Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-12-15

In caring for personal health much depends
upon the care OF the Skin, and whether Its func-
lions are maintained, especially. with reference
70 protection from extremes of heat and cold
and sudden changes Of temperature. Our cloth
Ing should furnish this protection and its chief
value In this regard depends upon its being q
bad or non-cOnductor OF heat; in summer to
prevent the absorption OF heat from without,
and IN winter the escape OF heat from within.
The material that carries on this process most
Slowly 1s the one most efticacious for the pur-
poses OF warmth. The comparative value of
different stuffs In this respect Is easily demon.
strated oy experiment. Woollen fabrics rank
last. Garments that become moist by cutane
Gus exhalattons conduct away the heat
fr r31! the body rapidly and the effect Is soon
notably the case with linen goods when worn
next to tie person, refreshing and delightful,
no doubt, In tropical climates, or in certain ex-
ceptlonal conditions OF the cutlcle, but less
agreeable than cotton, silk or woollen In cold
or changeable Attitudes like our own. These
latter absorb moisture less RAPIDLY, and. be.
cause OF their comparative open texture
through which Vap0rS escape, are slow to re-
tain the perspiration aud thus cool the surface
slowly. Because OF the absorbing and diffusing
OF the perspiraticn there Is less danger from
sudden changes OF temperature or reaction
from violent exercises. Upon the texture as
well as material depends the nOn.conducting
quality OF clothing. loose, open texture,
combining considerable air In It's tissue is warmer
than close woven one. For this reason, two
thicknesses OF any material are warmer than
the same weight In one thickness To meet all
requirements the degree OF coarseness or fine
ness Of texture must be taken into account.
Coarse garments produce irritation, which
some persons cannot bear. There are those who
seemingly cannot endure woollen OF the
finest quality, the skin is so sensitive.
tween woollen and linen, which means cot
ton or sIlk-something warmer than linen
and less irritating than woollen. Much Of
the manufactured under wear Of the present
"A
wool, more agreeable to many persons than
either would be alone. Other facts may be OF
service In reaching conclusions on this subject
A successful physician informed US that in
treating the bowel troubles Of children he never
used drugs, but instead quilted powdered Peru
Wan bark between two thicknesses of flannel,
they got well. remedy for seasfckness we
have known successfully applied is to wind a
| long strip of flannel several times about the
longer necessary. It IS fact that shp9rec a
sailors have prolonged their lives by keeping
| Their Woollen garments wet with salt water.
| This result has been attributed to the absorb
lion OF salt and water through the pores OF the
skln. However that may be. there Is no doubt
| tDat preventing the escape OF natural heat and
vitality, through the non-conddeting proper
tles OF WOOL en- clothing, must have much to 10
Win prolongiDg life under snch exposures In
acting for children 1t should be borne In mi ad
r rna tner nttle oodles are much warmer natu-
raily than are those OF adults.
Also women are copsututi0naily warmer
Dlooded than men, ana consequently do not re-
| quire the same amount OF clothing under the
same exposure. May NOT this fact ok piain AM,
| partially apologize for q common experience on
| railway trains, where AN apparently delicate
| female viii seem 10 enjoy the cold DRAFT from
| an open window, when all the gentlemen In tue
| Vicihity are shfvering With cold? But douot.
less, In many OF these oft-Tecurring experiences
| IT the lazy would remove her furS for the tim
| being The conditions would be essentially mod
| lied. Still, there are differences so manIfes,
between the sexes in this regard we must CON
clude that what may be desirable for one NAV