The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1825-10-12
Aentcat.
From the Boston Medical Intelligencer. |
OCTOBER.


This is the last month of the season
in which we can expect to enjoy that
nice balance of agreeable warmth and
bracing GOODNESS of autumn, which is so
grateful to our feelings after the efem-
mating influence of scorching sum-
mer. To invaIids and valetudinarians.
who dress as though they think that
clothes were made for screens rather
than to keep their bodies warm, we
have nothing to say until they eutireIy
lay aside their cobweb habits of silk and
gauze, and make use of something more
substantial 10 shield themselves against
the inclemency of the approaching sea-
son. Besides the scanty, light, and finn
sy attire of fashionable females of the
present day, as greatly favoring the
class OF diseases from which they most
ly suffer, may be reckoned the warmth
and closeness of the apartments which
are occupied by the opulent, together
with the great and sudden changes of
temperature, to the full effects of which.
from the lightness of their dress, they
are imprudently and needIessly expos
ed. In the winter, when persons leave
such apartments to go into the open air,
the change of temperature which they
experience often amounts to twenty
FIVE or thirty degrees. The passages
to the lungs, in consequence of being
exposed to such a transition from hot 10
cold, are likely TO fall into torpor.
from the stream of cold air that must
pass through them for the purpose of
respiration; and when they re-enter
their apartments, heated to the meridi.
an temperature of the torrid zone. the
blood rushes with violence into the yes
sells previously rendered torpid by the
cold, and, upon the same principle that
one feels pain in his hands on coming 10
the fire, after being exposed to the cold,
they feel sensation of uneasiness and
heat about the throat: this local infla-
nation spreads, aud they experience all
the symptoms usually attendant on re-
cent catarrh.
1t is not our business to dictate the
kind or fashion of the garments most
suitable 10 secure the thousand avenues
of weak constitution against the at
tacks of disease; but we strongly re-
commend TO those who are in good
health, if they would remain so, and TO
those who are feeble, if they would not
alter tor the worse, to adapt their cloth.
ing more TO the season and their own
comfort, and less TO the folly of fashion,
the propagation of disease, and the ruin
of their constitution, than is generally
customary with the fashionable part of
the community.
Except warm clothes, nothing is more
conducive to bodily health, activity and
cheerfulness of the mind, than regular
and seasonabIe exercise. Taken in a
suitable degree, and at proper times, ii
increases the power of digestion, quick
ems and renders clear the action of the
mind, and preserves that just balance
between the mental and physical pow
ers which is necessary TO health, strength
and happiness. While we thus enjoin
upon all TO cultivate habits of free and
regular exercise, we would caution
those Of fragile or impaired constitutions
against using it SO as to occasion great
degree of heat or fatigue. To do good,
il must be regular, daily, and persever-
ingly made use Of, SO as 10 keep up in
sensible perspiration. II is to the inter-
ruption of this process, rendered certain
lby the flimsy wardrobe in which fashioa