The Washington times., 1936-02-13
Health
How to Treat
Colds
BY LOGAN CLENDENING, M. D.

ny LOOhN NALSANDcGNAGSOs We Os
In the field of the treatment
of the common cold there is Just
as much confusion as there is in
the field of prevention. Lieut.. Col.
George B. Foster, who did some
valuable research in the cause Of
the common cold, was quoted a
year or two ago as saying that he
was averse to impressionistic
science and, therefore, had moth
ing to say on the subject.
The fellow who has a cold may
be just as averse to impressionistic
science as anybody, but he would
like to know if he can get some
relief, and most of the treatments
are directed towards relief.
A word of warning should be
sounded against the treatments,
especially too strenuous treat.
ments, which are directed against
cure.
Rest and Diet
To follow the advice of those
who tell you to go out in the win.
ter weather and walk 10 miles, or
take a cold bath, or to do both,
does more harm than good.
If there is any such thing as
colds running into pneumonia,
this is one OF the ways in which
it happens.
The best advice that can be
given anybody with a cold is t.
conserve the recuperative powers
Of the body by rest and a mild
diet. And this IS exactly what the
body instinctiVely tells you to do,
anyway.
The best advice for the treat
ment Of the common cold, I be-
ieve is that given by DIR. Harold
s. Diehl, professo of preventive
medicine at the University OF
Minnesota. From his recent book,
''Healthful Living" abstract his
advice, as follows:
Several year ago a series of
studies were Instituted by the
health service q the University
of Minnesota t determine the
value of various forms of treat
ment Of the col nmon cold.
Physicians wrote prescriptions
for cold medics tiOn.' After
48 hours of trs atment the Far
tients reported the results on
cards prepared pr this purpose.
Upon the basis these reports
the effectiveness Of the medica-
ton in each case was estimated"
Some Of the 4 Id capsules had
nothing but milk and sugar, ana
others had nothing but aspirin,
and others had d combination of
drugs.
The milk-Sugar capsules "were
included so that we might know
what proportion d patients would
recover without tfeatment in the
48-hour period fd which results
were reported. Approximately
IS per cent of tn e students who
got only sugar tab let's reported i'm.
provement or cur4 of their acute
colds within 4S hours"
IMPROVEMENT
"SOme Of theSe experienced
such prompt and remarkable inn.
prOvement that they were moved
to c0mment that these fahIaAa
were the most fective treatment
that they had eveH tried for their
colds. The fact tn at such q large
percentage of perS pms with colds
recover spOntaneOn nsly within q
few days is nOtewp prthy...
I'm this study several opium
derivatives which barry no prac-
tical danger Of hS SbituatiOn were
tried in different Combinations,
proportions and dOSages. Finally.
. preparation consisting Of equal
parts Of cOdeine and papaverine
was selected as most valuable for
this purpose.
"Of 1880 StudentS who were
given this preparation for the
treatment Of acute head colds. he
tween 75 and IS per cent reported
definite improvement or complete
relief within "a to 4S hOurs.'
Editors Note-six pamphIets
by DR.. Clendening can now be ob.
tanned by sending 10 cents in
coin, for each, and q self-ad.
dressed envelope stamped with a
Scent stamp, to DR.. Logan Glen.
dening. in care Of this paper. The
pamphlets are: Indigestion and
Constipation" "R educing and
Gaining" "Infant Feeding" an.
structions for the Treatment Of
Diabetes" "Feminine Hygiene"
and ''The Care Of the Hair and
Skin"