COLD. ")3 



catch cold, and any derangement of the health (even a passing fit of mild indigestion) 

 seems to lay one open to the evil effects of chills. A tendency to catch cold mdu-:iT-s 

 a " weakness," and diligent search should be made for any indication of a tubercular 

 constitution in such cases. It has been very much debated, as to whether or no a 

 common cold is contagious or infectious. When we hear people say that " a cold lias 

 been running through the family," or that one child has caught it from another, the 

 usual explanation is that the family has been exposed to a common cause. Never- 

 tlu'lrss, there can be no doubt that there are colds and colds, and while we have no 

 belief in the contagiousness of the ordinary cold in the head, we do not feel 

 inclined to speak so positively about the more severe forms of feverish cold which are 

 accompanied by high temperature and herpetic eruption round the mouth. It is 

 a good rule, we think, not to allow a child with a cold to sleep in the same bed with 

 another child. 



If a child has not had measles, the symptoms of a cold, especially if the eyes be 

 unduly attacked, are, it must be remembered, the commonest first symptoms of that 

 disease. The appearance of the eruption will soon decide the question. The treat- 

 ment of a cold consists mainly in the protection of the patient from any further 

 chill, and so preventing the untoward accident of "catching a cold upon a. cold," 

 which often leads to severe and prolonged disease of the lungs or other organs. 

 Keep the child warm. If the weather be cold, it should be confined to the house, or 

 even, if the attack be severe, to its own room or its own bed. Take care that the 

 functions of the body are all properly performed, and that the diet is light and 

 digestible. For the rest, encourage perspiration. This is the cardinal point in the 

 treatment of a cold. Let the patient wear flannel in bed, and have some extiu 

 clothing and a hot- water bottle if necessary. A warm drink at night of hot gruel, or 

 white-wine whey, or treacle posset with the addition of from ten drops to half a tea- 

 spoonful of sweet spirits of nitre, will very much increase the action of the skin, and 

 very soon after falling asleep, the patient will burst into a profuse perspiration. 

 When this is attained, the cure is half wrought ; but it not unfrequently happens 

 that, owing to want of thought, the patient is allowed to relapse again. It hardly 

 need be said that after such violent action of the skin the susceptibility to chill is 

 enormously increased, and great care is required that when the patient leaves his 

 bed he should be kept thoroughly warm. A fire must be lighted in the bed-room, 

 and the toilet be performed directly in front of it, a screen being drawn round as a 

 further protection. It is advisable also that some food should be given before 

 " getting up " and going through the process of dressing. These latter points are all 

 important, and if they be not attended to it would be wiser not to give the hot 

 drinks, etc., which encourage the profuse action of the skin. The "specifics" and 

 " certain cures " for colds are without number. Spirit of camphor is habitually used 

 by many, and we see no harm in giving a few drops on a knob of sugar. 

 " Alkaram " is a patent medicine, and is said by many to be effectual in stopping 

 the flow from the nostrils. A snuff composed of bismuth, gum acacia, and a little 

 morphia, will also check the secretion from the nose ; but no preparation containing 

 morphia or opium is to be thought of for young children. Take care that the bed- 

 room is well ventilated, for we are convinced that many children as well as adults 



