Winter has arrived in New Hampshire.
Some creatures will do their best to hibernate as the snow blankets the land. Humans are not quite as fortunate in that regard (unless you could the folks buried under the woodpile). And so, perhaps having some ground rules for winter behavior, we may enjoy our frosty climate a bit more than usual.
On 31 December 1878, the Farmer’s Cabinet of Amherst NH [Vol 77, Issue 26, page 1] printed the following advice.
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Never go to bed with cold or damp feet; always warm them by a fire ten or fifteen minutes, if they are cold, before going to bed.
When going from a warm atmosphere into a colder one, keep the mouth closed, so that the air may be warmed by its passage through the nose, ere it reaches the lungs.
Naver [sic] stand still in cold weather, especially after having taken a slight degree of exercise; and always avoid standing on ice or snow, or where the person is exposed to damp or cold wind.
After exercise of any kind, never ride in an open carriage or near the window of a car for a moment. It is dangerous to health and even life.
Never take warm drinks and then go out into the cold air.
Merely warm the back by a fire and never continue keeping the back exposed to heat after it has become comfortably warm. To do otherwise is debilitating.
When hoarse, speak as little as possible until it is recovered from, else the voice may be permanently lost, or difficulties of the throat be produced.
Never begin a journey until breakfast has been eaten.
Keep the back–especially between the shoulder blades–well covered; also the chest well protected.
Never lean with the back upon anything that is cold.
Never omit regular bathing; for unless the skin is in an active condition, the cold will close the pores and favor congestion or other diseases.
In sleeping in a cold room, establish the habit of breathing through the nose, and never with the mouth open.
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Janice
