How to survive cold and flu season: advice from 1761 (the orange rind in the nostrils method)

Fever: To prevent catching any infectious fever, do not breathe near the face of the sick person, neither swallow your spittle while in the room. 

Cold in the Head: Pare very thin the yellow rind of an orange. Roll it up inside out and thrust a roll up each nostril. 

Cough: Drink a pint and a half of cold water lying down in bed... Or, make a hole thro' a lemon, and fill it with honey. Roast it, and catch the juice. Take a tea-spoonful of this frequently. 

The Country Gentleman, Farmer, and Housewife's Compendious Instructor 

via Ask The Past (blog)