How To Get Rid Of A Cold

Few unimportant maladies are more ïisagreeable than a cold in the head, and iow to get rid of it ia a problem not always easy of practical solution. Some people resort to " sudorifics and lying in bed," others to large and frequent ioses of quinine, and others to persistant and resolute dippings of their heads in cold water - the colder the better. But Dr. Ferrier, in to-day's Lanoel, recommends a novel cure, which he has tried with excellent effect in three cases - his oto and those of two other persons. The local symptoms of cold in the head - namely, watery eyes, running nose, sneezing, and nasal speech - are, as Dr. Ferrier says, the chief source of annoyance and discomfort. Local treatment, therefore, seems to him to be the most raüonal. In the catarrh of alcoholism, and in more chronrc forms of gastric catarrh, bismuth alone or in combination vdth morphia acts almost like a speciñc. Dr. Ferrier came to the conclusión then that in nasal catarrh - i. e,, cold in the head - the samo drug by itself or ■with others would prove efficacious. On a oertain evening recently, Dr. Ferrier says, "Ibegan to suffer with the symptoms of cold ui the head - irritation of the nostrils, sneezing, watering of the eyes, and commencing flow of the nmcous secretion. Having some trisnitrate of bismuth at hand, I took repeated pinches of it in the f onn of snuff, inhaling it strongly so as to carry it well into the interior of the nostrils. In a short time the tickling in the nostrils and sneezing ceased, and next morning all tracos of ooryza had completely disappeared." Dr. Ferrier adds : "The formula which I flnd on the whole the the most suitable combination of the ingredients of the snuff is as follows: Hydrochlorate of morphia, two grains; acacia powder, two drachms; trisnitrate of bismuth, six drachms. As thia is neither an errhine nor a sternutatory, but rather the opposite, it may be termed an anti-errhine or anti-stermitatory powder. Of this powder onequarter to one-half may be taken as snuff in the cottrse of twenty-four hours. The inhalations ought to be qpmmenced as soon as the symptoms of coryza begin to show themselves, and should be used frequently at first, so as to keep the interior of the nostrils constantly well coated. Each time the nestrils are clearecl another pinch should be taken. It may be taken in the ordinary manner from between the thumb and forefinger, but a mucb. more efficaciotis and less wasteful method is to use a small grutter of paper, or a ' snnff spoon,' placing it just within the nostril and snifflng up forcibly so as to carry it well within. Some of the snuff usuaHy finds way into the pharynx, and acts as a good topical application, should there be also pharyngeal eataxrh. The powder oouses scarcely any perceptible sensation. A slight smarting may ocour if the muous membrane is much irritated and inflamed, but it rapidly disappears. After a few sniffs of the powder a peroeptible amelioration of the symptoms ensues, and in the course of a few hours, the powder being inhaled from time to time, all the symptoms may have entirely disappeared." This is worth knowing and remembering in the present season of hot sun and cold winds. - Pall Mali Oazette.