The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1873-10-09
Relation of the Air to Closhing.


The following statements of general
interest are specially reliable, beingcon-
tanned in lecture by Professor Petten-
kofer, of Munich, whO is known as high
authority on such subjects Although
the warmth of the body is the result of
respiration, it is a singular fact that the
normal temperature of the blood of the
African is the same as that of the Esqui-
max, or about 993 degrees, while the air
surrounding them, and inhaled by them,
may differ as much as $50 degrees in
temperature /; neither does this temper
ature vary, in a state of health, more
than two degrees, though the tempera-
ture of the airmay vary p deg. Theheat
generated by the body in twenty-four
hours is sufficient to raise thirty quarts
of cold water to the boiIing-point and
of this the regular processes of nutri-
ton require only definite part, and the
larger portion must be givenoff through
radiation, evaporation, or eonduction.
When heat is lost by radiation, as insit-
ting near a cold window, or other cold
object, the impression of a draught may
be created, although the air beperfectly
calm, heat being simply given up to the
colder object. Thus, while the tenn
perature of a room may remainT con-
slant, different sensations may be expe-
rienced, dependent on the surrounding
objects. A much larger amount of the
superfuous heat is lost by evaporation
and during severe exercise, when more
heat is developed, evaporation is also
more rapid, and the normal temperature
of the blood restored. A "coId" is
caught when incorporation is too rapid.
But little heat is lost by conduction.
The particles of air in contact with the
body becomes warm, and are replaced by
colder ones, creating current, which is
insensible, because of less velocity than
three feet per second. In better CON
ductors cooling takes place more rapidly,
water of 61deg, ees seeming much colder
than air of 81 degrees. These three
modes of cooling, however, supplement
each other, and act together. Thus q
current of warm air cools more rapidly
than calm cooler air, not only by reason
of renewal of the air, but by favoring
evaporation. -
The chief object of clothingis to sur
round the body artifcially with a warm
climate, poor conductors being conse-
quently selected. The cooling process
IS however, simply checked by the cloth
ing. Even the thinnest, finest fabric, as
a veil, diminishes loss by radiation. But
the inclOsure of air is especially effec-
tive, and consequently garments of POI
rous heavy material are warmer than
those which are more compact. Felt
shoes, permeable to air, are warmer than
leather or india-rubber ones, while the
latter soon become uncomfortable because
of checked ventilation. The more n.y.
groscopic the material, the colder the
clothing, because it is a better eondue-
tor when moist. Linen and silk are for
this reason colder than wool, and also be-
cause the latter retains its elasticity when
moist, and keeps the air within its pores.
And our bed, which is, in fact, our sleep
ing garment, is of special interest. II
must be warmer than our waking cloth
ing, since less heat is developed during
sleep, Consequently loss of sleep is
very exhausting. The feath, r-bed pos.
sesses in the highest degree feeble con.
Quoting power, elasticity, and permea
bility to air; but, if too thick or soft
resembles more an air-tight garment
The house, too, may be regarded as al
extended piece of clothing, sogradual il
the transition from bodily garments to i
(the step from the wide garment of the
Arab to his felt tent being small one,
and, in hygienic functions, they agre,
precisely inregulating our relations with
the surrounding air. Theease with which
a current of air may be blown through
a bIiek, pieces of mortar, wood, ETC., b,
glass tubes cemented to opposite sides
and the passage of water $50 much den
ser) through these substances, show hov
in perfectly our walls, of whatever ma
terial, and however thick, exclude tn
air from us. We do not perceive tn
free passage of air through them be
cause the currents too Harper
hagdsi,se. att.