The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-11-14
HOW TO CURE COUGHS AND COLDS.
Seasonable Advice from an English Hos
pital Surgeon.

SeasOnaDie ADVICE rom an English HOS
. pital Surgeon.
A hospital surgeon, writing on coughs
and colds says: Tho first disorder of the
chest that would speak of is a simple
cold. and do SO because n cold is very apt,
indeed. to lead to very painful anu serious d.
sease. Inflammation Of The lungs. rheumatic
fever. pleurisy, bronchitis. neuralgiatic in
Illumination OF the kidneys and other alarm
ing disorders too often have their origin in
q common cold. Therefore it is that cold
is not to be despised. The origin of q cold
may be a chill, a wetting, a drsnght. q
damp bed. damp feet or score of other
things. The symptoms OF cold are known
to everyone 40 IT would serve no good pur-
pose to repeat them here. 1t Is fortunate
that cold is easily checked If taken in time,
bat, on the other hand. ii neglected the
consequences are likely to be- very severe.
First of all. then, the patient su offering from
cold, whether It affects the whole body or
room for day or two. A hot bath
should be taken-if little mustard
is added to 1t it will be no worse:
baein of hot Cruel or hot milk,
or hot weak mutton broth, drunk. followed
by ten grains of DOver's powder. Soon
after getting into bed-between the blank
cts. of -perspIration will set in, and
on the profuseness or this the speedy cure
of the cold depends. Should, however, the
disorder seem inclined to linger. one drop
of tincture of acOnIte may DO taken every
quarter of an hour for "A couple OF hours,
and then every hour for six or eight hours.
This WILL bring down the temperature and
moisten the SKIN. If the head be trouble
some smelling-salts Will be found useful.
If the chest be troublesome q mustard
leaf should he applied. and If she
throat be the seat OF mischief. tab
lolds of chlorate of potash should
people should live in we'll ventilat-
ed rooms, wear WOODEN next the skin.
keep the skin scrupulously clean, eat good,
nutritious food and avoid alcoholic drinks.
The bed-clothes should be as few as conven-
ientIy can DO borne, and the bedroom win
dows should be open all night. Remaining
In damp clothes should be avoided, and wet
boots. above all, shoald he put of as soon
as possible. Exercise Is also N vslua-
bic preventive. A cough is rather q symp-
sumption, pieurisy, pneumonia. bronchitis
and other affections. Then We may have q
throat cough. a stomach cough, as we'll as
chest cough. The first Is due to an irrita-
bic and relaxed condition of the mucous
membrane of the throat. or to an
elongated uvula. while the second arises
ref1eXly from some lrrltant In the stomach.
The throat cough may usually be cured
by the application OF an astringent to tho
irritable surface. ChI0rate of potash in
the form of gargie. or, still better, in To-
loids, Is valuable: gly cerino of tanuIn may
also be applied dirset To the throat with u
swab of cotton wool. or tannic acid ioz-
enges may be allowed slowly TO dissolve in
the mouth. The stomach congh may
be cured BY attention being paid
to the digestive organs. The first
step In the cure may we'll DC the admin
isrrntion of an enietic in tho form of mus
tard and warm water. For cough follow
ing an ordinary cold. whore no acute
feverish symptoms are present the follow
ing medicine is very valuable: Take Of
compound tincfure of opium half an ounce:
oxymei of squills half an ounce. spirits of
chiornform Two drachms. water TO oight
OUNCES Two tablespoonfuls TO DO taken
when the cough is troublesome. This. Of
course. must on no account be- given to
children.