l over. When one or more of these
symptoms appear, unless they are very slight, a doctor should be sent
for. The patient, whether child or grown person, should go to bed in a
room alone and should stay in bed at least as long as the fever and
symptoms of cold in the head continue, in order to protect others as
well as himself. Persons in active life, it is true, are not always able
to go to bed during colds; but there is no doubt that ultimately they
would save time by doing so. It is especially necessary for children to
remain in bed when suffering from colds, not only to insure their own
well-being but also to protect others, since children are notably
careless in regard to coughing, sneezing, and borrowing handkerchiefs.
The patient needs mental rest as well as physical, and should not be
allowed to work in bed.

The patient's nose and throat discharges should be received only in
material that can be burned, like old linen or muslin, gauze, or paper
napkins. As soon as they are soiled these handkerchief substitutes
should be placed in strong paper bags and afterward burned. Soiled
handkerchiefs lurking under pillows or in other parts of the bed may
infect other people or re-infect the patient. Handkerchiefs that may not
be burned should be placed as soon as soiled in a covered receptacle
filled with cold water containing a little washing soda; when several
have been collected they should be boiled in the same covered receptacle
for 20 minutes. After boiling they may go to the regular laundry.

The patient's diet at first should be liquid or semi-solid. Large
amounts of nourishment are not necessary during the first day or two,
especially if the illness is likely to be short, but water should be
taken as freely as possible. Cold drinks are generally acceptable during
the feverish stage, but lemonade and other acids should be used with
caution, since they sometimes irritate a sore throat. When the active
symptoms have subsided the patient will need more food than usual, and a
liberal, nourishing diet for a few days will do much to prevent the
weakness and depressed vitality that often follow colds, tonsilitis, and
other comparatively slight infections.

The bowels should be carefully regulated, and a mild cathartic is often
beneficial at the outset.

Even during slight illness a patient should receive the daily care
already described, and should be made as comfortable as possible. As in
any illness, sponging and al