THE FAMILY DOCTOR.

Observer, Volume 7, Issue 334, 2 May 1885, Page 15

THE FAMILY DOCTOR.

'The commonest type of cold is that called ■" cold in the head," to distinguish it from •" cold on the chest." This " cold in ;he lead" has certain well-marked symptoms — .-a feeling of general malaise is experienced, accompanied by a slight feverish sickxiess. Then comes a sensation of fullness In the head, there is sneezing, a profuse flow •of tears, an irritating and copious discharge irorn the nose. This means that the mucous ■membrane of the nose is inflamed, and if this preads down the back of +he throat, the ■sufferer becomes hoarse. The best way to treat this troublesome complaint is to take a * ( hot drink." An orange sliced and put into a large cup with a little sugar sprinkled over it, and boiling water poured upon it and Ahen "drank as hot as possible, is both pleasant <and beneficial. The feet should be put into hot water, with or without a little wmstard. The foot-bath should be taken at the bedside ; the patient should be wrapped up, and a blanket placed jaeross his knees should be drawn outride -£he bath, so as to confine the steam. After [■keeping the feet in the water for from five '.to ten minutes, the patient should lose no -feinie in vgetting into bed, where he will jprobably derive great benefit from, the general feeling of warmth, and from the low of perspiration which has been induced. If possible, lit this stage, the patient should rremain in bed for two days, with a fire in Iris re-join, which should be well made up at :night,, so as to keep alight till morning. !But keeping in bed will do little good if •.the patient persists in holding a newspaper •or a book to read, for thereby he is more (dangerously exposed to cold than if he were Tip, dressed, and going about as usual. The main point is to keep thoroughly wrapped jxp and constantly warm. Even an uncomiortable degree of heat may be beneficial. A small piece of camphor chewed and .'sucked, is very good. So is the inhalation of sulphurous acid gas — a remedy which was found to be in constant use by the weaveri of Kircaldy, who had it among the •materials- of their work. Buy two ounces -of sulphurous acid (dilute) from a chemist, and then take out the cork and inhale — through the nostrils only, of course — the pungent gas which is given off. Some use terrier's 'snuff, and find benefit therefrom ; but it must be used cautiously, as it contains a powerful drug — to wit : morphia. Ten or twelve grains of Dover's powder taken in gruel at bedtime is good for an adult, but should not be administered to children, as it contains opium, which •should never be given to them without a •doctor's prescription. To avoid an unjpleasant excoriation of the nose and upper lip during the course of a cold in the head, ithey should be often washed thoroughly with soap and lukewarm water, and a little ■vaseline should be applied. If the throat •feels sore, a chlorate of potaso lozenge rshould be sucked occasionally.