Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-12-27
WARM FEET.

A correspondent of the american d gri-
culturiSt furnishes that paper with the fol-
lowing remarks on warm feet, which re-
marks are admirably calculated for this lat
itude:
"To go with cold feet is 10 undermine the
constitution. and this half the women and
the girls are doing. They have habit of
cold feet and an accompanying habit of Ill
health. hick home knit woolen stockings
are not very fashionable. Once, no cOun-
try gIl was reckoned fl to be married un-
til she had knit her pillow-case full
of stockings, but it is not 50 now.
do not regret that less hand knitting is
d, ne now than formerly, but l hope we
shall not give up warm Woolen stockings
for winter until we can replace them
with something better Merino, or
the common "bOughten" white wool stock
ings are rather thin, but some of US supple
ment them with an additional pair of cot
ton stockings, wearing the cotton or the
Boslen pair Dext the fees, as individuals
prefer. Cold feet are often caused, at least
in part, by too light elastiCs or bands at the
tops of the stockings, or by tight shoes, or
shoes tight in the ankles. These interfere
with the circulation of the blood, and there
canDot be I comfortable degree Of warmth
without a good circulation and seration of
the blood. Ny last lesson in this matter
came from baby sexperienoe last September.
Suddenly she contracted habit Of having
cold feet, and when / warmed them he skin
seemed hart and inactive, suggesting the
need Of bath, when bath did not seem
necessary except for the feet. At length it
occurred to me that her "ankle-ties" had
been too loose; and just before we came
home from our visit young lady cousin
had set the buttons back farther, to make
the little slippers stay on better. Ever since
that change the slipper-straps haG been
too tight around her ankles, especially
after l had put on WOODEN stockings. l
changed the buttons again, a1d her feet
no longer got cold, except in conse-
o1ence Of the actual rigor of
the climate. Some wellinformed persons
object to Congress gaiters; che elastics are
usually so close and firm about the ankle.
Only very loose garters ara allowable, and
these may not be necessary when the stock
ings are worn over under-Crawers. Garters
in the shape of straps butiOning to both
wsist and stockings are most sensible for
women as well as children.
"Many women are obliged to work in
kitchens where the floors in winter are
always cold. 1t helps matters to have
carpet down, but the kitchen car
pet is Objectionable on the
score of cleanliness, especially where there
are many children. A few large thick
rugs are better. These can be
shaken often, aud will afford the kitchen
occupants warm places to stand or sit at
their work. There are some very cold days
when wear my arctic oVershoes all day,
and the children also keep on overShoes.
The floors of our houses are many degrees
colder than the air about our heads.
"One thing TOO little thought of in this
connection is absolutely essential to healthy
warmth Of the body. That is pure air.
Men who work in the open air some every
day have great advantage over housekeep-
ers. Their blood gets oxygenated, and so
purified Gas far as such s. degree Of air
can do it) and prepared IT, warm and nour
ish the body, for which the blood is the con-
slant up-builder. Everybody, male and fe-
male, old and young, ought to get out of
doors some every day, and breathe freely
with the mouth.
eThe air of sleeping rooms and other
living rooms should be purified each day.
keep brick or soapstOnes in the oven,
10 be wrapped up and put Under your feet
when you are Obliged to sit tor sometime at
4 distance from the fire, especially if you
are writing or studying"