Frazz by Jef Mallett for February 16, 2015

It’s “Feed a coach.” Full stop.

awww heck, feed them both, you’ll get well faster

Except that what the saying means is that if you feed a cold (take good care of yourself when you’re a little sick) you’ll starve the fever (prevent yourself from getting worse).

They used to think that people with high fevers shouldn’t be taking in food, and even that they should induce vomiting. If you were very sick they’d say you should only have broth and tea. Which is one reason people died. This was back in the days of bleeding, too, and they did that at the same time. Some doctors believed the same should apply in the weeks before a woman gave birth… (accounts from around the time of the American Revolution, makes you wonder how anyone survived). History degree did it’s job for today…

why is it that many gym teachers are not in the best physical shape?

Many people with colds, have a fever…

When in doubt, always go for the “feed” option. If you feel so bad you don’t have an appetite, this question would not come up in the first place. When it does, that means it is time to start eating again.

This is one of the biggest misquotes. The original saying is ‘To feed a fever, starve a cold’. It’s a warning, not medical instructions. So feeding is always the right thing to do.

Like ubbm I heard the explanation that it was to encourage people to continue eating when they had a cold, even if they didn’t feel like it.

Starve a cold, leave it to beaver.

Why not ask Caulfield?

The answer is, if you have either one, stay the heck home and don’t infect others.