The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1871-09-14
Dangers of Inappropriate Clothing.

Dangers Of Inappropriate Clothing.
A considerable part of all sickness and loss
of life may be traced (if we go back to ulti-
often, perhaps as to inappropriate food we
will not say as often as to inappropriate drink,
as the latter alone undoubtedly carries off more
human victims than any other cause OF disease
and death.
Inappropriate clothing is, first, clothing out
of season; insufficient in quantity and Quality
during cold weather, uncomfortable by too
great quantity and wrong quality in hot wealth
er. With insufficient clothing in cold weather,
the animal heat must be kept up at the ex-
pense of portion of the food which otherwise
would be utilized for nutrition; and it is well
known that, in order to make animals prosper
in cold weather. they must be kept warm..
Too warm clothing in summer produces ex-
cessive perspiration, causing weakness and the
rapid cooling of the body incident to sudden
removal of superfuous garments renders the
wearer liable to serious sickness.
The popular notion of the injurious effect OF
sudden changes in temperature Is erroneous, as
experience proves in regard to those who by
their vocation are exposed in this way. Pro-
longed exposure to too great heat produces
serious arrangement in the portal system, de-
fective digestion, diarrhea, or even sunstroke !;
while prolonged exposure to cold, so as to cool
the body, causes either rheumatism, neuralgia,
cough, catarrh, pleurisy, OF some other result
of Catching cold," in accordance with the pre-
disposition of the person; his weakest part
will suffer, whether it be lungs. digestion, ner-
vous system, muscles, or any other OF the won o.
derful mplex aggregate which constitutes the
human body.
This notion of the usefulness of gradually
cooling off, has, when catried into practice,
often Injurious results it is we'll enough to be
governed by it when overheated; but we have
seen young ladies, preparatory to sleigh-r ride,
leave the comfortable fire in the room, and go
in the cold hallway to cool off, so as not to
move too suddenly from the warmth into the
cold air of the street The result was, that
when they reached the sleigh they were almost
benumbed with cold, and became so thoroughly
cooled during the ride that the results showed
themselves in severe colds; while those who
kept near the fire, stored up as much heat as
they could, and then wrapped themselves we'll
up in their winter outfit, returned with health
increased by the inyigorating power of the cold
air.
But there are other points in appropriate
clothing to be observed, besides those of being
adapted to heat or cold, and which arc also
too much neglected, principally by females.
1t is forgotten that every feeling of discomfort
is an indication of nature of impending injury
to the system; if persisted in till one "gets ac-
customed to it." as the phrase goes, then it is
erroneously supposed that there is no more
danger. Many injure their health, producing
dyspepsia etc, by not wearing suspenders !.
but, in place of this, have certain portions OF
their clothing kept in place by being adjusted
above their hips by being simply close fitting
This produces pressure on stomach and liver
which begets series of troubles, from which
many sensible and honest physician has re-
lieyed scores of patients by no other remedy
than advice according to the principles stated.
In regard to females this habit of pinching the
waist is a crying evil about which so much has
been said that it is unnecessary to add any
thing except the declaration that we join our
voice in protest against it.
A great deal could be said concerning the
choice of appropriate clothing for those ennga-
ged in different pursuits of life, A badly adap-
ted suit of clothes may not only be dangerous
to health but even destructive to life, and often
the means of sudden death. In machine-shops
where there is running gear, the operatives
should have no other but close-ftting dress,
without unnecessary appendages; there are
scores of instances where q part OF q coat was
caught by belt, axle, or any other part OF the
machinery In this respect the female dress
with its long skirts is i'll adapted, as it is con-
tinual source of danger, not only from moving
machinery, but from fire. A short time ago,
the dresses of two ladies were caught by re-
volying shaft on board of a steamboat, and
both were killed before the machinery could be
stopped; while quite recently woman en-
ploSyeed in Jersey City factory was in similar
way shockingly mutilated, as the motive power
in this case came from a neighboring block;
and could not be stopped until after long de-
lay. 1t is now exactly ten years ago that
young, promising steam engineer, in one Of the
principal buildings of New York City, was
iubricating long shaft near the ceiling, which
communicated power from his eng inc to anoth.
er portion of the building, when the points OF
his long, flowing silk necktie, were caught
around the shaft and he was strangled before
the cravat gave way. :,
We mention these eases, which might easily
be multiplied, as serious warnings; and wish
to impress upon our readers who are engaged
in work among moving machinery the great
necessity of having properly adapted clothing
-Manufacturer and Builder.
c-... - n.ep oD EENAIE ADVENTURE.