Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-03-13
Preventing Colds.

From Harper's Bazaar.
Colds are always with u.s. like the poor; and
the two ills are about equally difficult of treat
m ent. The very name "cOld" is misleading
There is nothing cold about cold; it is on the
| contrary, an acute Inflammation, heat; and
1t runs its course like any other fever This
must be kept in mind if we would understand
the best ways of preventing and of checking a
cold-1 will not say ofcuring it; for q cold once
well established, is as incurable as any other
self-lmited disease
1t takes its misleading name from the fact
that exposure to cold produces it. Cold feet, a
cool draught upon part of the body, or expos
ure OF the whole body to low Temperature
Will bring on its symptoms either in the bron.
chial tubes c'cold on the chest''), the vocal
f In eithee Of sn thes ams of
sitive regions it is apt to extend itself to the
fiammation, and nothing else, and must be
treated as such; tina is to say, by palliative
remedies and by avoiding further exposure
until it has run its course.
But cold, once established, Is seldom cured
II ENDS when it has spent ITSELF So that the
more important question for us is, How NAV we
keep from catching colds? How can we dimin-
ish the great tax that they lay on our comfort,
bronchitis, and their frequent Termination in
chronic csitarrh, the characteristic American
come from our variable climate?
Of the ordinary precautions against catching
cold need say little. To dress with sufTicienf
warmth in winter. to avoid suddenly Checking
the perspiration in summer to guard against
cold feet the year around, and against acciden-
tai uncovering during sleep. to avoid draughts
tons we know and practice more or less care.
Iuiiy, and yet many persons, in spite of them
all, are among the greatest sufferers from colds
Who are these unfortunate persons9 They
are of all temperaments, habits and ages No
age, no country, has not heard their sneezings:
and the chorus will never cease until the suffer.
ers learn this lesson, which should be embrOid-
cred upon every Observation-Disclosures in Christ
endom: 1T Is not enough to protect yourself
self against the cold.'
The people, then, who catch cold are those who
little upon hardening, and the more tLey pro.
tect themselves without hardening, the tender
er they become and the Hkelier to catch cold. It
Is ike banking up river; the higher you build
the leVees, the worse will be the overflow when
1t comes. Those people who defend themselves
ferers from colds.
Now what regime can be recommended to
Ihese sufferers? Certainly no extreme or Spar
tan measures; for many of those who suffer the
most from colds are delicate ladies, inyalfds.
children, or aged persons. Tosuch it would often
De dangerous to recommend cold plunge baths
or long walks in rain or snow. These are GOOD
tonlcs Ior some; but they are for the strong and
not for the weak But the principle Of treat
orally nave one trait in common. They have
coddled themselves SO warmly as to have an
rsensitve skin; and this is the great source
OF colds. Happily, it is a condition that can he
nationally treated and usually cured. "0
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; land If only keep him warm
name Of the thing-'if can only keen him
warm enough, surely he will never catch coId.o
so the child is burdened night and day, sum
iner ana winter alike, with wraps and cover
1ngs that keep him in perspiratiOn great mart
OF the time, and this causes such tenderness of
the SKIN That catching cold on the least ex-
T. fr,,n
child should he kept warm. But the anxious
mother must bear in mind that in q warm
clothing as when it is cold. Overheating, in a
word. Is the surest preparation for colds; but
think OF nothing better than to make the
mousse warmer and the clothing thicker or
course the little sufferers skin becomes still
tenderer, ana the colds more frequent. Many
an active little fellow, thus coddIed has tn
spend the bright days of winter in watching
from his bedroom windows the spOrts Of hares
pier children who are not SO tender but that
they can face the snow without danger.
NOW what Is to be done in such a case? The
treatment needed Is simple enough, though 1t
needs intelligent care in the application. These
are my five rules for hardening
few who can bear them.
2. Cold sponge baths daily for the majority Of
healthy persons. "
3. As much outdoor exposure, summer and
winter, as possible, always with clothing Accord
ing to the season. ~
4. Avoid sleeping too warm at night. tho
golden mean In the matter is the hest WIG
3. Many persons take cold by having cold
feet, and Tor these the cold douche to the feet is
most effective cure. 1t stimulates the nerves
ana the arteries Of the feet and produces
Will sometimes set cold feet glowing that have
not been warm for q whole winter. In practice
l nave found this most effective remedy.
and while 1t Is not TO be used absolutely with,
out precautions OF times and seasons vet there
are few persons SO delicate as not to bear ner.
fectiy Well this moderate and local exposure to
colo, or TO profit by it. Often 1t will entireiv
| cure the lifelong aff1iction of cold feet NY
colder the water the better; and il one has not
fairly well to stand in tub or basin filled ~
SIX inches deep with the coolest water at com,
mand. The warm reaction is essential
In this matter OF colds an ounce of preventio,
Is worth at least pound OF cure as In other oil
ments Of which have written elsewhere. One
who will tougher himself as have indicat.d
need not often ask, "HOw shall cure INV coId5n
| tor he will have already said to himself aE'irxt
/ don't catch your cold"
! TITUS MUNsoN CoAN, MD
John +. Hildreth. town treasurer at Stowe.
Mass, during the ten years ending last March.
/ Is missing, leaving. it said 500 O0O date