St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1880-07-23
The Art of Preserving Health.
UNIFORMITY OF TEMPERATURES.

UNIFORMITY OF TEMPERATURES.
| One important object to be secured
by clothing is uniformity of tempera
ture. The average temperature of per
sons in health is 99o F., and this il
maintained by the condition of the
blood, unless some counteracting infiu.
ences prevents. This uniformity o
temperature is of the utmost impor.
lance. Clothing may disturb this uni
formity in various ways. Compression
obstructs the flow of the blood, which
results in an immediate lowering of the
temperature. In this way the feet and
hands are made cold by tight boots and
gloves. Too many thicknesses OF
clothing at particular points result in
the accumulation of heat, and cOnse-
quent congestion. A lack of clothing
results in the escape of heat, and the
forcing inwardly of the surface blood,
tending to produce congestion of the
internal organs. Thus one part may
be over-heated by a superabundance of
clothing while another part is suffering
from cold. How often do we see chill
dren loaded with clothing about the
chest and neck, while the legs and low
er part of the trunk are barely covered.
In some parts of the body the bleOd
vessels are larger and more numerous
than in other parts. For instance, the
throat, the lungs, the liver, the kidneys
Hence these organs are liable to be-
come Over-heated by clothing and
specially if other parts of the body are
imperfectly protected. The region OF
the kidneys is often over-dressed by
| nt Of
ments which clOthe the trunk and low
er extremitics. Two or three extra
thicknesses are thus obtained, and the
tendency is to accumulate an excess OF
blood in these delicate organs.
1t is believed that the muff1ing oil
the throat is the cause of more sore
threats, coughs and groups than al
other causes combined, especially when
supplemented by thinly clad extreme
ties. As have elsewhere said flannel
should be constantly worn next the
skin. This prevents the sudden chill
ing of the surface, which is very i'm
portant in our variable climate. In
cases where flannel irritates the skin,
cotton flannel or silk may be substitu-
ted. Linen should never be used.
ERRONEOUS notions lead to wrong
practice. So it has been in the matter
of dressing children. Many mothers
entertain the idea that the constitution
of children needs to be hardened by
exposure; but more often this harden.
ing process results in sickness and pre-
mature death. Suitable clothing, as
we'll as nutritious diet, is necessary tC
healthy growth. Food is the source o.
all bodily functions. Each days bod.
lily and mental exercise, each days
waste, repair and growth, must depend
upon food as the recuperating power
Animal heat is lost, and must be re-
produced through the consumption Of
food, and blood-making. Now if the
body is insuficiently clothed, there
must be extra loss Of heat, and a reac,
ton upon the constitution. If during
the years of childhood, there is a waste
of heat, and consequent lowering Of
the processes, both the body and the
brain will fail to reach a vigorous de-
velopment. Hence the naked legs and
arms of children, which delight the
vanity of silly mothers, are at the ex.
pense of health and life. Such moth.
ers are really guilty and chargable
with the crime of destroying their off
spring, as is the Hindoo mother who
throws her child into the Ganges. Al
a matter of course, when the bodily
functions decline in vigor, with ad
vancing age, the protection of clothing
becomes more necessary, and for the
same reasOns.- Household.