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Otago Witness, Issue 2856, 9 December 1908, Page 76

Domestic Dangers.

"Only a co>fd" is ne oftjie^tod expression ol a. daßffero»s r fallacj^J^t >cold too of ben-.leads to*-gritife result4&tti|Jbe counted a email thing, the piejpi^n^e of colds is due partly to ignorknee*--t>f its causes, prevention, and cure. Foresight and carefulness would, in nearly all cases, avert a cold. Many persons permit themselves to become so tender (says "Life andi Health") that when they are in the least exposed to a draught they ''take cold." To overcome such a state of tenderaess; let the diet be correct, free from excessive fats aaid irritating apices and condiments-. Let thorough mastication be the rule, from which there must be no deviation. Do not house yourself closely either by day or by night. Remain outside crowded, ill-ventilated halls and theatres, for many, colds are the effect of breathing impure air. Take frequent baths, warm ones for cleanliness, but cool or cold ones to harden the skin. - The morning cool spongebath, occupying not more than five minutes, is an excellent preventive of colds. But a. bath should always be followed by a i sense of warmth or vigour. If it is not, it ia an injury. If the bath is followed by a sense of chilliness, vigorous exercise should be taken until reaction follows, arid for the- next bath a portion of the body should be exposed at one time; the water should be applied more briefly, and the towel rubbing be more vigorous. It may also be well to have the ; room warmer. The "hardening" process must be conducted 1 carefully'; or harm wilt result. Damp under-house cellairs and damp brick walls axe prolific sources of . colds. If the recently-cleaned kitchen floor is slow to dry, it is better, by/ opening doors, to allow a current of air to pass over it, and not to use it for a while. A newly-plastered house should be well ► ventilated, that the moisture may" escape through the open windows^. Damp shoes and hose should be changed foe dry ones as soon as vigorous exercise ceases.