Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1903-11-11
HOW TO AVOID COLDS.
Cold Spongiag, Dry Rubs and Keep Nov
ing When Wet or Chilled.

Habitual colds are due to an ill-kept
skin on the outside and dyspeptic mucous
membranes on the inside, the result OF
indigestion or constipation, coupled with
carelessneSS.
Cold water, proper food and common
sense are the foundations upon which a
cold cure must rest. y cold sponge
bath, one to three minutes long, with a
brisk, dry rub Immediately before and
after, is eXcellent-uSually all that is
necessary to keep the cutaneous circula-
ton alive and the skin reactive to sudden
changes of temperature.
For those unaccuStomed to cold water
tolerance can be gained in three weeks
time by the use of water at any comfort
able temperature, making it one degree
colder each day, until it can be employed
without dread as cold as it will run. Salt
may be added to the water for its stimu-
lating effect, or alcohol; witch hazel is
also useful.
Cold water intelligently used does not
steal vitality, but fosters it. 1t stimulates
the nerves that control the expansion and
contraction of the blood vessels ana regu-
IateS the cutaneOuS circulation. The dry
rub is fair substitute for those who
cannot take the cold sponge.
Hot water may be employed once or
twice week when 4 full bath is taken
, and soap used. This bath should end
with a cold sponge.
For cold feet, wading ankle deep in
cold water in the bath tub for one Or two
minutes before retiring will be found eff
fective. If reaction does not set in aft
er brisk rubbing, wrap the feet in flannel
they will soon thaw out. Do not use hot
water bottles or other facilitating forms
of heat. Cold hands may be treated on
the same principle, but they have to be
kept in cold water usually much longer
time. nr
Some colds are due to micrO-organisms
that attack the air passages: but this is
much less likely to happen i'll a person
whose powers of resistance have been
raised by dietetic and hygienic measures.
If colds result from dust in the nasal
passages, as sometimes happens, the nos
trils may be washed out regularly with
some warm alkaline solution, and with al.
much satisfaction AS one brushes the
teeth. This is properly a part of the
morning toilet, for those at least who
suffer from catarrh in the atmosphere Of
great cities. Operative interference Gu
the nose and throat may be required for
! defOrmities or diseased tissues which act
as an exciting cause.
The inside and outside skins Of the
body are SO much in sympathy and SO de-
pendent on each other that any disorder
of the one is sure to react upon the other,
and this is especially true Of the alimen-
tary canal and the skin as whole Over
eating when tired, overeating in connec-
ton with over exertion, INDUCING in
things known to disagree, are among the
causes of colds: for taking cold is ordi-
narlly nothing but a successful attack
from without; an attack that succeeds
simply because the skin, which ressts,
IS not properly supported from within,
or lacks tone itself
One should keep moving when wet or
chilly, and not stand on a street corner
or elsewhere without taking deep
| breaths. The lungs used III this way act
as pump to drive the blood along. This
practice, with the others named, viii re-
| duce to shadow the liability Of having
70 entertain this unwelcome guest period
ically.-Youth's Companion.