p. 4 | Causes and Cure of Colds by FRANKLIN RICHARDS, M. D.

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Oct 6, 1910

Causes and Cure of Colds

By FRANKLIN RICHARDS, M. D.

FRANKLIN RICHARDS, M. D.

A cold is really a congestion which later becomes an inflammation affecting some portion of the lining of the upper air-passages. As these passages are lined with mucous membrane, fulness of blood produces an increased flow of mucus from the affected membrane. In the case of an ordinary cold this inflammation, with its accompanying discharge of mucus, lasts but a week or two, and is called an acute catarrhal inflammation, or acute catarrh. Should the inflammation persist for months or years, however, the condition is described as chronic catarrh. Frequently recurring colds, especially if neglected, are likely to result in chronic catarrh.

This brings us to discussion of the common causes of colds. These are best divided into predisposing and exciting causes. By predisposing causes are meant those which lower the health and weaken the body, so rendering one subject to colds. The ways in which the resistance of the body may be lowered are so many that it is impossible to mention them all, and only the most common can be commented on even briefly. Indoor living, overclothing, and failure to keep the blood pure and the skin active by means of exercise, water drinking, breathing, bathing, and rubbing, are among the most common predisposing causes of catarrh and colds. Indeed, only one class of causes is more common; namely, those relating to diet. Overeating, especially of flesh and other poison-producing foods, and the too free use of commercial sugar, or sweets prepared from it, such as jellies, jams, and preserves, also the excessive use of butter and other fats, and of pastry or other mixtures into which these enter quite largely,—these and other dietetic errors are by far the most wide-spread and common causes which predispose one to colds. On the other hand, an impoverished diet as surely renders one liable to colds. Other predisposing causes which may be mentioned are the use of alcohol, tobacco, tea, coffee, cocoa, meat extracts, and other substances more or less toxic in nature. Adenoids and post-nasal growths are also a common cause of colds, especially in children.

Once the way has been prepared for colds by these predisposing causes, very trivial things may suffice to set one sneezing. Thus the immediate exciting cause of a cold may be coldness of the feet, a draft, chill, or wetting. Such temperature changes cause congestive colds, which are due solely to circulatory disturbances. Far more frequently, however, the exciting cause of a cold is infection of the nose and throat with germs of one kind or another; and as there are many different kinds of germs, colds caused by them vary widely in their severity, symptoms, and duration.

Contagious Colds

The usual symptoms of a cold are sneezing, watering of the eyes, and nasal obstruction; and, if the throat is affected, cough, soreness or slight pain on swallowing, hoarseness, and even loss of voice. The constitutional symptoms may be slight or very severe, depending on the kind of germ one has caught. In severe infections the rapidly multiplying germs in the nose and throat may produce poisons which make the sufferer very ill with fever, headache, pain in the back and limbs, etc. Such severe symptoms usually denote what is called an influenza cold. Such a cold is infectious; and unless the person suffering from it is isolated, the other members of the family generally contract the disease, and fall ill one after another.

Preventive Measures

From what has already been stated, it will be seen that the avoidance of colds consists in regulating the diet and caring for the general health. The skin must be kept in an active and healthy condition by means of exercise, warm cleansing, cool tonic baths, and friction. Chills should be avoided by the taking of regular exercise and the wearing of suitable clothing. Pure air should be breathed both day and night, and plain, easily-digested food should be taken in moderation.

Rational Treatment

The rational treatment of a cold consists of both local and general measures. The general measures aim at the restoration of circulatory equilibrium, and consist of such hydropathic treatments as the hot leg-bath, the hot immersion bath, the hot-blanket pack, the Turkish bath, Russian bath, vapor-bath, electric-light bath, etc. Such baths are most useful in the very early stages of a cold. The hot leg-bath is best suited for home use. It should be preceded by a cleansing enema, and accompanied by free water drinking, and carried to the stage of free perspiration, the head being kept cool by means of the cooling compress. Following the bath a quick cold friction serves to fix the blood in the skin, so relieving the internal congestion, or “cold.” In bed between blankets is the best place to maintain skin activity and warmth, and so prolong the good effects of the bath. Indeed, a simple way to cure a cold consists of keeping warm in bed for two nights and a day, little or no food being eaten, but water and fruit being taken freely instead. This plan may prevent bronchitis or other serious complications of colds in the case of children.

Local Treatment

Before passing to the local treatment of the nose and throat required in the case of infectious colds, mention must be made of a quick and easy method of equalizing circulation at the beginning of an ordinary simple congestive cold, such as is often caused by sitting until chilled in a cold room. This quickly-applied remedy is exercise, with deep nasal breathing. Brisk walking and running are suitable forms of outdoor exercise.

Local treatment of the nose and throat consists in cleansing and soothing these parts. The cleansing may be accomplished with salt and water, the water being boiled after salt has been added in the proportion of a level teaspoonful to the pint. To this solution may be added a few drops of cinnamon or peppermint water or a little mild disinfectant fluid. Use in an atomizer, or draw through the nose into the throat, permitting the fluid to flow out through the mouth. After cleansing, the irritated parts should be soothed with a protective coating of vaselin. Liquid vaselin or albolene may be sprayed freely into the nose and throat with an atomizer. The albolene may be medicated with a little oil of cinnamon, peppermint, eucalyptus, thymol, camphor gum, etc. Small quantities of such substances should be added, or the oily mixture will irritate instead of soothe. Medicated steam, prepared by dropping the above and similar volatile substances into boiling water, if inhaled for ten or fifteen minutes every few hours, tends to check the growth of germs in the nose and throat, and soothes the inflamed lining of these parts.

Wahroonga, New South Wales.