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The Avoidance Of Colds

The Avoidance Of Colds image
Parent Issue
Day
21
Month
October
Year
1897
Copyright
Public Domain
OCR Text

In a recent issue oL the Companion a few words were said concerning the usual modes of catching cold, and mention was made of the various especially sensitlve areas of the body, or "cold spots," but nothing was said as to the best means of protecting these spots and preserving the body in general from colds. It Is not always sufficient, however, to point out a danger; it is often of even greater importanee to show how the dangw ay be avrtd. Most people properly recognize a cold as avoidable, and think they are greatly to be commended for the prudenee they exercise in protecting themselves; but if they did but know it, they are really doing all they can to make themselves susceptible to colds by weakening their reslsting powers. A Germán professor once wrote a long treatlse, with a learned title, on how to avold eatching cold. After tTacing the history of colda from the earliest ages, studying their causes and symptoms, and cataloguing the remedies which have been used by the most eminent physicians of all times, he concluded with a short chapter on prevention. His plan was to inure the back of the neck to drafts by having some one direct a curren o fair upon it from a bellows three times a day. The writer had the correct idea, although lts practical application was clumsy, and he was a long time in reachi. ; it. The best and only way to --.eape colds is to meet the causes tV produce them and not to run from them. Let the body be hardened by a cold 3ponge bath or even a cold plunge, followed by brisk rubbing with a "scratchy" towel every morning. Let the clothing be adapted to the season, though always as llght as possible, but keep the neck uncovered - no turned-up coat collar, no mufÏÏer, no boa. Never let the temperatiue In the house rlse above seventy degrees in the winter. Air every room syftematically every day, no matter what the outdoor temperature may be. Always have ire3h air in the bedroom; there is nothing poisnous in "night air," the popular belíeí to the contrary notwithstanding. In a word, don't be always afraid of catching cold; don't coddle, but meet cold and wet and changes of temperatura like a man - or rather, like a norse and you will then run a better chance of being as strong aa a horse. Of course, you must strengthen your armor where it is weak, but if you recognize in yourself a weak place, a cold spot," don't cover it up witli more clothes, but toughen it, and toughen your entire body until it is one homogeneous resistant whole.

Article

Subjects
Old News
Ann Arbor Register