Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1873-06-19
HEALTH COLUMN.
Hot Weather Hygiene.
BY DIR. ]. A. DUNLAP.

The presence of warm weather renders
it appropriate to present few suggestions
as to the laws of health, which it Is i'm
portant to bear in mind at the present
sea son. The hygiene of summer is, in
many respects, opposite to that OF winter.
In cold weather the constitution is gener-
ally more robust, more food is consumed,
and the waste OF the body is greater;
hence the leading object in winter is to
furnish a generous supply of nourishing
food, to counteract the greater waste OF
material, and to keep up the temperature
of the organism. In summer, on the con-
trary, the waste of material is much less,
the temperature of the body is easily pre-
served, the dema nd for food is more mod
crate, and the constitutional sensibility is
greater. Hence, while generous and
nourishing diet is appropriate to winter,
temperance is peculiarly necessary in
summer Articles of heating and stim-
ulating nature produce grateful warmth
| in winter, but are highly obiecuonal in
summer. Stimulus is less needed in
warm weather, but much larger quantities
of fluid are required to supply the waste
of perspiration and mitigate our thirst.
Another important difference between
summer and winter is to be observed in
the fact, that cold exerts an antiseptic in
fuence, while warmth promotes putre-
faction and every species of decomposi-
ton of organized materials. Hence IN
winter we need be but little concerned
about the purity of the air around about
our dwellings, while in summer it is
matter of vital importance. The most
rigid cleanliness should be observed as
the weather grows warm, by removing
the decaying vegetable and animal matter
from our vicinity. In cities and villages
there is much neglect ofthese precautions
Again, under the antiseptic influence OF
winter, we may consume animal food
largely with impunity, but in summer the
tendency to decomposition is 50 great
that the liberal use of animal food tends
very strongly to the development Of
fever Thus, in accordance with the wis
dom usually displayed in the arrange
ments of nature, our appetites in warm
weather become Indifferent to flesh while
they are attracted to fruits and vegetables
The acid and saccharine elements of
fruits, not only reduce the feverishness
produced by flesh diet, but countera ci
putrescency by their antiseptic influence,
purifying all the secretions. Our in
stincts, therefore, are apt TO guioe e u:
, right, teaching us to diminish our con
sumption of animal food, and to partakt
liberia lily of ripe fruits, which are thu
most wholesme, as our taste pronounce
them the best.
The morbid tendencies of summer ar,
chiefly developed in the digestive organ;
those of winter in the breathing organs
kidneys, muscles, and fbrous structures
Hence it is necessary in summer tha
dition of the appetite and bowels. Th'
failure of the digestive apparatus, ma.
bring on fever insensibly, while we ar
scarcely aware of our danger.
The loas of appetite in summer is
very serious symptom, indicating oftel
,, the approach of dangerous diseases. o
; all forms of disease, however, hot season
are especially apt to produce disorder o
the liver. Against these we should be
particularly on our guard. If, with al
our precautions we still have reason t
believe that an attack offever is probable
a moderate use of the simple bitters sue
as columbo, gentian quassia, &c, in tn
< state of decoction, will do much to fortif
i, the constitution against disease. Quinn
e taken twice day, in two or three graf
n doses, in advance of any anticipated a
t, tack, will also generally prevent its oc
: currence, and preserve as in good healtl
d The true hygienic principle is, that W
It should never be cured of diseases, br
r, should always meet them by preventio
l. instead of cure. Man should never be
d victim of diseases, but should always re
70 gard them as punishments for the viol'
l. ton of the natural laws.
d The time may come when well ed'
le Gated man will be ashamed to acknow
n edge that he was ever sick.
sr
le Good deal of fight in this dry ht
m Weather Tho Ind;nnsan has its fr1