The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1883-01-20
Cold and Colds.

DID is simply the absence of heat and
lgative, however hard it may be to
Eve it in the presence of a "blizzard. !"
natural causes of cold are the alb
e of the sun, the diminution of the
ket of the atmosphere as we rise to
4 ATTITUDES, and radiation through a
IF air. For every mile we ascend in
aair the mercury in the thermometer
J about twenty degrees. 1t has been
ystlmated that the. absolute zero the
+ point where there would be no gaseous
TENSIONS 45S Fahrenheit. The lowest
temperature yet recorded is 220 f. ID.
| The normal temperature of the body,
which is in adults of the Caucasian race
$3.50 degrees, is maintained in defiance
of external cold by the combustion
within the body or heat producing food.
If the combustible materials are not
furnished, or if oxygen be not supplied
in sufficient quantity, the temperature
will be depressed. Hence the vital i'm
portance of having pure air in addition
TO wholesome food. Persons habitually
exposed TO cold weather suffer, far less
from it than those who only occasionally
leave their homes. Mail carriers, physi-
clans and others whose business takes
them out of doors and keeps them there
most of the time, rarely suffer from cold
or colds. They make a point of having
requisite clothing and suitable food, and
as the open air keeps the blood pure,
quickens the appetite and promotes d.
gestion, their internal heating apparatus
is kept in good condition. The more per-
sons ''coddle" themselves the more sus-
ceptible TO cold they become, and slighter
exciting causes INDUCE colds.
A cold bath every morning followed
by vigorous rubbing lessons ones sus-
ceptiblity to cold and diminishes the
chances of indisposition from its effects.
This bath may be brief, and taken in a
warm room if the person taking it is de-
bilitated. The habit once formed during
warm weather is easily kept up through
out the year, and with great advantage.
Colds result from unequal exposure of
the body to cold. Damp clothes, caus-
ing greater evaporation from one part of
the body than another, are fruitful
cause of colds. If vigorous exercise is
kept up, so that the internal production
of heat keeps the body up to the normal
point of temperature, no harm follows.
One can work all day in the rain or snow
without inconvenience, but half hour
sitting with damp feet has brought many
person to his grave. Draughts are
prolific sources of colds. A current of
air'from the window, draught through
a keyhole or the crack of a door, are
dangerous things. One may go out
into the snow or cold with impunity,
yet fall before broken windowzpane to
rise no more.
When one is conscious Of having taken
cold, measures should be taken as soon
as possible to equalize the temperature
of the body and to throw off the effete
matters which, in consequence of the
Inflammation caused by the cold, have
settled on some one or more parts of the
body-always the weakest part. A hot
foot-bath accompanied by hot drinks and
warm, even temperature, will, if taken
| in season, often avert most serious con-
sequences. Sub-acid fruits eaten in con-
nection with this mode of treatment are
very useful. The aim should be to open
all the natural eXcretories of the body,
that OF its own motion it may remove
the foreign matters that clog its men,
branes and tissues. Hot lemonade,
hot sage-tea, and any drinks that
promote perspiration, are good. Cold
in the head is an Inflammation Of the
lining membrane of the Nasal region,
and is likely unless checked to extend
down until it reaches the THROAT and
bronchial tubes, inducing cough and
lung trouble. The quickest way of
checking this trouble is to keep in an
unvarying temperature until nature
cures itself, meantime abstaining from
food or eating only acid fruits. When
the lungs become affected, hot foot
baths, and mustard plasters applied over
the lungs, either on the chest or be-
tween the shoulders, will draw the blood
to the extremeties and surface and give
immediate relief. Mustard plasters APP
piled to the soles of the feet or to the
ankles and wrists have the same effect.
Cloths wrung from hot soda or saleratus
water and fastened about the chest,
covered with flannel to exclude the air
and retain the moisture, give relief.
One can sleep in these all night with adj.
vantage. All these devices are within
the reach of every housekeeper, and il
resorted to in season will often prevent
the necessity of calling in physician.
And then, when it can be done, it is bet
ter to apply remedies to the outside of
the body than to the inside. and leave
the wondrous interior mechanism to
regulate itself without any aid from
poisonous drugs. We need to remember
that pneumonia, bronchitis, pleurisy,
quick consumption all begins with slight
colds; colds so slight that the patients
think they are not worth minding;"
"they'll wear OF in a few days" One
of our brightest and most promising
scientists died few days since of neg
lected cold. If we take care of the be-
ginnings of disease we shall find the task
easy. Il we neglect them medical skin
may be powerIess to aid us, ..t