Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1878-03-13
DOMESTIC.

THE LAWS OF Manufacturing Is
essential to protect the body from heat
and cold. Different qualities are suited
to different seasons and climates, and
are chiefly connected with the relations
of fabrics to heat and moisture. In cold
weather the object is to prevent the loss
of heat from the body, by conduction
and evaporation; in warm weather the
aim is to promote evaporation. Hence
we must wear nOn-cOnductors and slow
absorbers in winter, and free conduc-
tors and ready absorbers in summer.
The fabrics must be selected with this
object in view. AS far as consistent,
clothing should be light, durable and
readily cleansed. Linen fabric is good
conductor, and hence favors the escape
of animal heat. 1t also absorbs moisture
from the surface of the body rapidly,
and gives it off again to the external
air, BY evaporation. This process pro-
duces rapid cooling, even in hot
weather. But linen should never be
used next to the skin, under any cir
cumstances, as it has no power to pre-
vent sudden chills. Cotton is poorer
conductor of heat than linen, and hence
warmer. 1t does not so readily absorb
moisture, and therefore is safer for
under garments. Cotton ranks next to
linen as fabric for summer wear. 1t
is a much better absorber OF moisture
and conductor of heat than either silk
or wool. Woolen fabrics are coarse and
porous, detaining within their meshes
a large amount of air. Hence they are
slow conductors of heat. Woolens also
possess a great capacity for moisture,
though they receive and discharge il
very slowly. This is valuable quality
in articles of clothing. Woolen is \
much better protection against heat
than either linen or cotton and much
warmer when wet. Its great power to
absorb moisture is highly important
property, as it regulates evaporation
from the surface of the body, and pre-
vents too great loss of animal heat. As
an equalizer of the temperature and
protector against sudden chills, woOlen
fabrics are superior to all others, and
should be constantly worn next the
skin.
The color of clothing is important
only i'm relation to solar heat. Black
cloth absorbs the heat of the sun, and
white cloth reflects 1t. But with the
heat of the stove the color makes no
difference. The absorbing powers of
the garment to the sunlight decreases
AS the shade grows brighter, and in this
order, black, blue, green, yellow, white.
The dark colorel materials absorb more
moisture than the light colored, and
black absorbs nearly as much again.
But after all more depends upon the
manner of dressing than the material
used. The poorer materials, properly
worn, are better than the best i'm
properly put on. As have said, cloth
ing should be light. Weight does not
imply warmth, and often it becomes a
source OF great discomfort. Several
layers of light, loose fitting garments
are safer than few layers of heavy
clothing. The imprisoned air more
than the material secures warmth and
hence the number of layers more than
the thickness of one layer. Again loose
clothing is warmer than that which fits
the body closely. Besides, the tight
fitting obstructs the circulation, restricts
the natural motions and healthy action
of the parts affected.