Buchanan County bulletin and guardian. (Independence, Iowa) 1866-1869, 1867-02-26
Dress-Tac Causes Of Disease.

influence Of costume ON the bodily con
dition becomes an important matter
OF inquiry.
Improper modes Of dress, whether
excessive or inadequate, are fertile
sources Of disease, aud also aggrayate
an abnormal state Of the system by
whatever cause produced. Ii By Our
desire to keep the body warm we over
load it with layers Of thick, closely
woven fabric, and thus produce an un-
due heat at the surface, the eifectis 10
suppress the action OF the excretory
glands, and prevent free prespria-
ton. The vitiated matter which is
thus retained is re-absorbed by the
skin, and:ear AND Ev Ees..o 2 =
rendering the bic ). impure, aaa de-
ranging the delic machinery cf the
,,landnIar struc' re. An 2rl light
are absolutely necessary for the heal
thy activity Of the vehicles Of the
skin, and those articles of clothing
which prevent the admission Of those
two great vital agents, are entirely IN
tit for use.
AS free circulation of the blood to
all parts of the human body is requi-
site to the enjoyment ofpcriect health
so no part Of the body should be dress
cd il such a manner as in the least to
obstruct or retard its flow. Tight
boots, shoes or gloves are therefore
detrimental. Cold extremities pain
fll huno:s, swcIlings and cel!osities
are generally the result Of such liga-
lures.
insufficient clothing is much worse
than too much. The effect of expos
ure to cold is the immediate contrac-
ton Of the skin which saspends the
operation Of the secretory and excrc-
tory organs, and the matter which
should be discharged from the system
is thrown back into the throat, lungs,
or bowels, oecasioning those forms of
disease commonly called :. cold, head
ache, catarrh, diarrhea," &c.
A change of dress from thick to
thin is not beneficial unless accompa-
MED by corresponding change in eli
mate or temperature. A fashionable
laby after wearing thick, high-neck
dress all day, viii sometimes array
herself in low-necked attire for an
evening party. Such an imprudent
change hps frequently been followed
b. sudden death. Head coverings
at the present day are evidently worn
by ladies for display and not for COM
fcrt; and we are not surprised when
we hear this or that enc complain OF
"such distress in the head or " neu-
ralgia." A hat to afford real protec-
ton to the head, should be large
enough to cover the greater part of it
and ct the same time to be comtorta.
bly, warm, but not SO heavy as to IA
tigue the wearer after half an hours
use.
But the most serious feature in the
dress of American ladies is tight lac
ing-a practice most unnatural, and
therefore most dangerous to health.
Does any one doubt the prevalence of
this custom. let him consult the fash
plates in any popular ladies' maga-
zine. How women, servilely obedient
to the suggestion Of their dress-maser,
or else grossly ignorant Of the first
principles of health, have squeezed
themselves to death, the great day OF
account only will disclose. The rec
ord must be appalling, and yet the
suicidal work goes on. The compress
sioD of the waist binders, if it does
not altogether suspend, the action Of
| the diaphragm, and weakens the mus
cles OF the respiration and the power
of digestion. The heart, liver, lungs.
spleen and stomach, being forced into
a pace much too small for the proper
performance OF their respective func-
tions are weakened. and if the COM
preston is continued, become diseas-
cd; consumption ensues, and the mis-
| taken devotee OF barb fashion
sinks swiftly into an early grave.
Oh, We who sigh for the delormity
of waspish shape, consider the fault
less contour of that chef d'ocucre OF
sculpture, the Venus dc Medicis, and
strive to develop your attenuated
bodies into the beautiful proportions
of the we'll grown woman.
OF course the entire dress should be
adapted TO the climate and season of
the year. In climates like that in
New York city, where there are some
times sudden transitions from heat To
cold, and from wet to dry, it is hardly
safe to dress in Slight manner, unless
it be in midsummer, when atmospher-
lie changes are less frequent. The
most prevailing complaint among peo
pie OF all classes is rheumatism, dis
sease which, i'll every instance, is the
consequence of exposure to 4 sudden
chill. No clothing of any kind should
/ be worn in moist state, espec. ally
while the persoa is inactive; and care
should be taken that the feet are
properly shod, not with "snugly fit
ins" boots or sloas Of a kid glove con-
sistency, but those that are thick-sol-
ed. substantial and amply large so
that the blood can circulate to the
very toes. and a comfortably thick
stocking can be worn without any
sensation of restraint.
In the matter of dress more a'ten-
tion should be given 10 comfort than
to stsle, and it will be usually found
tina: they who dress neatly and in
conformity with natures laws are the
best dressed. and certrinly the most
sensible.
.
| Do WEEDS EMI6RATE WITH a PEo-
PIE. is the substance Of letter from
Double" They do just as far as
the people takes the seeds of weeds
with them. The more civilized the
people, the more agricultural and
other seeds they would take from
their old home. and thus sow many
weeds with their first crop Besides,
the seeds Of weeds will be taken in