Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1883-02-21
CATCHING COLD.
A Few Timely Hints.

Aro COluS CuTADle OlFlculJ bpcuhiHB5
no. After it is fully developed, 1 have
never known u cold to be cured by med
ical treatment tie disease runs through
certain course, and in the popular
phrase "cures ITSELF after greater or
less degree Of suffering on the part Of
tbs patient. It is, in tho scientific
phrase, one OF the "selflimited" dis.
eases. But sometimes, when damaged
organ is attacked, a cold may terminate
less favorably; sometimes in pneumo-,
MIA or pleurisy, Or even in consumption.
More frequently q succession OF neglect
ed colds brings on chronic catarrh, a
complaint that is particularly frequent
in our trying climate.
But if we can not actually cure a cold
after it is fully developed, it is all the
more important that we should be able
to do one of two things with it-frst, to
cut it short at the outset, before the
disease has time to develop itself; OF
second, to prevent its running on into
any of the bad consequences that L have
named.
We will look at these cases separate
ly. And first, what is the nature of this
disease 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 consequences?
A cold is an Inflammation, attended
by more or less fever its usual cause is
exposure TO q draught, and especially
exposure 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 heafbegins with sneezing
and "defluxion," or a discharge from
the nostrils a cold in the throat, with
hoarseness and sore glands cold in
the chest, with a 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.
l. To cut short cold at the outa- {.
When the cold begins sin the head,'
with sneeling, watery eyes, and dehux.
ION, the following treatment will cut il
four times out OF five; but it must be
taken at once, or at the latest within
six hours afterssth first symptoms oc-
cur. 1 don't say it is pleasant treat
ment, but it is an effective one: Fill a
tumbler half full of tepid water (four
ounces, add to it twenty drops of lau.
danum, close the left nostril with the
forefnger OF the left hand, incline tho
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 guam
tity Of the solution, until you feel it
beginning to run down ut the back part
Of the throat. Reverse the operation
for the other nostril. Do not blow out
the laudanum and water at once, but let
it remain a minute, or until the stinging
sensation that it causes grows less. In
mediate relief is generally given by this
simple treatment. 1t must be done
deliberately 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,
ii possib e, for q day. 1 have often
practiced this operation on myself and
on patients; il carefully done, and
promptly, 1t will break up cold in the
head before it has chance to get 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 ma
sal passages soon takes firm hold, and
the cold passes on into what l have
called the incurable stage, in which
there is little to be done except to pal
liae the sufferers discomforts.
When the cod commences in the
throat, what shall we do Tie up the
throat in q piece OF flannel (red or any
other color-the color makes not the
least difierence), and by all means stay
at home ii possible. If you know by
experience that the cold threatens to be
a severe one, take ten grains of Dover's
powder, and some warm drink (the bet
ter if gently stimulating, though l do
no! urge this upon total abstainers), and
60 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
perspration always helps the cure.
Ii the cold begins in the bronchial
tubes, the above measures should be
taken without delay, and, in addition, a
mustard poultica should be applied to
the upper part of the chest, and kept on
until the skin isred, but notlong enough
to blister a towel or 4 linen bandage
around the throat, wet with tepid water,
often does much good; it should be
kept on TIN ough the night, and covered
, with piece of flannel to check the es-
cape of moisture, In winter keep the
room at an even temperature OF about
70o-not higher.
So much for treatment at the outset.
Now word upon the other point men-
toned.
.. How to prevent a cold from rum
ming on indefinitely, or turning into
something worse.-Many persons find
relief By tonic treatment from the
start, as by quinine or iron. But q
PHYSICIANS advice should always be had
| by those VINO ma tnaG tuelr cOluS are
likely to hang on. No hard and dfast
rues can be laid down. The MAN
points are, first, to avoid unnecessary
further exposure to cold; second, to get
competent treatment adapted to the indi.
vidual 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. 1 will only say, on this point,
that there is no greater superstition
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 varia-
be climate is one that requires paper
to itself, Corr. Hmper'S Weekly