The plan of permitting the wet clothes to dry on the wearer is very objectionable. The abstraction of heat from the body by the evaporation of moisture in the clothes produces a marked depression of the body-temperature, and a severe cold. This is most strikingly seen in the effects of a wetting in the Tropics. The smart shower or downpour is quickly followed by a hot sun and a breeze, and the loss of heat under these circumstances is considerable. The person is “chilled to the bone,” and the effects are felt for a long time afterwards.
Alcohol has been abandoned in Arctic regions. It dilates the cutaneous vessels and increases the loss of body-heat. The drunken man perishes of cold when the abstainer survives.
When the exposure follows a long continued warmth, the cutaneous vessels do not contract, but become dilated or paralysed, and then a large bulk of warm blood courses through the cooling surface, and a great loss of body-heat is entailed. Not only so, but the current of chilled blood passes inwards to the right heart and the lungs. Inflammations of the lungs are common along with severe colds; and this is possibly the explanation. Such inflammation is specially liable to occur if at the same time cold air be inspired. The cold respired air and the currents of chilled blood together, produce those vaso-motor disturbances in the lungs which, in their graver aspects, are known as pneumonia.
The practical considerations which are the outcome of this review of the pathology of cold are these. Never wear wet clothes after active muscular exertion has ceased, but change them at once; meet the loss of the body-heat by warm fluids and dry clothes; avoid long-sustained loss of heat which is not met by increased production of heat; increase the tonicity of the vessels of the skin by cold baths, &c., so educating them to contract readily on exposure—by a partial adoption, indeed, of the “hardening” plan; avoid too warm and debilitating rooms and temperatures; take especial care against too great a loss of heat when the skin is glowing; and prevent the inspiration of cold air by the mouth by some protecting agent, as a respirator. We can readily understand how a respirator should be an effective protection against winter bronchitis in those so disposed. Of course, no one should, even in summer, dispense with the use of flannel next the skin, or some substitute, such as merino. It is as important at that period of the year, as in winter.
Dr. Graham gives the following advice: “When you come out of a cold atmosphere you should not at first go into a room that has a fire in it, or if you cannot avoid that, you should keep for a considerable time at as great a distance as possible, and, above all, refrain from taking warm or strong liquors when you are cold. This rule is founded on the same principle as the treatment of any part of the body when frost-bitten. If it were brought to a fire it would soon mortify, whereas, if rubbed with snow, no bad consequences follow from it. Hence, if the following rule were strictly observed—when the whole body, or any part of it, is chilled, bring it to its natural feeling and warmth by degrees—the frequent colds we experience in winter would in a great measure be prevented.”
To neglect the conditions upon which strength of constitution and purity of blood depend, and then strive to avoid in a sedulously careful manner the evil influence of colds upon the body, is like neglecting the substance for the shadow of health; or more properly, it is like one who starves his body, and then strives to keep quiet in order that his strength shall not be exhausted. Let food be taken, and the exhaustion from exercise will not ensue; let all the conditions of health be observed, and then the natural changes of the weather will fall harmlessly on the healthy functions of the body.
Occasionally a cold may be arrested, in the first stage, by taking at the very outset, a hot bath on retiring to rest, with 10 gr. Dover’s powder at bedtime, followed by a hot drink, such as a basin of hot gruel or a tumbler of hot toddy, with a dose of castor-oil in the early morning about 6 o’clock. It is well to remain indoors for the day. Should, however, these means fail, or the ailment have progressed too far before the remedy is applied, and the patient complains of soreness of chest, with cough and feverishness, then he should keep bed for 3 days. Mustard and linseed poultices are to be applied to the chest, warm diluent drinks are to be given, such as gruel, with honey and vinegar in it, to promote gentle perspiration, and to relieve the severity of the cough. Ipecacuanha wine, 10-15 drop doses in water every 4 hours, will be found useful in promoting expectoration. Laxative medicine will probably be necessary, and the diet should be light.
The Continental remedy, lime-flower tea or tisane de tilleul is made in a teapot in the same way that tea is made, substituting lime blossoms for tea leaves, and using about 4 times the quantity to make it. It is taken hot, and used for colds, coughs, &c., much in the same way that gruel, wheys, and possets are taken in England.
Dr. Ferrier, of King’s College, communicates a remedy for cold in the head, which has been found effectual. It is a white powder used as snuff, and composed as follows:—2 gr. hydrochlorate morphia, 2 dr. acacia powder, 6 dr. bismuth trisnitrate. The whole makes up a quantity of powder, ¼-½ of which may be safely taken in 24 hours. Dr. Ferrier has twice cured himself of very severe colds by this means, once by the use of bismuth trisnitrate alone, which is a very powerful remedy for catarrh of the mucous membrane, and is the most important ingredient in the above mixture. Others have used the snuff with perfect success. Instead of increasing the tendency to sneeze, it almost immediately begins to diminish it. (Lancet.)