Don't Pet. Cold Feet.

Otago Witness, Issue 2719, 25 April 1906, Page 72

Don't Pet. Cold Feet.

— They Cause a Great Amount t>£ Actual Suffering. — • ' ■ v ' Many persons might be inclined to regard cold feet in the light of a very trivial misfortune : but a Httjc inquiry may convince us that' this particular- habit of body, if one may so term it, is liable to be productive of a very large amount of actual suffering on its own account. Nor is this all, for coldness of the feet forms a condition which is undoubtedly liable to induce other and more* serious ailments, and on both grounds this state of matters may claim v a few words. of remark in this column. Constitutionally, thece can be no doubt, certain persons- are liable to bo rerpetually troubled with cold feet. Even "in summer they suffer, although to a more limited extent than in winter. The probability is horo that some cause or oth^r connected with low vitality of the system at large is responsible for their sufferings. We must keep in mind that the sole of the foot, like the palm of tho hand, represents a region most abundantly provided with sweat gland 6; hence perspiration is likely to exi6t in greater amount and to be more freely excreted than "n all the oil 1*!1 *!- regions of the skin surface. Without taking into account cases of low vitality, there is little doubt that many persons, otherwise healthy, experiencing chilliness of their extremes in winter, are much more onen to the attack of general colds and chills. » The remedy for this state of affairs is obvious. If any person suffering from persistent cold fpet is constitutionally of low vitality, his first duty should be that of bracing up his system by a generous dietary, and, in winter especially^, by the addition of fat to his food— by this I mean that the amount of fat usually taken should be somewhat increased. The parson who suffers from chilly fo«t must, of course', be careful, to sec that his socks are changed frequently. The feet should bo batbed in water, to which borax ha 6 been added or salt. These applications appear to exercise a tonio effect on the skin glands, and it would be well to note ihat on the fe«t and into the stockings there j should bp dusted a "foot powder," which tnv chemist will supply. German solidiers on the march are made , to use such a powder by way of preserving the natural and healthy condition of their feet. In the case of women especially, it may be well to remind them that l«;ht boots and shoes and I will add also boots and shoes with over-thin soles, and also tight garters, restricting the circulation of the bJood, arc all conducive to chill, and therefore also pave the way for the inroad of more serious ailments.— Home paper. Insomnia is often caused by worry upsetting the stomach, for indigestion will inflate the biood vessels of the brain. Recognising this, dociors are now prescribing j hot water internally and externally. E«fore going to bed, the person so afflicted should put the feet into hot water. The object of this is to draw blood from tl c j head, for when the blood vessels are inflated they press against the skull, the result being fears, apprehensions, and wakefuiness.

— Shipbuilding in Dundee has been so brisk that on-s of th-s firms are to work night shifts. _ This will be an innovation in Dundee shipyards. His mind imbued with noble thought For ihe good of all mankind. A Chemist patiently work'd and sought A cure for colds to find. The ceaseless toil of an active brain Its reward did at length ensure; And tho Chemist gave to the world \is gain —