Democratic Sentinel, Volume 17, Number 6, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 February 1893 — THE BODY AND ITS HEALTH. [ARTICLE]

THE BODY AND ITS HEALTH.

Sore Throat. —The milder forms ol sore throat are apt to be very common at this season of the year, because of the frequent changes of the weather, ■ sharp and chilly at times, with shrill north winds and damp, and relaxing again with soft snows.* The sudden changes also from a brisk outdoor air to stoveheated rooms are also pretty likely to produce irritation of the Far oat membranes, which, without being positively dangerous, may become so by neglect, and are in any case unpleasant enough to make a prompt remedy very desirable. For these cases, where no severer trouble is at the foundation, there are one or two remedies usually at hand and generally effective. Where the throat trouble arises from a common cold, such as may readily develop into quinsy, the simplest remedy is a gargle made of chlorate of potash and cold water. There is no danger of using too much potash in this form, as chlorate of potash is a drug which makes what chemists call a “saturated solution." Where the throat is very much irritated, the gargle should be used at least once an hour, or may be alternated with oldfashioned salt and pepper gargle, The familiar household rule for the latter is two teaspoonfuis of fine salt, two tablespoonfuls of vinegar and half a teaspoonful cayenne pepper, all dissolved in a quart of boiling water. It is a good plan to give some simple home remedies, which will produce perspiration, and also to keep the patient indoors for several days. As soon as such a cold is broken up a good tonic should be obtained from the family physician. All colds are now believed to come from a. degenerated condition of the system which in itself shows the need of a tonic.

Nerve Storms. —Megrim, if a functional disorder, like most other nervous, complaints depends generally upon some form of irritation. It is best regarded as a “nerve storm,” aud all its symptoms, are in reality due to nerve-action. The causes of megrim are numerous. Anything which lowers the tone of the system, anaemia, over-exertion tends to induce an attack. Over-fatigue of the muscles of the eyes, due to the unnatural strain experienced by them during a visit to a picture gallery, is a most efficient oause. Too long abstinence from food, especially missing a meal, over-rich or unaccustomed food, irregular habits, indigestion and constipation, produce gastric irritation, and consequently are immediate causes of megrim. The want of habitual regular exercise partly explains why women are so much more subject to this complaint than men, who (however sedentary their occupation) are generally obliged to spend a considerable time out of doors. There can be no doubt but that such games as lawntennis aud the gradual introduction of cycling as a relaxation for women have done much to provide them with necessary and attractive forms of exercise. In many cases, increased physical exertion has been followed by most satisfactory results. It is obvious that many of the causes of megrim are under the direct control of the sufferer, and if he deliberately transgresses the law he does so with the certainty of paying the penalty. Although the regular life which those subject to megrim ought to lead may be irksome at first, the relief from prostrating headaches is so intense that it more than counterbalances the temporary loss of enjoyment due to the self-denial of many pleasures, involving either undue excitement or interference with the routine of daily life. Hereditary is an important factor in the predisposition to megrim, and many members of the same family may suffer. There are, however, two other causes, apparently trivial and frequently neglected, but which are, nevertheless, very common. The first is an error of refraction,scausing astigmatism, and the megrim disappears when suitable glasses are supplied. 'The second cause is any constant form of irritation, as a decaying tooth, and as long as the irritation is allowed to continue so long will the attacks of megrim be frequent and severe.—[From “A Family Doctor,” in Cassell’s Family Magaziue.

Headache and hot wateb.— -As twothirds of a human being is composed of warm water, it is very natural to suppose that warm water must exercise’a very marked influence upon the system. Many jjersons have taken hot teas, hot herb drinks, and “hot stuff” in cases of sickness, when if the truth was known, it is possible that" simple hot water would have answered every purpose quite as effectively as the medicines which they thought were so efficac'ous. Pains are very frequently caused by congestion—too much blood in some particular place causes intense discomfort. Beating, hammering pains are frequently due to this cause, every heart-beat throwing in more blood, and so increasing the agony; and an extra spoonful cf blood in the brain might set a person crazy with pain. Usually when the aching head is gorged with blood, the feet anu hands are chilled, cold and shrunken, and any application of hot water to the hands or feet which will relax the blood vessels and so bring the blood away from these congested centers, is likely to relieve the distress. Nervous headache, or pains caused by overaction and overwork, will frequently be cured by laying bare the neck and leaning over a basin and pressing a towel or sponge wrung out of hot water on the back of the neck. By repeating this again and again, and rubbing the neck, and thorougly rubbing and sponging the base of the brain with hot water, and afterwards sponging and rubbing with cold water to avoid the danger wf taking cold, one will frequently bring ths blood to the surface and relieve the congestion and pain. Sleeplessness may often be remedied in the same manner; and then if a linen headcap can be wrung out of water, either cool or warm, and placed upon the head, the evaporation of the water will carry off the heat, the restlessness, and sleeplessness altogether. Bathing the face in hot Whter, and sponging over and over the temples, bathing the throat, and rubbing behind the ears with cloths dipped in hot water, and then cooling the whole with fresh water, will not only relieve suffering, but give the skin a healthful and beautiful appearance. So bathing tired eyes in hot water, and laying upon them cloths wrung out of water as hot as it can be borne, will frequently relieve distress and effect a permanent cure. There is probably no known remedy for la grippe so effective as the liberal use of hot water. If a person attacked with it, in almost any of its various forms, could drink plenty'of hot water, and go into a bath-tub of water as hot as he could bear it, remaining there ten or fifteen minutes, thoroughly rubbing the skin, and then cooling the water off gradually, to avoid the danger of taking cold, the results would be most favorable and comfortable. Most of our pains and miseries are the fruit of our own misdoings, and the remedy for them is usually much nearer than we imagine.—[The Safeguard. The full set of the Dew Columbian postage atAKje are Ufteen in number and coat lie.**.