The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1865-12-28
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DRESS AZ "A CAUSE EOFDlHEASE
Valuable lIIFOFmstIonsfor ThOse who
APpreciate Good HehItll.-- ChanEeS
OfDreaa 70 be ReEaFdedi. i5.i, 40 II :.
In this age, when dress occupies so
much of the attention OF society, the in
huence of costume on the bodily condi-
ton becomes an important matter of
d Improper. modes of dress, whether
excessive or Inadequate, are fertile
sources of disease, and also aggraVate
an abnormal slate Of the system by
whatever cause produced. If in our
load it with layers of thick, closely
woven fabric, and thus promote anTun-
due heat at the surface, the effect is to
suppress the action of the excretory
glands and prevent free Precipitation.
The vitiated matter which lis thus re-
tanned is reabsorbed by the skin and,
carried back into the sYstem, rendering
The blood impure and derangfng the
delicate Cmechanism Of the. glandular
structure. Air and light are absolutely
necessary for the healthy activity of the
vesieIes Of the skin, and those articles
of clothing which prevent the admis-
sion of these two great vital agents are
entirely unfit for use.
Asa free circulation of the blood 10
all parts of the human body is requisite
to the enjoyment of perfect health, so
no part OF the body should be dressed
in such a manner as in the least to OBJ
struct or retard its flow. Tight. boots,
shoes, or gloves are therefore cetrimen-
tai. Cold extremities, painful humors,
swellings and fcalosities are generally
the results Of such 1igatures.
insufficient clothing is much worse
than too much. The effect of exposure
to cold is the Immediate contraction of
the skin, which suSpends the operation
of the secretory. and excretory organs,
-and the matter which should be, dis
charged from the SYSTEMS thrown back
into the throat, lungs, or bowels, occa-
sioning those forms of disease which
are COMMONLY called "eoId," "head-
ache, y "catarrh, . nCiarrhea, )" etc.
A change of dress from thick to thin
is not beneficial unless accompanied by
n corresponding. change in climate or
wearing aothick high-necked dress all
day, will sometimes array herself in
some light loWTnecked attire for an
evening party. Such an! imprudent
change has sfrequently been followed by
asudden deathg Head-coverings ut the
present day are evidently worn by Ia
dies for display, and not for comfort !;
and we nre not surprised when we hear
this or that one complain of "such dis
ltreSS in the headn or 5"neuralgia," A
hat, to afford real protection to the head
should be large enough to cover the
greater part of it, and at the same time
be comfortably warm, but not so heavy
as to fatigue the wearer after half an
hours use.
But the: most serious feature in the
dress of American ladies is tight lacIng,
practice most unnatural and there
fore most dangerous to health. Does
any one doubt the prevalence of this
plates in any popular ladies' magazirie..
How many women, servilely obedient
to the suggestions of their dressmaker.
or else grossly ignorant of the first
principles of health, have squeezed
themselv lves'to death, the great day of
account only will discl6set The record
must be appalling, and yet the suicidal
work goes on. The compression of the
waist hinders, if it does not altogether
suspend, the action of the gdiaphraUnl.
and Yeakens themuscles of respiration
and the power of digestion. The heart,
liver, lungs, spleen, and stomach being
forced into space much too small for
the proper performance of their res
pective functions are weakened, and if
the compression is continued, become
diseased; consumption ensues, and the
mistaken devotee of aEbarbarous fash.
ion sinks swiftly into an early grave.
OH ye who sigh for the deformitY of
contour of that chef-d'oeuvre of scuIp-
ture, the Venus de Medicis, and strive
to develop your attenuated bodies
into the beautiful proportions of the
well-grown woman.
OF course the entire dress should be
adapted to the climate and season of
the year. In climates like that of New
York city, where there are sometimes
transitions from heat TO eoldgand from
wet to dry, it is hardly safe to dress in
slight manner, except It be in midi
summer, when. atmospheric changes
are least frequent. The most prevail
ing complaint among people of all
cldsses is rheumatism, a disorder which
in;every instance is the consequence of
exposure to IA sudden chin. No CLOTH
ing Of any kind should be worn in n
moist state, especially while the person
is inactive; and care should be taken
that the feet are properly shod, not with
"snugly fitting" boots or shoes of a kid
glove consistency, but enVeloped with
those that are thick k-soled, SO that the
blood can circulate to- the ,yerv foe tins
and a comfortably thick stocking car,
be worn without any sensation OF con-
stfaint.
a custom very much In vogue, if not
universal among ladies is, when cnIlinp
on acquaintance or attending church.
service, to'sit an hour or two nj a close
lYroomS without laying aside a sftlple ar
ticle of their outdoor clothing. This
custom is most unhealthy one, espe-
cially in cold weather. Gentlemen upon
tgolng IN out OF the cold usually Law
aside their hats and overcoats, but deli
! cate females will sit in sitting ntmos-
iPhere, PerspirfngT beneath fnfs, muf-
Iihers, cloaks, and hats for an hour and
! half and when they go out into the
sharp frosty air, it strikes a chill
through their heated and semi-humid
garments. "A sense of propriety or a
regard for one'ashealth should prevail
over the talseEand siclSly whims of
usage, and women should wear such
over-garments as can be- easily laid
aside when going from acold into a
warm atmosphere. s3
The fashion of 'high-heeled shoesp is
one 20 bedepreeated, because when the
heel is raised above the level Of the
ball OF the foot, complete derangement
takes place in the muscles OF the loco
motion; the natural balance of. the
body is thus lost, and the motion and
power otthe limbs impaired. Besides,
the foot IS pushed forward into thelnar-
row part OF the shoe, rendering the
owner liable to the excrutiating Sriev-
anee OF corns and other more serious
sympathetic affections. s'Reep the feet
war and the head cool, !" rs a homeIy
precept, but one which, if indicionsly
observed, would greatly promote health.
OF course we should not infer from this
maxim that the head is to be .want6nly
| fromaundnly exciting the brain and
nervous system. q ffe79fi''' l'i-ii'.t. =
Il In the matter of dress, more attention
lshould be given to comfort than to stVLe.
and ii wilDbe usually found that they
who dress neatly, and in conformity
with natures laws, are the best dressed,
] and certainly the most SenSibly.s =