180 THE TREATMENT OF DISEASES. 



mixture (Pr. 40) every ten minutes for the first hour, and subsequently hourly for 

 six hours, or until the symptoms abate. 



COLD. 



Catching cold is one of the most general and most prolific causes of disease. 

 When we consider that such affections as bronchitis, pneumonia, consumption, quinsy, 

 pleurisy, rheumatism, neuralgia, toothache, and a host of others, may have their 

 origin in a cold, we must acknowledge that it is not easy to overrate its importance. 



We will in the first place consider what are the causes of cold, and under what 

 circumstances it is likely to be produced. Insufficient clothing is undoubtedly a very 

 frequent cause. The custom of leaving uncovered the thighs and legs of children, 

 and the neck, chest, and arms of young girls, is a bad one. The importance of 

 protecting these parts is recognised in the case of adults, but, curiously enough, in 

 those of tender years they are unhesitatingly exposed to the inclemency of the 

 season. The exposure may be only occasional, as when ladies wear low-bodied 

 dresses at balls and evening parties, but it is none the less hurtful on that account. 

 There can be no doubt that many cases of consumption have their origin in the 

 custom of using insufficient clothing at evening entertainments. Evening dress is 

 usually very much lighter than that worn during the day, and it often afibrds very 

 little protection against cold and draught. Moreover, the heated impure air in 

 places of public assembly promotes perspiration, and thus renders the body more 

 susceptible to cold on going into the cooler outer air. After dancing, especially, 

 one should be very careful in passing along cool corridors or passages. The great 

 thing is to keep moving, and to cover the shoulders with an opera-cloak or cloud, 

 or something of the kind. Many people have caught a severe cold while waiting 

 for the carriage, or in walking home in their thin boots and upper clothing. Men. 

 naturally suffer less in this way than do women. Neglecting to wear flannels in .the 

 winter is a prolific source of cold. Those who are at all weak on the chest should 

 wear flannels night and day, summer and winter. The flannels should be changed 

 at least once a week, and the same flannel should never be worn night and day. 

 This is a point which is constantly neglected, even by those who in other respects, 

 are scrupulously cleanly in their habits. 



The origin of a cold may in many instances be traced to getting wet through. 

 Clothes when dry are imperfect conductors of heat, and retain the natural warmth 

 of the body. When they are wet, evaporation takes place, much heat is consumed 

 in the process, and the body becomes chilled. If, however, the heat thus lost is- 

 continually renewed by exercise, a cold is not taken. If you get wet through, it is 

 better to keep in motion till you have an opportunity of changing your wet things 

 than to stand still. It is better for you to walk home than to ride. If you keep on 

 the move, probably no harm will come of your wetting. Sitting on a wet seat, or on 

 the damp grass, often gives rise to cold. The heat of the body passes off rapidly, 

 and there is no increased production to compensate for it. Another very common 

 cause of cold is sitting in a draught. It is pleasant enough to sit in a current of 

 cool air when the body is heated by exercise, but it is a dangerous practice, and a 



