Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1859, 1851-12-24
Colds, Wet Feet, &c,


mother, " the prevailing influenza" of the
more fastidious, ana "this internal horse
distemper that's about" of Mr.. Plain
spoken. Commencing on our first page,
will be found chapter on the topic, writ
ten in quite positive manner, and sug-
gestingseveral interesting thoughts, "foun-
ded on facts"
The arguments in favor Of temperance
in eating, and of inhsling pure, cold sir,
as much as possible, can not be and arc
not controverted by any school in medicine
or any close observer.
But the apparent proposition that wet
clothing, and more especially wet feet, arc
not injurious to the system, is 20 contrary
to common opinions and common sense,
that we must suggest several qualifications
to the statement of the writer Of the ar-
ticle quoted. 1t may be true Of the par
tieular classes referred to, but is not true
of al men, women, and children, in other
stations of life. As general thing, vet,
damp, cold feet, are an unfailing inde. or
source Of decaying health, and often
cause speedy death. The exceptions are
in the case Of those who from infancy are
subjected, with bare feet, to cold and wet,
as much as others hands are thus hardened;
and to those who survive these rigors, and
never favor their feet, such exposures may
seem comparatively Of no injury. So also
the hardy man who by moderate but con-
tinuous labor excites his blood to heat
which sends to every extremity Of the
system the genial glow of health, does not
while in that condition expose himself to
colds, (unless over-hested and over-exposed)
and can endure changes Of temperature
and long continued exposures to dangerous
influences, which to persons untitled by
laborious exercise for such trials, would
be injurious if not fatal 1t is universal
rule, that the harder and more robust a
people are, the better they can sustain the
fury Of the elements yet their being
able to sustain, year after year, what de-
stroys others, is no proof that it may not
be injurious even to them.
Persons also Of ordinary strength and
health, may be exposed to wet and storm,
and uh,le IN motion not suffer from il, bat
who, when still, and vixen the system be-
comes cool, would suffer from the very in
fuences which before were not at all hurt
ful. The observation Of many will con-
firm this assertion by numerous instances
in proof.
Warm springs never freeze, nor does
water in rapid motion: and so likewise
warm blood-blood in healthful, regular
to every extremity of the sys-
tem-will keep away "the cold" Stag
nant or languid waters are conquered by
frosts, and the indolent blood Of persons
who take too much food and too little reg
ular exercise, invites disease and death in
stead of resisting them.
"keep the head cool, and the feet
uorm," is the voice of all physicians and
the civilized world. And the un.utored
savage, however he msy expose hi, head
and body, takes pains always to eieep with
his feet to the fire, and feel. safe from dan
ger on the score Of health. So the lum-
herman and the surveyor, however much
they may have invigorated the system, and
enlivened the healthy How Of their blood
by exercise, still seek TO have their feet
dry and warm when they are not in motisn,
and find that when they are thus protected,
the whole system works we'll.
The proportion Of persons so circum-
stanced that wet feet are not injurious to
them, is very small indeed; and it is on
ly where the feet are hardened and fitted
by exercise, that it is ever safe to permit
them to become or remain wet To the
great proportion of the male population,
the women and children of our land, it is
a matter Of first importance that the feet
be kept warm and dry; and especially
that they never permit themselves to sit
down, motionle.s, with feet IN such con-
dition. As We before stated, while the
blood is in active motion from exercise of
any kind which effects that object, there
is little danger; but without that, there is
immense loss of health and life created.
No article of dress, therefore, is so import
ant-to men, women and children-as per-
fectly waterproof shoes or boots: and
with warm feet, lungs inhaling pure air,
and the blood manufacturing from a stom-
ach not overloaded with gross food, con-
slant exercise and clear conscience will
guarantee to every healthy constitution
long life and happy one.
parPeck & Bliss, Philad, have pub
lished % cts. History of Kossuth and
the Hungarian War, embracing also a