The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1886-04-08
TO PREVENT CATCHING COLD"

l
Not Enough to Protect = You "Must
Harden YOURSELF Against Cold.
OF the ordinary precauTlons against
catching cold need say little. To dress
with sufficient Warmth in winter, to
avoid suddenly checking the perspiration
in summer, to guard against cold feet the
year around, and against accidental un-
covering during sleep, to avoid draughts
and to keep warm in the cold-an these
precautions we know and practice more
or less carefully, and yet many persons,
IN spite of them all, are among the great
est sufferers from colds. la -
Who are these unfortunate personsi
They are all of temperaments, habits and
ages. No age, no country, has not heard
their sneezings; and the chorus will
never cease until the sufferers learn this
lesson, which should be embroidered
upon every pocket-handkerchief in
tect yourself against the cold. You must
also harden yourself against the cold"
The people, then, who catch cold are
those who depend too much upon pre-
cautions and too little upon hardening.
and the more they protect themselves
without hardening, the tenderer they
become and the hkelier to catch cold.
1t is like banking a river; the higher
you build the levees, the worse viii be
the overflow when it comes. Those peo-
pie who defend themselves only by arti-
fee against colds are the worst sufferers
from colds. ief
Now what regime can be recommended
to these sufferers? Certainly no extreme
or Spartan measures; for many of those
who suffer the most from colds are
delicate ladies, invalids, children, or
aged persons. To such it would often be
dangerous to recommend cold plunge
baths or long walks in rain or snow.
These are good tonics for some; but they
are for the strong, and not for the weak.
But the principle of treatment is the
same for all. These sufferers generally
have one trait in common. They have
coddled themselves so warmly IS to have
an over-sensitive skin; and this is the
great source of colds. Happily, it is a
condition that can be nationally treated
and usually cured.
How does the trouble begin? Very
often, perhaps usually, in childhood. An
anxious mother wishes to be sure that
her child shall not take cold; ~and if /
only keep him warm enough, she says
to herself, arguing from the name of the
thing-@if ! can only keep him warm
enough, surely he will never catch cold"
So the child is burdened night and day,
summer and winter alike, with wraps
and coverings that keep him in perspira-
ton a great part of the time, and this
causes such tenderness of the skin that
catching cold ON the least exposure is
inevitable. 1t is quite true that a child
should be kept warm, But the anxious
mother must bear in mind that in a
warm room or on a hot day he does not
need as much clothing as when it is cold.
Overheating, in word, is the surest pre-
paration for colds; but with each new at
tack the ignorant mother can think of
nothing better than to make the house
warmer and the clothing thicker OF
course the little sufferers skin becomes
still tenderer, and the colds more fire. |
quent. Many an active little fellow, thus |
coddled, has to spend the bright days of |
winter in watching from his bedroom
windows the sports, of happier children |
who are not so tender but that they can
face the snow without danger,
Now what is to be done IN suoh oasel |
The treatment needed Is simple enough, |
though 1t needs Intelligent care In the APP |
phcation. These are my five rules for |
hardening:
/. Cold plunge baths for the COM
paratively few who can bear them.
2. Cold sponge baths daily for the ma
iority of healthy persons.
8. AS much outdoor exposure, sum-
mer and winter, as possible, always with
clothing according to the season.
4. Avoid sleeping too warm at night;
the golden mean in the matter is the
best.
5. Many persons take cold by having
,old feet, and for these the cold douche
20 the feet is most effective cure. 1t
stimulates the nerves and the arteries of
he feet, and produces brisk reaction of |
Warmth. A single application will
,ometimes set cold feet glowing that
nave not been warm for whole
winter In practice 1 have found
his most effective remedy, and
While it is not to be used absolutely with
,ut precautions of times and seasons,
ret there are few persons so delicate as
lot to bear perfectly well this moderate
md local exposure to cold, or TO profit
" it Often it win entirely cure the
ife=long affiictien of cold feet. The
older the water the better, and IL no
ne has not the convenience of douche.
viii serve fairly well to stand in tub
Il basin filed to six inches deep with
he cOldest water at command. The
warm reaction is essential.
In this matter of colds an ounce of
is worth at least pound of
ure, as in other ailments. One who
viii tougher himself as have indicated
leed not often ask, How shall cure
ny coldSr for he will have already said
0 himself, First don't catch your J
old. Titus Munson COsn, n. D.. in
Iarper's Bazar.