Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1864-01-12
Healthfulness Of Woolens.
Paris, October 81, 1863

The most suitable clothing for our variable eli.
mate is a subject OF much importance to all. In
the last report of the National Agricultural De-
partment, there is an essay upon this topic, some
parts OF which we condense, with comments.
Wool being an excellent non-conductor Of heat,
It is very suituble as material for clothing. Sur
geons uniformly recommend it. Dr. Hall, in his
Journal OF Health, says =" ln winter and sum
mer nothing can be better worn next the skin
than loose, red wooden shirt; loose for il has
room to move on the skin, thus causing ttilli-
ton which draws the blood to the surface aud
keeps it there, and when this is the case no one
can take cold Cotton wool merely absorbs the
moisture from the surface OF the body while
wooden flannel conveys il from the skin and de-
poss it in drops outside Of the shirt, and by ex-
posure to the air is soon dried without injury to
the body. Having these properties red woolen
flannel is worn by sailors even in the midsummer
Of the warmest countries. The common observa-
ton Of all nations leads them to give their sailors
vooleu flannel shirts for all attitudes as the best
equazers of heal for the body.
10 the French "Annalesd' Hygiene" the follow.
ing remarks occur :-"Diseases Of the chest are
early contracted by exposure TO the cold without
sufficient clothing, The kreater portion OF the
children, from one to fifteen months old, who die
in winter, are killed by the cold, or diseases result
ting from cold TIE use of wooen clothing 10
winter is necessary for all, 81 least pbout the upper
larts OF the bod, aud even in summer the man,
who from his profession is con PEELED to work ia
damp places, aud is exposed to drafts. SHOULD not
wear light clothes. Wooden socks should every
where be adopted, for cold feet are almost always
the cause OF catching cold (canrrh )Aod an obsIi-
nate cough is known to cease from the exclusive
use OF this sort of clothing.
We have heard some persons say that their
feet have been kept as warm with cotton as with
woolen stockings and there are some persons
who cannot wear wooden funnel next the ska
without suffering from cutaneous irritation.
There ale exceptions to all general rules but
undoubtedly WOODEN ia mel affords the best cloth
ine to be worn next the skin in our variable oil
mate for at least inc months in the year. But
white flannel is just as good for shirts as colored
flannel The cause of Alnnel fulling and bec1m.
ing thick is owing to the rubbing which it ceiyes
in washing, and lllnnels OF all colors fullup VrlO
under similar treatment. All broadclolh dyed IN
the wool is fulled after It is colored. Flannels
should never be rubbed upon a wash.board. The
best way to wash flannel, is TO steep them in some
strong soap.suds TOR about half au hour, than
squeeze them between the hands for a short
period, rinse thoroughly in warm water, and hang
them out to dry without wringlng'
Wooen hlnnes are more extensively worn
now than heretofore by ladies and gentleman.
This is due IN great measure TO the very high
price Of cotton flannel, which is about 20 cents
per yard--the quality being the same os that
which sold for ten cents three years ago. Ladies'
fancy eolored pettic)ats-nncer the name OF
Balmorals (from Queen Vic oria's highland under
skirt style) )-are quite common, and some ofthem
are composed Of hne, soft and warm wool, very
suitable Tor our cold wut rs.- Scientific .fmoiean.