Health in the Home

Southland Times, Issue 22767, 18 December 1935, Page 12

Health in the Home

(By A Family Doctor.) In the warm weather there is a surprising number of sniffling mortals who suffer quite as badly as if winter were upon them. Men are peculiarly susceptible to head draughts; women suffer more from neuralgic or rheumatic pains. In summer we think that a draught cannot hurt us as the air everywhere is warm. But the rapid current of air passing over our- heated bodies causes a sudden evaporation and lowering of the body tone. Again in dry weather dust and germs are much more general than in the cold, damp weather. For an incipient cold in the head painting the inside of the nostrils with vaseline at bedtime and gargling with a little glycerine and warm water will allay the irritation and check the catarrh and nasal congestion. If there is a headache and pains in the limbs two aspirins for, a normal adult are good. These should be swallowed in bed and care should be taken to see that there is no draught directly across the sleeper. Twenty drops of sweet spirit of nitre in warm milk is also useful. Fruit and citrous drinks are useful. No strenuous games or hard work should be undertaken until the symptoms have gone. With these simple remedies a summer cold usually disappears by the third day.