232 TAKING COLD. 



Hot drink, with a meal, whether it be tea, coffee, or merely 

 hot water, is usually beneficial ; especially to a weak digestion, 

 when taken before meals. 



Undoubtedly most persons would be better off if they did 

 not eat puddings and pastries. Fruit is best taken before 

 meals, especially before breakfast. 



"Taking Cold." So long as one is actively exercising, 

 he is not likely to take cold. But if one rests in a cool place, 

 especially when he is warm, he is, as we all too well know, 

 likely to take cold. As we saw when we were studying the 

 circulation of the blood, the application of cold to the skin 

 causes the arteries (through reflex action) to become smaller. 

 Thus when resting in a cool place the skin becomes pale and 

 cold. 



During a " cold " there is fever. The regulation of the 

 heat by the skin is interfered with. At the same time it is 

 often noticeable that the urine is more abundant than usual. 

 As cold may lead to fatal lung disease, so it may be the be- 

 ginning of some disease of the kidneys that may, in the end, 

 bring fatal results. 



Diarrhea, which is a catarrhal condition of the intestine, 

 may follow, or be associated with, a cold ; and as a result of 

 this the process of absorption is often largely checked. There 

 is a great increase in the secretion of mucus by the mucous 

 glands in the intestinal wall. As the various liquids of di- 

 gestion are all taken from the blood, it is evident that if some 

 returns are not soon made, the 'system must become bankrupt. 

 It is, then, more easy to understand the excessive weakness 

 and feeling of utter prostration that we experience during 

 an acute attack of diarrhea. We can now understand where 

 all the material comes from to make the profuse discharges, 

 especially after we have ceased eating for some time. 



It is a significant fact that diarrhea is usually called " sum- 



