Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1868-08-07
SEASONABLE HINTS.

The intensely hot weather, succeeding
weeks chilling rains, comes with unusual
severity. People drop stricken with death
in the streets, they sink senseless as they
sit at their desks or tables, and are found
dead in their beds A few suggestions for
preserving life and health in such season
may not be amiss
First, the external condition of the body.
1t should be kept scrupulously Clean
Nightly bathing is almost a necessity. If
bath tub is not convenient, a sponge or bit
of linen or cotton cloth, with quart of
tepid water, is sufficient. The water should
not be cold spring, well, or aqueduct water
just drawn, but that which has stood for
twelve honrs of daylight to absorb oxygen
from the atmosphere. Better, perhaps, is
bath of warm water, as the reaction, after
toweling, produces coolness and invigorates
the body. Better take the bath after sup
per, before retiring, rather than in the
morning before eating, as it viii induce a
pleasant sleep, and bath whenthe stomach
is empty is anything but healthful, empires
to the contrary notwithstanding.
Still air is percepubly warmer than air in
motion although the thermometer may
register the same degree Of temperature in
both cases. The reason is that the currents
Of air bear away the effects of perspiration,
inducing more rapid evaporation from the
surface. For this reason the use of fans for
producing an artificial breeze has common
sense as well as custom to recommend it. a
rapidly evaporating liquid applied to the
exposed portions of the body induces local
and temporary GOODNESS. Aqua ammodia
(hartshorn) is excellent for this purpose. a
little Of this solution occasionally used on
the hands and face will, from its rapid
evaporation, carry of the perspiration and
leave the skin cool. As sold at the druggists
it is too strong; it should be diluted with
four volumes of water. For clothing, wear
some absorbent next the skin, thin or gauze
flannel: eschew linen or bleached cotton;
outside, these will do well enough. In the
hat wear a wisp of green, grass, cabbage
leaf, or damp towel, when going out to
brave the darts of fiery Sol. In the writers
experience as a campaigner in Virginia he
found this to be an excellent preventive Of
coup de solie when on the march, and COM
PEELED the practice by the men under his
command.
Eating and drinking should be regulated
in hotweather. In the winter one may eat
and drink almost everything he pleases; he
can digest almost anything. But when the
system is enervated by excessive heat it is
necessity to attend carefully to the quality
and quantity Of food and drink Fat meats,
solid farinaeeous food, as puddings and
bread of indian meal or wheat -four should
be Stunned. Fish, Holsters, clans, and
oysters are not desirable food. Fresh
vegetables and fruits, salted fish, meats,
and smoked hams are healthy. Pure ice
water is excellent: not, however, in large
quantities, but taken swallow at time.
The stomach does not need load of ice
cold water, only the mouth and throat need
lubricating. Drink slowly of ice water.
Cold coffee and tea are no better than cod
water, and iced milk is dangerous, as it is in
any form highly heating. After all,
however, any radical change ofhabit in eat
ing or drinking will prove to be worse than
useless. A very good substitute for stimu-
lants is cool drink made of Browns ex-
tract of ginger with iced water sweetened.
1t is both cooling and stimulating.
Keep your house cool by shutting out
during the day the external atmosphere.
Close the blinds and keep the doors shut
Open every aperture to your ehimneys and
the scuttle on the roof Thus you viii have
ventilation and at the same time diminish
the nuisance of flies. Sunlight is great
health inyigorator, but we can do without
it for the short heated period.
Above all, do net get excited, indulge in
no controversies, preserve calm exterior
and quiet mind. Have clear conscience
and courteous manner, and the sun shall
not smite thee by day, neither the moon by
night. "-Scientifc Anlaican.