Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1871-04-05
Hints on Health.

temperature. OF all terrestrial animals
man is the most scantiy supplied with nat
ural protection The necessity for arti6 cially
maintaining the animal temperature is thus
forcibly put by DIR. Evory Kennedy:
Strange as it 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 ele'
waited atmosphere and burning rays of the
tropical SUM-
Between the layers of clothes there are
strata of air Kept at equable temperature,
which but slowly conduct alteration in it
from within or without and as they are con-
fined 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 in :
to the cold, we should put on our extra
clothing some time previously so as to heat
this protective stratum of air, which is act
ually non conductor.
Linen, which is so great favorite in tenn
perate 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 dis
tribute heat 1t is also attractive of mois-
ture, which it retains, and thus keeps a
damp instead of 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 rough
er surface, which occasionally irritates SEN
| sitive skins. Notwithstanding this objec-
| tion, which habit will overcome, there is no
other medium SO fitted for 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 persriri1g skin,
| the moisture passes through it, and, cvapo-
rating, still produces cold. Flannel, on the
| contrary, absorbs the moisture and gives
out heat. Its non CONDUCTING power is clear
! ly useful on the cold winners day. The
wearing of flannel shirts, or those of meri
no, which contains about one-third of cot
ton, during winter or summer, is SO usual
in England is to realize Bherhaaves max
i'm, that winter clothing should be taken of
at the end of midsummer's day only to put
it on the following morning. Woollens,
however. should be more frequently washed
as they absorb SO much perspiratiol.
Since the more general adoption Of fan
mel undertaking the humber of deaths by
bronchial complaints is very much lessened
John Hunter $ receipt for rearing healthy
children was plenty of milk, plenty o!
sleep, and plenty of flannel" 1t has been
stated on reliable authority that wooler
clothing is preventive of malaria. Flan.
mel drawers reaching high On the abdomen,
and long flannel shirt. so that two layer:
may cover that region, are regarded as &
great safeguard against cholera.
The color of dress is important. Thi:
was demonstrated by Benjamin Franklin.
| He placed pieces OF various colored cloths
on the surface of snow. and found in giver
time that the snow under the black wa:
most melted, that under the white the least.
From this can be judged the proper shade:
| for winter and summer wear.
Water proof clothing, made, for instance,
of India rubber, should be avoided as check
ing perspiraton. This is illustrated by
Breschet's experiment He shaved rabbit:
and coated them with impermeable varnish
and found that they perished in an hour OIL
two of cold and sutfocation.
Competent authorities have suggested
that the reason gout so often attacks the fee
is that their natural cutaneous action is i'm
| peded by the boot or shoe now in use, sta
ting also that among the Romans these
parts were less often affected, as the sandal:
only partly covered them. Such covering
for the foot, though not permissible by the
fashion of the day, Is undoubtedly the mos
natural, as it will allow a free perspiratior
for the foot, and render frequent washing
needful.
The Countess de Noailes has lately writ
ten an able apology for Bare Feet. il
which she contends that if the wretchec
boots the poorer children wear were cast
away, the feet and ankles would become
stronger, would be kept cleaner, and there
would be much less liability TO colds, and tc
| illness among girls.
DR.. John Brown, the well known author
remarks that it is amazing the misery the
people of civilization endure in and from
their shoes. Nobody is ever, as they
should be, comfortable at once in them
they hope in the long run, and after much
agony, and when they are nearly done, tc
make them fit, especially if they can get
them once well wet. Frederick the Great
kept an aide de camp to wear his shoes till
he could put them on, but he sometimes
wore them too long, and got kicking fol-
his pains.
The square-toed boot and those with the
inner edge straight, not curved inwards are
the most natural as they allow the expan-
sion of the toes-a matter seldom allowed
for by bootmakers, especially as they measure
the foot when lifted from the ground. Great
comfort is often obtained by having last
carefully shaped for oneself 1t is said that
the Duke of Wellington, being questioned
as to the most essential requisite for sol
dier's clothing. replied, "a good pair of
shoes" What next? "A spare pair OF