The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1871-03-23
HINTS ON HEALTH.
Fact. About Clothing and shoea.


organ from the injurious action of sud-
den changes of temperature. Of all
terrestrial animals man is the most
scantily supplied with natural protec-
ton. The necessity for artihcially
maintaining the animal temperature is
thus forcibly put by DR.. Evory Kennedy
"Strange as it may appear, clothes
are used equally in cold climates to re-
tain the natural heat, and in warm eli
mates to isolate the body from the sur
rounding highly elevated atmosphere
and burning rays of the tropical sum-"
Between the layers of clothes there
are strata of air kept at equable tenn
perature, which but slowly conduct al
terations in it from within or without
and as they are confined by the dress,
they do not freely allow of the admission
of colder air. 1t is for this reason that,
in going from warm room into the
cold, we should put on our extra cloth
ing some time previously, so as to heat
this protective stratum of air, which is
actually non conductor.
Linen, which is so great favorite in
temperate climates, is an Objectionable
material for dress on account of its high
conducting and radiating powers, in
consequence of which it feels cold and
does not freely distribute heat. 1t is
also attractive of moisture, which it re-
tains, and thus keeps a damp instead of
a dry medium around the skin.
In warm climates cotton or thin wool
ems are entirely substituted for linen
garments, and the only objection to
them is their rougher surface, which &C.
casionally irritates sensitive skins. Not
withstanding this objection, which habit
will overcome, there is no other medium
so fitted for a variable climate as this,
since it preserves the warmth of the
body during great cold, and prevents
the conduction of intense heat.
When linen is put on perspiring
skin, the moisture passes through 1t,
and, evaporating, still produces cold.
Flannel, on the contrary, absorbs the
moisture and gives out heat. Its non
conducting power is clearly useful on
the cold winters day. The wearing OF
flannel shirts, or those of merino, which
contains about one-third of cotton, dur
ing winter or summer, is SO usual in
England as to realize Bherhaave's max
i'm, that winter clothing should be taken
off at the end of midsummer's day only
to put it on the following morning.
Wohllens, however, should be more fire.
quently washed, as they absorb so much
perspiration. r.....
Since the more general adoption OF
flannel underclothing the number OF
deaths by bronchial complaints is very
much lessened. John Hunters receipt
for rearing healthy children was plenty
of milk, plenty of sleep, and plenty OF
flannel" 1t has been stated ON reliable
authority that wooden clothing is pre-
ventive of malaria. Flannel drawers
reaching high on the abdomen, and a
long flannel shirt, so that two layers
may cover that region, are regarded as
great safeguard against cholera.
The color of dress is important. This
was demonstrated by Benjamin Frank
lin. He placed pieces of various colored
cloths on the surface of snow, and found
in a given time that the snow under the
black was most melted, that under the
white the least. From this can be
judged the proper shades for winter and
summer wear.
Waterproof clothing, made, for in
instance, of India-rubber, should be
avoided as checking perspiration. Thi;
is illustrated by Breschet's experiment
He shaved rabbits and coated them with
impermeable varnish, and found tina,
they perished in an hour or two of colo
and suffocation.
Competent authorities have suggested
that the reason gout so often attacks the
feet is that their natural cutaneous &C
ton is impeded by the boot or shoe now
in use, stating also that among the Ro
mans these parts were less often affected
as the sandals only partly covered them
Such covering for the foot, though no
permissible by the fashion of the day
is undoubtedly the most natural, as i
will allow free perspiration for thu
foot, and render frequent washing
needful.
The Countess de Noailles has lately
written an able APOLOGY for Bar'
Feet" in which she contends that if tn,
wretched boots the poorer children weal
were cast away, the feet and ankles
would become stronger, would be KEEP
cleaner, and there would be much les
liability to colds and to illness among
girls.
DIR. John Brown, the we'll -knowI
author, remarks that Z" it is amazing tn,
misery the people of civilization endur,
in and from their shoes. Nobody i
ever, as they should be, comfortable a
once in them; they hope in the lons
run, and after much agony, and whel
they are nearly done, to make them fit
especially if they can. get them ono
we'll wet. Frederick the Great kept al
aide-de-camp to wear his shoes till h
could put them on, but he sometimes
wore them too long, and got kicking
for his pains.
The square-toed boot and those witt
the inner edge straight, not curved in
wards, are the most natural, as they al
low the expansion of the toes-a matte
seldom allowed for by bootmakers, es
pecially as they measure the foot whel
lifted from the ground. Great comfor
is often obtained by having a last care
fully shaped for oneself. 1t is said tina
the Duke of Wellington, being ques
toned as to the most essential requisit
for soldiers clothing, replied, "a goo
pair of Shoes" What next? "a spar
pair of good Shoes" and even thirdl,
"a spare pair of soles." Most men ca
speak with bitter recollection of tigl
and ill-fitting boot; how completely
has destroyed their pleasure in tn
brightest scenes of enjoyment. and no
it has unhinged them both mentally an
bodily.
We remark, in conclusion, that
both the extremes of life, when hea