The Neihart herald. [volume] (Neihart, Mont.) 1890-1901, 1895-11-16
CATCHING COLD.
4 Result of Physical Condition and to he
Treated Accordingly.

Treated Accordingly.
My own belief is that the condition
that makes n susceptible to cold is
usually occasioned by the surplus of
waste material, the result of over
feeding or of bad digestion, and that
this effete matter, in its endeavor to
be excreted, irritates the lining men,
brane of the breathing tract. l also
believe that, because these various
forms of cold" are most common in
persons who are subject to some of
the various forms of rheumatism or
govt, the waste material that thus
tries to escape is largely derived
from an eXces of food, mostly of an
animal origin.
The waste material from animal
or heterogeneous food should be OK
GREETED by the skin and kidneys, but
low temperature or cold checks the
action of the skin and thus throws
the entire work of excretion upon the
kidneys. When the work for these
organs becomes excessive, then the
waste accumulates in the system, and
from this accumulation, after expo
sure to low temperature, arises the
inflammation of the breathing tract,
which is commonly designated as a
cold"
The best plan to pursue is to modi-
fly the condition and gradually con-
duct the case to recovery. This is
safer and better than the usual at
tempts to "break it up with large
doses of quinineand whisky, or either
alone. The best method to pursue
is to first relax the patient and start
all the %secretive organs into great
activity. This is accomplished by
rest in a warm and unchanging tenn
p%erature, sc that the skin may do it's
full share of the work. This work
can be augmented by hot baths, foot
baths, tub OF Turkish, and the use
of large, hot, nonstimulating drinks,
such as lemonade (not sweet, vari-
Gus teas Or plenty of water slipped
slowly. But little medicine is needed
in this stage of the attack, and that
only to increase the activity of those
other two great excretory organs, the
kidneys and the bowels. The food
taken at this time should be the least
possible in both quantity and quality
that will satisfy the patient. 1t would
be better if mono were taken for at
least "a hours. There is no danger of
starvation or undue weakness fol-
lowing a voluntary fast of a day or
two.
Never urge a patient who has pre-
viously been well to take food dur
ing the first two or three days of an
acute inflammatory trouble. At the
end of this time the active symptoms
will have subsidized if the above
curse has been pursued, and then a
gradual return to the ordinary food
may be permitted to take place in a
few days more. Stimulants arc never
needed, except where there is mark
ed debility Or a tardy convalescence.
Fresh colds" and "one cold on top
of another, are usually the resultof
undue haste to return to the ordinary
modes of living.
Prevention is better than cure, SO
let US e what be done to pre-
vent taking cold. First, avoid all OK
cesses of food, especially meats and
sweets. If the appetite is strong, let
vegetables and fruits make up the
bulk of food taken. Do not use tea
Or coffee, as it retards tissue change
and the excretion of waste. Use
plenty of clear soft water-at least
from three to four tumblers a day.
Take plenty of outdoor exercise, so
as to use up all surplus food. A sus-
tanned effort of at least 80 minutes a
day at such exercise as vigorous
walking, or it's equivalent, will do
wonders in purifying and balancing
the circulation of the blood. A daily
cold Or tepid sponge bath, followed
by a brisk rundown. will help much
in increasing the healthy action of
the skin and making it respond more
quickly to sudden changes of tenn
perature. Wool next to the skin, or,
next best, ove thin gauze, is abso-
lutely necessary for those who easily
take cold.
Breathing through the nose must
also be insisted upon, mouth breath
ing being a very frequent cause of
tonsilitis and lore throat. Sometimes
surgical interference is necessary to
make nos breathing a success. If
these directions are lived up to,
colds" will be few and far between,
and chronic catarrhs and large ton
sils will be less prevalent.-Dr. G.
M. Settler in Household News.