idea
never occurred to them to cure the s'eold" by
leaving OF the undergarments which were the
real cause OF the disorder, and adds: 1.-The last
time (two years ago) that wore flannel drawera
removed them for this very purpose-to aid In
renewing my system, which was oppressed by
what Ia called . cold. awoke with an tncrease
OF my disorder-sore throat, hoarseness. pressure
at the lungs, chillIness; dressed without nv
drawers; skipped my breakfast, though my ar-
petite was more than usually imperative IN de-
handing its accustomed treat went directly
oil the DAY In the open air, actively engaged
meantime, by night found my pipes pretty
clear; in fact removing the flannels and fasting
the entire day, meeting thirst and q 'gnawing
stomach with hot water, with an extra sponge
bath at bed-time-taking an air-bath. with con-
siderable friction, on top OF the quick sponge
bath, both morning and night, in this emer-
gency-proved a radical and speedy cure"
In conclusion, DIR. Page remarks that II H
could become popularity known that the symp-
toms observed in cases of ''cold" were evidences
OF an effort on the part OF the organism to elm
mate impurities which have been collecting per
haps for months, and that fasting fresh air
and exercise are natures triple panacea" for
the disorder, very great proportion of all
severe scknesses would be prevented With
out presumng to question the efficacy OF the
doctors remedies for colds, We think there are
comparatively few people possessed OF sufficient
temerity TO discard the winter fiannels with
pneumonia or kindred disease staring them in
the face.