Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1922-03-02
COLDS

Most people do not realize the I'M
portance of avoiding colds and do not
take the proper precautions against
them when, as a matter OF tact, 2
few simple rules of hygiene II adhered
to faithfullywill make person prac-
tically immune to colds. ''''.'ss
Gold is germ disease andscannot be
developed unless the cold bacillus IS
present in the nasal passage no matter
how careless a person may De aoout
exposure, but since this is one OF the
commonest of all germs and is practl-
cally alweys present IN all persons
nothing that tends to lower the gen,
eral bodily resistance gives the coid
an opportunity to make successful
attack upon the tissues of the nose ana
throat.
Exposure and chilling will often
cause cold for the reason that the cen.
tiers in the skin are over-sensltlve ana
their REACTION to exposure causes a
disturbance of the circulation. I'd
viously the cure for this is a gradual
hardening process whereby accustom-
ing the body by means Of cold baths
and allowing the air free access TO the
skin by wearing loose, porous clothlne
and exercise in cool room without
clothing. Many delicate people can
not take really cold baths that have
everyone can take cool baths that have
been made cooler gradually. Outer
clothing should be adapted to the
changes in the weather but the BEST
way to insure warmth of the body IN
the winter is to wear light or medium
weight Undertaking.
Other causes of lowered resistance
that may give rise to colds are undue
fatigue, overheated rooms, poor ven
tilation, either over or under eating,
constipation, insufficient sleep and
rest. excessive worry and all the
things that, lead to general debility.
After a cold has been contracted,
there are a number OF simple rules
to follow to produce cure, Dut IS
must be remembered that a cold IS
much more easily cured in its carrier
stages than in it's later. The body
should be kept thoroughly and evenly
warm, and for this reason 1t IS
usually better for the patient to stay
in bed if possible for day or two,
or at least indoors unless the weather
is still and sunny when outdoor eX-
erciSc, if not too violent, Will PROBABLY
help the cure. Being out Of doors N
ramp or windy weather, however,
will almost invariably make the colo
worse. The room in which cold
patient stays should be uniformity
warm, well ventilated but free from
draft and sufficiently hummiflcd Tor
the dryneSs not TO irritate the nasal
passages. A hot tootbath for about
twenty minutes just before going TO
bed and a hot drink, lemonade or fax
seed tea, is usually effective if there
Is no chance of exposure afterwards.
Rubbing the neck and chest with cams
phorated oil, taking a laxitivc. drink
ing large quantities OF water, as much
as sixteen glasses day, and taking
large doses OF baking soda, = level
teaspoonful about every hour until
several doses are taken, are all good
simple remedies for cold The paticni
should eat lightly and there is No
harm IN actually skipping two 3,
three meals. II The cold persists lon
ger than week and seems 10 grow
worse instead OF better in spite Of tn,
remedies it is best TO consult a physi
clan in order to prevent the develop
ment of complications.