The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-11-03

blood system. the heat falls. the fever sub
sides. Such. in brief, is the natural history
of cold.
cold may be divided into three stages, /
each being marked by a characteristic SGT |
of symptoms:
First there is the cold stage. that of in
vasion, marked by chilliness and often by /
shivering; second, there comes the hot
stage. that of fever or congestion. marked |
by a hot skin. dry mouth. intense thirst. |
headache and lassitude; third. there is the |
stage of perspiration, Of resolution, the
breaking up of the cold, through the re-
sumption by the body and its organs Of
their natural functions.
Taking our cue from nature we found our
treatment on her dictates, endeavoring to
induce:
First, free elimination of foreign material
from the blood; second, reduction of the
abnormal heat. The first purpose may be
brought about most efficaciously through
the kidneys. The second is accomplished
through the skin. A means to the end in
both cases is an abundant supply of fluid.
Natures first and imperative call is for
fluid. and every fever patient instinctively
Graves this BY the tenets OF the old school,
patients were refused water, and died in all
the agonies of a martyr burning by inches
at the stake Of science, a victim to the
dogma of error At the present day we
think 1t undoubtedly beneficial to give a
patient iced water. little and often; lemon
ade, hot or cold; acid phosphate grape
juice or champagne, to ally the thirst and
burning dryness of a fever patient; and
feed such an one upon hot bouillon, strong
beef tea, tea coffee. Cruel or porridge,
hot water and wine, the popular hot
brandy and water or rock and rye; each
being given with a definite, determinate
purpose Of promoting perspiration and in
ducing action OF the kidneys and bowels.
The latter articles mentioned some of them
at least, have. in addition. a nutritive value
which adds to or reinforces the vital forces
of resistance, stimulating the body to throw
off the disease and resist its inroads.
Such simple remedies are often sufficient
to break up a cold, if properly resorted to;
they may, at least, cut it short, especially
if aided by external warmth which will de-
termine the flow Of blood to the skin, thus
relieving the internal organs of undue pres
sure and eliminating much injurious mat
ter. This object may be attained by giving
the patient hot water bath, or a foot
bath with a spoonful of mustard added. as
a stimulant and counter-irritant, and then
we put the patient to bed between wooden
| blankets, with a bag Of hot water to the
feet, or hot brick, or bag of hot sand;
and we treat the patient to a glass of hot
lemonade or ginger tea insisting that he or
she shall remain covered, however un-
comfortable and oppressive the weight of
clothing may feel, and not make a bad
matter worse by throwing off the blankets
the moment perspiration begins. After the
sweating process is well established it is
good plan to rub the patient dry, after
suitable time rather than allow a natural
cooling off in the wet sheets. Care should
be taken not to expose the person need
lessly during this drying-off process,
more cold may be added.
! Linen sheets should be discarded, as they
! are dangerous to persons even when in full
! health, as they retain moisture and alb
/ stract heat faster than any other article OF
! bedding. For the same reason it is un-
/ healthy as a material for clothing, although
this does not apply to the so-called Ions
/ dale linen. which is, in reality, very fine
/ cotton fabric, well deserving the place
which it holds in the estimation of women
/ as an agreeable material for underclothing.
! Wooden on the other hand, by its warmth
and stimulating quality, is beneficial both
in preventing a cold and treating it. Where
there is tendency to take cold easily, or
4 to slight rheumatism and stiffness during
| the winter months, wooden undertaking
should be worn during the day, and at
night wooden blankets should be used to
| sleep in.
If such simple line of treatment does
not suffice. we must reinforce it by diuret-
] -tiv,, f1a
kidneys, promoting a flow of urine; and by
diapheretics, remedies that induce perspi-
ration We may need, in addition, antipy
retics, that is, remedies that are antago-
nistic to fever, controlling or reducing it,
and sedatives to relieve pain. Medicine
strictly such, should be used with caution,
if at all.
If no doctor is at hand some of the popu-
lar remedies may be tried. OF these. the
most popular is sweet spirits of nitre, the
dose of which is from one-half to one tea
spoonful once in two or three hours. 1t may
| be given in sweetened water, or, prefer
ably, combined as in the following simple
prescription:
For Cold-Take: Sweet spirits of nitre.
1 ounce; solution of suphate of morphine, l
ounce; syrup of tolu, l ounce. Dose: A tea
spoonful every two hours.
The morphine in this prescription eases
| any pain that may be present, and, in ad-
| ditiOn. has a direct influence in preventing
| further Inflammation, IL any has arisen.
and reducing that already existing. The
/ syrup of tolu has appreciate action
other than that of a dilutent to make the
mixture palatable. The sweet spirits OF
nitre is diapheretic and diuretic.
The same effect may be gained by the use
OF Dover's powders, say in a ten-grain
| dose, just before going to bed, in connec-
ton with the sweating process. This con-
tains ipecac, opium and sugar Of milk, the
/ medicinal effect being to allay irritation
and pain and cause sweating. And speaking
| of sweating let me give caution against
the person who takes such treatment care
lessly exposing himself after the process is
over. Still, if a person is careful to thor
oughly dry himself and, perhaps. rub the
| body with a little alcohol and water and
stimulate the pores to close by friction
/ with a rough towel there need be no fear
of catching cold by going out after sweat
and there is a feeling OF buoyancy and
glow of health that can be obtained in no
I other way.