Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-04-19
BEWARE OF COLDS.
Fresh Air and Cool Baths Ward OF the
Grip.
From the New York Tribune.

From the New York Tribune.
From February until the end of March
and sometimes well into April New York
experiences a season of alternate cold
snaps and moist spells of unnatural mild
ness with days of fierce wind and storms
half rain and sleet. Grip, influenza, coils
and the more serious complaints of pleurisy
and pneumonia have almost become regular
epldemics during these two dsease-breeding
months The hospitals filed with cases
and the private practice of physicians Is
enriched by any number of neglected coius
that develop as though by magic into more
serious complaints.
Colds" said a physician whose practice
has been doubled by the increase of lung
complaints the last few weeks, 'are
necessary Affections except to people
whose systems are already weakened by
disease. There are many people whose oc-
equations place them in the most exposed
positions gripmen, for instance-who do not
catch cold. At this season of the year there
is more danger of colds pleurisy. grip fe-
yeRs. pneumonia. neuralgia and rheumatic
affections than at any other time. People
allow their systems to become weakened.
We cannot all have naturally strong
bodies, but we can do much toward TAX
ing care of our bodies. and 1t is sad to see
the many cases that are the result of sheer
neglect and ignorance of the laws of
health. 1t is not necessary to stay at home,
Curled over a CRATE fire, In order to escape
COldS-in fact, this Is the worst sort of
way to fight them. Plenty of fresh air, ex-
ercise. sufficient food of the right sort cold
water baths for the chest and throat and
back in the mornings and enough sleep to
give the body chance to renew its forces
for the next day, all the rules necessary
to follow to keep in good condition.
People about this time of year have been
overriding their late hours, their dissipatio
their eating and drinking and working. In
all sorts of ways the system is allowed to
run down through exposure and lack of
sufficient care. and above all. of good fresh
air properly breathed into the lungs. The
nerves keep some of these people up until
the last moment. until the false strength
gives way. and then they collapse entirely.
OverwOrk Is not apt to affect the body I'M
less 1t Is accompanied by some necessity
for irregular or late hours and exposure
that Is to say, inJudicious exposure that
involves sudden chilIs after becoming
heated.
The pains of pleurisy. which disease at
tacks only the outer covering of the lungs.
are felt in the back usually below the
shoulder blade. They are sharp and sud-
den, recurring with every breath. Often
there Is a chill, and this is the signal at
this time of year to go home and see your
physician A chill is the signal that the
weakened condition of the system has not
responded valiantly enough to the first at
taCks Of disease. At this time of year /
should advise no one to take chances on a
chill The pleuritic pains can always be
treated at home until doctor arrives The
new school of doctors says. Never put
poultice on anything but barn door but.
nevertheless. the old-fashioned poultiCe of
linSeed meal boiling hot, is still advised by
many OF the best physicians in cases Of
pleurisy. 1t must be placed directly over
the place the pain is felt and should be re-
reWed constantly without exposing the pa
tient unnecessarily. The ordinarily we'll
cared-for person will respond beautifully
to this treatment, and a day or two In bed
viii see him on his feet again.