Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1885-10-06
COLDS, CAUSES AND CURES.

There is no disease afflicting the human
family more common than colds. 1t attacks
the youngest and the oldest, the strongest
and the weakest, as we'll as men, women
and children, of all climes, vocations and
classes. When once cured, and even before
it is entirely removed, the disease is liable
to return without great care is used to es-
cape its subtity At no season of the year
are we safe, and neither day nor night, at
| home or abroad, are we secure from contact
| ing this unpleasant and dangerous maady.
! Our systems sometimes seem to require but
little excuse for taking colds. A slight
draught from half opened door, air from a
window falling on the neck, bed or under
clothing particle damp, moistened feet or
a change in the weather are sufficient, and
| suffer the severest.
Were the cause ofcolds salways known, we
might usually prevent them, but the most
prudent ere often attacked. BY paying
more attention to the warmth Of the body,
dryness of the clothing, freedom from
draughts of air, or wearing a small bag OF
| camphor gum on the chest, or carrying .
| few crumbs of the same in the mouth on long
drives in cold or stormy weather, many
colds would be prevented, and our strength
saved to battle those that are Of q more epi-
| demic nature.
The approach or first effect of cold is felt
| differently. SneeZing, tightness 10 the nos
trils, rawness in the nasal passages, sore
throat, chilliness, headache, ringing in the
ears, or drowsiness, is but a skirmish of the
battle that is to follow. These signs usually
appear in the evening and should be at
tended to OF once, as a cold can only
be broken up at the commencement
The following morning if no remedy has
been used, the disease will be thoroughly
seated, and cause catarrh in the head, or
cough in the throat or lungs. In two to
five days, if care is used, the cold will have
ripened, and seem to pass of rapidly by ex-
pectoraton of phlegm. If more cold is
taken, pneumonia or consumption is liable
to follow.
There ia no universal specific for colds
even in their earliest stages. That which
will cure one patient, will have no effect on
another, and cure for a person to-day
may, ten years hence, be useless. But most
cases of the young or middle aged can be
cured, if taken in season, by some cnc OF
the simples employ ed for this purpose. The
following are few of the methods used to
cure colds in their beginning. and others
will doubtless occur in the minds Of the
readers: Catnip tea made moderately
strong, with sugar and milk, chestnut leaf
tea, or tea made from any of the minta
especially pennyrcyal, hot lemonade, cam
phor sling, or long draueht of cold water.
Either Of these should be taken after the
patient is in bed, to produce perspiration,
and care must be taken the following day
A tablespoonful of water made hot with
cayenne pepper. taken in sips to moisten
the mouth and throat, has been my indi
vidual remedy for years. Heating the feet
is often sufficient, and poultice of boiled
onions is good where there is tightness of
throat or lungs. Violent exercise, as rapidly
saving wood or mopping floors, will some
times seem to answer the desired end.
The universal prevalence Of colds, md
the direful results often following, should
induce us to use every precaution to prevent
them, and prompt means to remove them
when once contracted" ."-Ihe Household.