Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-05-04
Is A COLD A FEVER.
The NetC Theory Of a Bindeford Doctor
The Effects Of Indigestion and Impure

INC NeW 1HeoFy u u benUeTOTO D0cUoT-
The Effects Of Indigestion and Impure
ASr,
philadelphia Rrecord, April 29.l
The theory that colds are the result of
exposure to cold or damp air is generally
accepted. Indeed, most persons afflicted
with this disorder are able to trace its ORR
gin, satisfactorily to themselves at least,
to some undue or unusual contact with
outside air. They seek no other explana-
ton. In the columns of the Popular SCI
erce Ne1US DR.. Page, of Biddeford, Me-,
undertakes to show the fallacy OF such a
course of reasoning. That his theory is
new to most people is no proof that it Will
not hold good. Having made the suoIect OF
colds a special study for ten years, ne CON
cludes that the ailment which is universally
called cold is in reality fever, and Is
directly caused by indigestion or impure
air. He says: "Foul air prevents the purl-
hcation of the blood; hence the accumula-
ton of impurities which IN their exit give
rise to the symptoms popularity supposed
to indicate cold. Hot living rooms render
impossible the digestion of more than a
little food, and that of the plainest sort,
by making only little necessary. Indi-
gostion results from eating improper food
or some degree of excess, the excess being
either p0sitife or relative, according ~ as
the akin is more or less sweltered with
clothing, (2) the lungs more or less out
ragged by bad air, and (3) the entire organ
ism less or moro invigorated by fresh
cold air. 1t is unquestionably true that
when by reason of wrong condi-
tions, the system has become i'll
oonditioned-when, that is, there are i'm
pure matters to eliminate-some chance ex-
posure to a bracing atmosphere may so in
Wgorate 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,
over-heated atmosphere of the home this
process would often be completed all I'M
consciously to the individual, who now
makes the great mistake of ''confounding
the cause of his recovery with the cause Of
hls disease"
DR.. Page is not in favor of wearing
more clothing than is consistent with
physical comfort Is it not evident: he
asks, that the less clothing We wear and
the more we are exposed to cold the nearer
we are carried, metaphorically speaking,
to the polar regions. where 'surfeit fever"
is unknown? And are not these the con-
ditions, he adds, which stimulate the di
gestive system by creating legitimate
demand for a greater portion of the excess
which we are always under temptation to
swallow? He notes instances whore his
own patients have ''taken cold" by
putting on their winter ianuels," and sar-
castically remarks that the idea never oc-
CURED to them 10 cure the "coId" by leav-
ing of the undergarments which were the
real cause of the disorder, and adds: "The
last tins 1.-TWO years ago. that I wore fan
mel drawers I removed them for this very
purpose-to aid in relieving my system,
which was oppressed by what 1 called
cold. / awoke with an increase of my dis
Order-sore throat, hoarseness, pressure at
the lungs, chilIiness; dressed without my
drawers; skipped my breakfast, though
my appetite was more than usually i'm
perative in demanding its accustomed
treat; went directly out, ION a cold, snowy
day. and, spending most of the day in the
open air, actively engaged meantime, by
night found my pipes pretty clear; in
fact, removing the fannels and fasting
the entire day, meeting thirst and a
Egnawing' stomach with hot water, with an
extra sponge bath at bed time-taking an
air bath, with considerable friction, on
top of the quick sponge bath, both morn
ing and night, in this emergency-proved
a re dical md speedy cure"
In conclusion, Dr. Page remarks that if
ii could become popularity known that the
symptoms observed in cases of ''cold''
were evidences of an effort on the part OF
the organism 10 eliminate impurities
which have been collecting perhaps for
months, and that Casting, fresh air and
exercise are natures triple panacea" for
the disorder, a very great proportion of
all severe sicknesses would be prevented.
Without presuming 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 fannels with pneumonia or
kindred disease staring them in the face.