Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1871-04-13

NEXT in importance to a thoroughly
clean skin Is the preservation OF that organ
from the injurious action Of sudden
changes of temperature OF all terrestrial
animals man is the most scantily supplied
with natural protection. The necessity for
artficially maintaining the animal TEN.
perature Is thus forcibly put by DR.. Evory
Kennedy: - .-., .t....
"Strange as 1t may appear, clothes are
used equally in cold climates To retain the
natural heat, and in warm climates TO
isolate the body from the surrounding
highly elevated atmosphere and burning
rays of the tropical SUM-"
Between the layers of clothes there are
strata of air kept at equal temperature,
which but slowly conduct alterations in 1t
from within or without; and Us 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 a
warm room into the cold, we should put
on our extra clothing some time previous
ly, so as to heat this protective stratum
Of air, which Is actually non conductor.
Linen, which is 50 great favorite in
temperate climates, is an Objectionable ma
terial for dress, on account of its high con-
Quoting and radiating powers, in conse-
quence Of which it feels cold and does not
freely distribute heat. 1t Is also attractive
Of moisture, which it retains, and thus
keeps a damp instead Of q dry medium
around the skin.
In warm climates, cotton or thin woolens
are entirely substituted for linen garments,
and the only objection to them is their
rOugher surface, which occasionally irri-
tates sensitive skin. Notwithstanding this
objection, which habit will overcome,
there Is no other medium so fitted for a
variable climate as this, since 1t 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, eyap-
| Grating, still produces cold. Flannel, on
the contrary, absorbs the moisture and
gives out heat. Its non.conducting power
is clearly useful on the cold wintry's day.
The wearing Of flannel shirts, or those OF
merino, which contains about One-tbird OF
cotton, during the winter or summer, Is 30
usual in England as to realize Boerhaaves
maxim, that winter clothing should be
| taken off at the end of mids,immer's day
only to put it on the following morning.
| WOolens, however. should be more fire.
quently washed, as they absorb so much
Since the nd be general adoption of fan
mel underclothlhg the number Of deaths by
bronchial complaints is very much less.
ened. 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 q preventive Of malaria.
Flannel drawers reaching high on the
abdomen, and long flannel shirt, 80 that
two layers may cover that region, are re.
garded ~ great safeguard against cholera.
The color Of the dress II important. This
was demonstrated by BENJAMIN Franklin.
He placed pieces " various colored cloths
on the surface of snow, and found In .
given time that the Snow under the black
was most melted, thst under the white the
least. From this can be judged the proper
shades for winter and summer wear. ~
Waterproof clothing, made, for in
stance, Of Indisrubber, should be avoided
as checking Precipitation. This il illus.
trsted by Breschet's experiment. He
shaved rabbits and coated them with inn
permeable varnish, and found that they
persisted In an hour or two Of cold and suf-
location. nEtB 5fs! t8tst I.
Competent authorities have suggested
that the reason govt 30 often attacks the
feet Il that their natural cutaneous action
IL impeded by the boot or shoe now in use,
stating also that among the Romans these
parts were lees often affected, - the san
dals only partly covered them. Such .
covering FOR the foot. though mot peImls-
sible By the fAshion a The day, II undpubt-
emily the most natural e i viii allow. Z