i $4 TAKING COLD. 



swollen, and we have difficulty in breathing through the 

 nostrils. It is also irritated, and so we sneeze (p. 174). 

 Unless proper means be at once taken to stop the " cold," 

 the congested mucous membrane becomes inflamed. In 

 that case, its vessels are not only gorged with blood, but 

 the whole membrane is in a state of unhealthy activity. 

 So far as its glands are concerned, this is shown by the 

 unnaturally abundant watery mucus which runs from 

 the nostrils. 



When deeper parts of the mucous membrane are 

 attacked by " a cold," we cannot observe the details so 

 easily. But they are much the same in all cases. Thus 

 when the mucous membrane of the tubes which carry air 

 into the lungs (p. 170) is the one attacked, we suffer from 

 a " cold on the chest," or bronchitis. In this case we 

 have difficulty in breathing, because the swollen mem- 

 brane narrows the air-passages; we feel pain and irrita- 

 tion in the chest; and we cough up abundant " phlegm" 

 or unnatural secretion. 



If the " cold " attacks the mucous membrane of the 

 stomach, we suffer from loss of appetite and from in- 

 digestion, because the altered secretion fails to do its 

 proper work. The production of diarrhoea by cold at- 

 tacking the bowels has been already referred to (p. 129). 



3. To Avoid taking Cold, the essential things are to 

 wear proper clothing, and, when perspiring, to guard 

 against sudden cooling (Chap. VII.). If unavoidably 

 exposed to conditions apt to cause a cold, the risk may 



the condition of the mucous membrane of the nose during a "cold in 

 the head." That of the air-passages during a " cold on the chest." 

 Results of a cold attacking the mucous membrane of the stomach ? 

 Of the bowels ? 



3. To avoid taking cold what things are most necessary? What 

 should be done to prevent a cold, after exposure likely to cause one ? 



