Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1865-1872, 1867-01-18
Dress as a Cause Of Disease.

In this age, when dress occupies so much
of the attention of society, the influence
Of costume on the bodily condition be-
comes an important matter Of inquiry.
Improper modes of dress, whether ex-
cessive or Inadequate, are fertile sources
of disease, and also, aggravate an abhor-
NAL state of the system by whatever cause
produced. If in our desire to keep the
body warm we overload it with layers of
thick, closely y-woyen fabric, and thus rro-
duce an undue heat at the surface, the ef-
feet is TO suppress the action of the excre-
tory glands, and prevent free perspira-
tion. The vi;iated matter which is thus
retained is reabsorbed by the skin and
carried back into the system, rendering
the blood impure, and deranging the deli
cate machinery of the glandular structure.
Air and light are absolutely necessary for
the healthy activity of the vehicles of the
skin. and those articles of clothing which
prevent the admission Of those two great
vital agents, are entirely unfit for use.
AS free circulation of the blood to 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
manner as in the least to obstruct or re-
tard its flow. Tight boots, shoes or gloves
are therefore detrimental Cold extremi-
ties, painful humors, swellings and callos-
ties are generally the result of such liga-
tnres.
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 Sc
cretory and excretory organs, and the mat
ter which should be discharged from the
system is thrown back into the throat,
lungs or bowels, occasioning those forms
of disease commonly called ''cold, "head-
ache," "catarfh, "diarrhca," &c.
A change of dress from thick to thin is
not beneficial unless accompanied by
corresponding change in climate or tenn
perature. A fashionable lady after wear
ing thick, igh-nccked dress all day, will
sometimes array herself in low necked at
tire for an evening party. Such an i'm
prudent change has frequently been fol-
lowed by sudden death. Head cover
ings at the present day are evidently worn
by ladies for display and not for comfort;
and we are not surprised when we hear
this or that one complain Of "such distress
in the head or 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-a prac-
ticc most unnatural, aud therefore most
dangerous to health. Does any one doubt
the prevalence of this custom, let him con-
suit the fashion plates in any popular la
dies magazine. How women, servilely
obedient to the suggestions of their dress
maker, or else grossly ignorant Of the frst
principles of health, have squeezed them
selves to death, the great day of account
only will disclose. The record must be
appalling, and yet the suicidal work goes
on. The compression of the waist him
ders, if it does not altogether suspend, the
action of the diaphragm, and weskens the
muscles Of respiration and the power
Of digestion. The heart, liver, lungs,
spleen and stomach, being forced into a
space much too small for the proper per-
tormance Of their respective functions, are
weakened, and if the compression is con.
tinued, become diseased; consumption en-
sues, and the mistaken deyotee of bar
baruus fashion sinks swiftly into an early
grave.
Oh, ye who sigh for the deformity of
waspish shape, consider the faultless con.
10 cf hat Il n h.
Venus de Medics, 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 ike that in New York
City, where there are sometimes sudden
transitions from heat to cold, aud from
wet TO dry, it is hardly safe to dress in
slight manner, unless it be in midsummer,
when atmospheric changes are least fire.
quent. The most prevailing complaint
among people Of all classes. is rheuma-
tisnl, disease WHICH in every instance is
the consequence Of exposure TO a sudden
chill. No clothing Of any kind should be
worn in moist state, especially while the
person is inactive aud care should bc ta-
ken that the feet are properly shod, not
with "snugly fitting boots or shoes of
kid glove consistency, but those that are
thick-soled, substantial and amply large,
so that tho blood can circulate to the very
toes, and a comfortably thick stocking can
DO worn without any sensation Of con-
straint.
Ia the matter Of dress, moro attention
should be given to comfort than to style,
and twill be usually found that they who
dress neatly and in conformity with ma
turc's laws, are the best dressed, and GER
tainly the most sensiblc.-[ Halls Journal
of Health.