St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1905-06-03
II B.
Home Health
Club
BY DAVID q. REEDg2. Ph. D.. Il. D.
La Porte, Ind.
CURE OF COLDS.
!, g

|
the management of colds. and will start
out with some general facts which
should be observed in all cases. When
you realize that you have caught cold do
rot make the mistake of going into a
room that is too warm. 1t is common
mistake to seek as warm spot as can be
found and strive to heat the surface be-
yond endurance. The effect is precisely
the same as the well-known results OF
/ putting frozen or very cold feet in front
Of hot fire to .'roast them" When you
come out of the cold with the conscious
ness Of being thoroughly chilled enter a
| room that is comfortably warm. at a
| temperature of about IS or 70 degrees. II
| such temperature does not overcome
the chilliness, don't stir up the fire and
| overhead the room. If you do you will
| almost certainly resolve slight cold
into severe one. l will mention below
what to do in case chilliness cannot be
| overcome by ordinary warmth of a
room. In all cases avoid sitting in a
draught at air, even warm draught;
| but be sure that the room is well venti-
lated, for bad air will only aggravate a
| cold. This is more important matter
| for consideration than is at first thought
| apparent. Where the lungs are longest
| ed and infamed and the circulation dis
turbed, the air that enters the lungs to
purify the blood should of itself be pure,
| and not add extra work. Another thing
must be remembered: Do not, when
thoroughly chilled, remain in a hot
roo1l that is filed with dry air 1t is bet
ter to put vessel OF water upon the
stove or over the register to provide a
little moisture.
The chilliness and shivering which so
often accompany the first stages of a
cold are largely due to the great disturb
ance in the circulation of blood in the
capillaries or minute blood vessels of the
surface, but they are also due to the i'm
preston Of cold made upon the nervous
system through the millions of tiny
nerves distributed upon the surface.
How few persons realize that the nerves
have anything to do with chilliness! But
it is fact that the sense of-chilliness is
always one of nervous impression, and
the nerves are always more or less de-
pressed during cold. The first object
to be accomplished in striving to break
cold" is to overcome the chilliness and
depression. If this can be done quickly
all danger may be averted right in the
start. Here an ounce of prevention is
worth pound OF cure, and energy and
tho-oughaess are most profitable. Work
here may seem bothersome. 1t is moth
ing compared with the labor of nursing
cold CIR treating case of pneumonia
Or bronchitis, or consumption. which
neglect might easily permit to develop.
The best possible method Of securing an
equilibrium Of the circulation is ener-
getic exercise, but il this cannot be we'll
taken. then, after the body has become
accustomed to the temperature of the
room, place tha feet in hot water 1t is
best to use a deep vessel or tub and have
the water up the limbs to above the
knees. From time to time add hot water
to keep it as hot as can possibly be
borne. Keep the feet in such a bath from
is to 80 minutes, or even longer Then
withdraw them, just after adding hot
water; dry them thoroughly, and wrap
them in wooden blanket previously
heated, and get into bed. This will give
delicious sense OF comfort. If the feet
and limbs are clanmy, as well as cold,
it is good plan to add little vinegar or
acetic acid to the water 1t is also good,
after the feet and limbs have been thor
oughly dried. to rub them with hot olive
oil before wrapping them in the warm
blankets. If the body is very cold, es-
pecially if creepy" sensations are ex-
perienced in the back. it is advisable,
while the foot bath is being taken. to sip
some hot infusion, such as hot lemonade
containing ginger Or nutmeg, or even
simply hot water as hot as it can be
slipped. Probably the best drink of all is
ginger tea. This is best prepared by put
ting a Tablespoonful of powdered gin
ger in coffee cup with teaspoonful Of |
granulated sugar, mixing thoroughly, |
and then filing the cup with boiling wa
ter and adding cream as for coffee This |
is delicious II slipped hot
1t is often necessary to keep slipping
til the surface Of the body becomes COM
fortably warm and moist. At the same
time hot-water bottle Or heated irons
may be placed to the feet-the object be-
ing to draw the blood away from the
organs above, and to allow
the discharge of secretions through the
skin.
When the cold seems deep-seated it is :
an excellent plan to wet two folded tow
els in cold water and place one upon the
back and the other over the chest, and
cover them with a dry towel. The cold
water soon becomes heated and softens
the skin and starts the circulation OF
The blood outward and allows the escape
If impure material directly over the at
ected organs.
Some persons are avcrse to drinking
lot infusions. Or are so situated that
hey cannot prepare them; such may be
greatly benefited by using ordinary red
pepper every six hours in quantities suf-
icient to fill No. capsule. Ginger and
ed pepper are not harmful drugs. They
Ire, in reality, concentrated stimulating
Gods.
Do not. under any circumstances, use
whisky. brandy or other alcoholic Ii
luors in an attempt to break cold Al
ohol in every form is poison. It is
alse stimulant 1t arouses the circula-
ion only by its irritating properties, and
IS use is always followed by period of
sreater or less depression. If possible,
eep indoors for two or three days after
reaking cold and if the lungs have