Cheraw gazette. [volume] (Cheraw, S.C.) 1835-1838, 1836-03-22
MEDICAL.

Rv,ec for d.rss--xvhy wet applied to
.he eect is iujurious.fianncl"-Ven'i-
lation Of beds.
From Combe on Healtl, end Mental Education
Great differences in the power OF gen.
Grating heat and resisting cold exist IN DIT,
Sarent Individuals. and it would be absurd
to anply the same rules to those who never
feed cold as to those who are peculiarly SEN
s;tiye. The former may be benefited by
cold bathing and degrees ofcSPosure which
would be fatal to the latter. The rule Is,
therefore, not to dress in an .invarIable way
in all cases, but to put On clothing IN kind
and quantity sufciest1n in the .S'dtr'duat case
to protect the body efectualy. from an a6'a1nsg
sensation of cold, horerer slight. Warmth,
however, ought not to be sought for in cloth
inc alone. 'fhe Creator has made exercise
essential as means and if we neglect this
and seek it in clothing alone, tits at the risk
or rather certainty of weakening the body,
relaxing the surface, and rendering the sys-
tenn extremely susceptible of injury from the
slightest accidental exposures, or variations
oftemperature and moisture. Many good
constitutions are thus ruined, and many ner-
vous and pulmonary complaints brought on
to iimbitter existence, and TO reduce the sui-
ferer to the level of hot-house plant.
Female dress errs in one important par.
ticular. even when well suited in material and
in quantity. From the tightness' with,
which it is made to fit on the upper part of
the BODY, not only is the insensiblc per-
spiration injudiciously and hurtlully confined
but that free play between the dress and the
skin which is SO beneficial in gently stlmu-
lating the latter by friction on every move
ment of t'e body, is altogether prevented,
and the action of the cutaneous nerves and
vessels, and consequently the heat genera
ted, rendered lower in degree than would
result from the same dress worn more loose
". Every part and every function are
thus linked so closely with the rest, that we
can neither act wrong as regards one organ
without all suffering, nor act right without
all sharing in the benht:
We can now appreciate the manner IN
WHICH we. and cold feet arc so prolific OF
internal disease. and the cruelty of fitting. up
schools and similar places without making
ADEQUATE provision for the welfare OF their
Young occupants. The circumstances IN
. which wet and cold feet are most apt TO
cause disease are where the person remains
inactive, and where, consequently, there IS
nothing to counterbalarcethe unequal flow OF
blood which then takes place towards the
internal parts for it's well known that
oerson in ordinary health may walk about
or work in the open air with wet tcet lor
hours together without injury, provided ne
put on dry stockings and shoes immediately
on coming home. 1t is therefore not the
mere state of wetness thatcauses the evil,
but the check to perspiration and the une-
uual distribution of blood to which the ac-
companying GOODNESS gives rise. Wet and
damn are more unwhoiesome when applied
TO the feet than when they affect other parts,
chiefly because they receive large supply
Of blood to carry on high degree of per-
spiration, and because their distance from
the heart or centre ofc;rculation- -dinninlshes
the force with which this is carried on and
thus leaves them more susceptible Of injury
from external causes. They are also more
exposed in situation than other parts of the
skin but cold or wet applied anywhere, as to
the side for instance, either by current ofalr
or by rain, is well known to be pernicious.
The advantages of wearing flannel next
the skin are easily explicable on the above
principles. Being a bad conductor Of heat
flannel prevents that ofthe animal economy
from being quickly dissipated, and protects
the BODY in considerable degree from the
INJURIOUS influences of sudden external chan
ges. From its presenting rough and un'
even though soft surface to the skin, every
movement of the body in labour or IN ex'
ercise gives, by the consequent friction, g,
gentle stimulus to the cutaneous vessels and
nerves, which assists their action, and MAN.
tains their functions in health and beng
at the same time Of loose and porous tex.
1ure, flannel is capable of absorbing the Gu.
taneous exhalations 10 larger extent than
any other material in common use. In
some very delicate constitutions, it proves
even too irritating to the skin; but in such
cases, fine feecy hosiery Will in general be
easily borne, and will greatly conduce to the
preservation of health. Many are in the
custom of waiting till winter has fairly set
in before beginning to wear flannel. This
is great error in a variable climate like
ours, especially when the constitution is not
robust. 1t is during the sudden changes
from heat and cold, which are SO common
in autumn, before the frame has got Injured
to the reduction Of temperature, that pro-
teclion is most wanted, and flannel is most
useful.
The advantages Of flannel as prcscr-
vative from disease in warrl as well as IN