Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1879-01-15
For the Freeman
4 Chat with the Family.
GY AGRICOLA

One object of clothing the body is t.
secure uniformity of temperature. A
temperature of 99' f. is the average fol
a person in health, and without counter.
acting influences this will be maintained
by the action of the blood. Clothing may
disturb this uniformity in various ways
Compression upon any part of the system
obstrucls the flow of blood, which results
in the lowering of the temperature. The
feet and hands are made cold by tight
boots and gloves. Too many thicknesses O!
clothing at n particular point results in
the accumulation of heat and consequent
congestion. A lack of clothing results in
the escape OF heat. and the forcing in
wardly the surface blood, tending to pro-
duce congestion of the internal organs.
One part may be overheated by TOO much
clothing, while another part is suffering
from cold Too often do we see children
loaded with clothing about the chest,
while the neck and legs are barely covered.
In some parts of the body the blood
vessels are larger and more numerous
than in other parts-;s in the throat and
lungs and liver and kidneys. Hence
these organs are liable to become over
heated by too much clothing and especial.
ly if other parts of the body are imper-
fectly protected The region of the kid
neys is often ovcrdressed by the tapping.
ut this point, of the garments which clothe
the trunk and lower eXtremilics. Two or
three extra thicknesses are thus obtained,
and the tendency is to accumulate an eX.
cess of blood in these delicate organs.
1t is maintained that the mullling Of
the throat is the cause of more sore
throats, coughs and groups than all other
causes combined, especially when supple
mentcd by thinly clad extremitics. As
have intimatcd, flannel should be constant
ly worn next the skin. This prevents
sudden ohills of the surface, which is very
important in our variable climate. II
flannel irritates the skin, cotton flannel or
silk may be substituted. Linen may never
be worn as an inner garment.
Much injury has resulted from the false
notion on the part of mothers, that chill
dren need to be hardened by exposure;
but more often this hardening process re
suits in sickness and premature death.
Suitable clothing as well rs nutritious diet
is necessary to healthy growth.
Food Is the source of all bodily func-
lionS. Each days bodily and mental ex-
crcisc. each days waste, repair and
growth depends upon food, as the recuper-
ating power Animal heat is lost, and
must be reproduced through the consump-
ton Of food and blood making. If the
body is insuiliccntly clothed, there must
be extra loss of heat, and IL reaction upon
the constitution. If there is waste of
heat during the years Of childhood, there
will be consequent lowering of the
processes, both of body and brain, which
will, in consequence, fail to reach vigor-
GUS Development Hence the naked LEGS
and arms of children, which delight the
vanity of silly mothers, are often at the
expense of health and life. Such mothers
are rs really guilty and chargeable with
the crime of murder rs is the Hindoo
mother who throws her child into the
Ganges.
As II matter of course, when the bodily
functions decline in vigor, with advancing
age, the protection of clothing becomes
more necessary.
| shall next take up the relations of ex-
ercise 10 health. Man was evidently
made for activity. The indolent man de-
serves TO be sick and die, The iointed
skeleton, the contracting muscles, the
controlling nerves, the digesting and cir
cnlating functions were made for activity.
Man must work or die This fact is en-
grayed upon his very constitution.