The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1871-05-03
Hints on Health.
FACTS ABOUT CLOTHING AND SHOES

clean skin is the preservation of that
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 artifcially
maintaining the animal temperature is
needy:
Strange as it may appear, clothes
are used equally in cold climates to re-
tain the natural heat and in warm
climates to isolate the body from the
surrounding highly elevated atmos-
phere and burning rays Of the tropical
sun"
Between the layers of clothes there
are strata of air kept at equal tempera-
ture, which but slowly conduct altera-
tons 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 q favorite
in temperate climates, is an objection
able material for dress, on account of
it's high conducting and radiating
powers, in consequence of which it
feels cold and does not freely distri-
butte heat. 1t is also attractive of
moisture. which it retains, and thus
keeps damp instead of dry medium
around the skin.
In warm climates, cotton or thin
woollens are entirely substituted for
linen garments and the only objection
to them is their rougher service, which
occasionally irritates sensitive skin.
Notwithstanding this objection, which
habiewill 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 perspiring
skin, the moisture passes through it,,
and, evaporating, still produces cold.
Flannel, on the contrary, abs0rbs the
moisture and gives out heat. Its non
conductive power is clearly useful on
the cold winters day. The wearing
of flannel shirts, or those OF merino,
which contains about onc-third of cot
ton, during the winter or summer, is
so usual in England as to realize b.
erliaave's maxim, that winter clothing
should be taken off at the end of mid :
summers day only to put it on the
following morning. Woollens howe
yer, should be more frequently washed,
as they absorb so much perspiration.
Since the more general adoption of
flannel undertaking the number of
deaths by bronchial complaints is very
much lessened. John Hunters re-
ceipt for rearing healths children was
''plenty of milk, plenty of sleep, and,
plenty of flannel" 1t has been stated
on reliable authority that woollen
clothing is a preventive of malaria,
Flannel drawers reaching high on the
abdomen, and long flannel shirt, so
that two layers may cover that region
arc regarded as a great safeguard
] against cholera.
The color of dress is Important
This was demonstrated by Benjamin
Franklin. He placed pieces of vari-
Gus colored cloths on the surface of
snow, and found in 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
stance of India rubber, should be
avoided as checking perspiration.-
This is illustrated by Breschet's ex-
pertinent. He shaved rabbits and
coated them with impermeable var
nish, and found that they persisted in
an hour OF two of cold and snffoca-
ton.
| Competent authorities have ~sugges-
ted that the reason govt so often at
tacks the feet is that their natural
cntaneous action is impeded by the
boot or shoe now in use, stating also
that among the Romans these parts
were less often affected, as the sandals
only partly covered them. Such a
covering for the foot, though not per-
Missile by the fashion of the day, is
undoubtedly the most natural, as it
will allow free perspiration for the
foot, and render frequent washing
needful.
The Countless de Neville has lately
written an able "Apology for Bare
Feet" in which she contends that il
the wretched 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 to
illness among girls.
DR.. John Brown, the well-known
author, remarks that "it is amazing the
misery the people of civilization en-
dnre 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, to make
them fit, especially if they can get
them once well wet. Frederick the
Great kept an Addict Camp to wear
his shoes till he could put them on,
but he sometimes wore them too long,
and got kicking for his pains.
The square-tced boot and those
with the inner edge straight, not
curved inward, are the most natural,
as they allow the expan sion of the
toes-a matter seldom allowed for by
boot-makers, especially as they
measure the foot when lifted from the
ground. Great comfort is often OBJ
tanned by having a last carefully
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