The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1855-11-30
WEARING OF FLaNNELS

flannels next to the skin, from the work on
Physiology, recently published by NJ. Ia
Borde, NJ. d., a Professor in South Carolina
College:
There is very importan: matter connected
with dress, which | cannot pass over in ST.
lence: mean the wearing of flannel next the
skin. In the minds of many persons there is
a considerable prejudice against wearing it,
though of late years there is sounder public
opinion than formerly. will now state very
briefly the advantages of flannel, and give
some striking examples in confirmation. In
the first place, it is n bad conductor of caoric,
and tends, therefore, to prevent the escape of
animal heat. Secondly, it aids largely in
protecting the body against the influences of
sudden changes in the weather. BY prevent
ing rapid escape of the animal heat and by
the gentle friction Of the skin and the slight
irritation Of the general snrface, its tendency
is to keep up an equible temperature. The
gentle friction aids in maintaining the circu-
lNtion in the cutaneous vessels, and at the
same time mparts healthful stimuIous to
the nerves. That it contributes no little to
these ends may be readily perceived by OBJ
serving the change of temperature and other
tion by the hand or in any other way. know
that the irritation produced by flannel is so
great in some persons that they cannot wear
it next the skin. When it is worn loosely,
as it should always be done, this friction must
take place to n considerable extent, in every
movement of the body. have to add, as
another advantage, that there is no other ma
terial which absorbs so well the exhalatons
from the skin. This fact very naturally sug.
gests n frequent change of flannel or its
thorough ventilation at night; the former
however, is tc be preferred.
Much difference of opinion exists as to the
time when flannel should be put on and taken
of, and here | think a great error is often
committed. With very many it is period of
severe and dangerous trial. with not few it
should be worn through all the year, and this
is the class of persons who stand most in
need of it. 1t is a mistake to suppose that
the wearer Of flannel in the hot months ne
ceSSarily suffers more from heat than others.
have heard many persons declare from per-
sonal experience that it is not so, and my own
experience is to the same effect. Generally,
lighter article should be substituted during
the summer season. Most persons conceive
it unnecessary to wear it throughout the year,
and now the question comes up when should
the change Of apparel be made. Boorhaave,
in alludlng to the dangers and difficulties by
which the subject is surrounded, was in the
haoit of saying that we ought to put off our
winters clothing on midsummer's day and
put ii on the day after Lydenham remarks
that the giddy practice of throwing aside our
under garments in the spring and exposing
our bodies when overheated to sudden cold,
has destroyed more than famine, pestilence
and the sword. | am satisfied that very
prevalent error with us at the South is to
take it off too soon and put it on too late
Our spring and autumn are marked by great
and sudden changes and vicissitudes, and
particularly the former. Volney was so struck
by the fact, that he says in the United States
there is no spring. To persons Of feeble con-
stitutions, the transition from winter to sum.
mer, and again from summer to winter, es-
pecaIy when fluctuating, and marked by no
steady and regular progress, is extremely try.
ing, and the greatest caution, therefore, should
be observed at these periods. know many
persons of the highest intelligence, who post
pone putting on their fannels to the longest
possible period, believing that it is just so
much gained and accordingly the winter is
far advanced before it is done. Instead of
mischief being prevented by timely resort
to it, the most serious consequences are often
produced by this unwise postponement. 1t is
against the first impressions of cold upon the
skin that we are specially TO guard; when the
winter has fairly set in, and the skin has be.
come habituated to it, there is less danger
If had to fix period in our latitude for
putting on flannel, would say in September,
and for taking it off, about the middle OF May.
OF course these periods ere liable to be effect
ed by circumstances.
proceed now to give more particularly the
proofs of experience as exhibited in the re-
corded testimony of eminent men, who have
enjoyed the best opportunities for forming
correct opinions on the subject. There is such
a host of witnesses from the ranks of physi-
clans and others, that it would seem almost
individious 20 make n selection. / will,
however, mention two or three, assuring the
reader that the utility of wearing flannel next
the skin, is now almost universally conceded
by those who know most about the matter,
and that it is insisted upon in the British army
and navy. That the health of the soldier is
protected by it, alike in warm as well MS in
cold climates, is abundanty proved by Sir
james McGregor, Captain Murray, Sir John
Pringle, Sir George Balngale, Rush, and
Others. The testimony of Captain Murray,
as given by Combc, is very striking. Upon
his return from two years service among
the icebergs Of the coast of Labrador, he was
ordered to sail Immediately for the West
Indies. Having had great experience Of the
advantages of flannel, he ordered the purser
to draw two extra flannel shirts and drawers
for each man, and instituted regular daily
inspection to see that they were worn. He
carried with him a crew of one hundred and
fifty men, visited almost every island in the
West Indies and many of the ports Of the
Gulf of Mexico, and Notwithstanding the sud-
den transition from extreme climates, return
ed to England without the loss of man, or
having any sick on board at the time of his
arrival.
Rush, in n note to his edition of Pringle,
SAYS that the utility of flannel worn next the
skin was observed in several instances in the
Revolutionary army of the United States. No
one of the officers who was thus clad was
at the siege of Savannah, and no
one escaped sickness who was not provided
with this internal covering. He remarks
further, that the troops from Wyoming, Penn.
syvania, who wore flannel shirts next their
skin, were rarely seen in military hospitals.
To this testimony will only add, that the
most useful class among us, the Irish laborer,
who bitches and drains our lands, and per.
forms so much of the hard work upon our
is closed throughout the year with
4 red flannel shirt, and that when his habits
lre not very bad, he enjoys n remarkable ex-
nmntion from disease.