Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1882-11-03
Personal Care During the Heated Term.

With regard to ourselves we must
not forget that we require as much
management and discipline as an ire
sponsible animal. We have the animal
instincts, but we have human reason to
control them and keep them in subjec-
ton; but alas, nearly every ill that men
suffer is due to the prevalence of the
instinct over the reason. We are
, thirsty, and we drink the coolest water
to excess, and In doing this we fall into
the very evil we are so careful to save
our horses from. And this drinking,
II it be only water, is one of the great
est mischiefs of the harvest field. Work
In the hot sun causes us to perspire,
and in this perspiratiOn we escape the
greatest and, in fact. the only danger
to which we are subject to at this sea-
son. Precipitation is evaporation, and
evaporation, as Is well known, has a
cooling effect, and thus the excessive
heat of the body is used up and dissi-
pated In the conversion of the water of
the blood into vapor; just as the heat
OF the fire is used up and dissipated in
converting water into steam. In the
change of water into vapor 1000 de-
grees of heat are absorbed by the water,
and rendered latent or inactive but
potential in the vapor. The enormous
amount of heat thus removed from the
body, or rather the blood, may be re-
allied when it is considered that the
evaporation in the perspiration during
days work may easily amount to the
equivalent Of two or three pints of
water, and that five and half times as
much heat is required to convert this
water into vapor as to bring it to
state of boiling. So that there is as
much heat removed in this way in
days work in the harvestfield as would
make fire Of considerable dimensions
in stove. This evaporation, or per.
SEPARATION. of course removes water
from the blood, but the water carries
of with it much organic matter and
salts, which are loss to the system,
and this loss is a source of weakness
which must be made up by the diges-
ton of more food. The loss of water
must also be made up, and want of it
causes thirst. and the thirst in
duces more drinking. and this,
Of course, if INDUCED in to ex-
cess, produces increased perspir-
alton. and the result is we are simply
pouring water through the body which
washes away much of its substance and
is a source of exhaustion. To drink
ice-cold water copiously cools the blood
suddenly and affects the action of the
heart and the brain, and is often fatal.
So that the rule should be to drink
water moderately, and always with
some nutritious substance in it, as oat-
meal or toasted bread, and never iced,
or even cold from a well, unless in very
small quantities, which are held in the
mouth a short time before they are
swallowed.
But this heated condition of the blood
requires further comment, for it is most
important in relation to our health. II
q person unwisely tries to cool off when
copiously perspiring by lying upon the
cooler ground under dense shade, or
by remaining in current of air. or by
roing into a cellar, and thus suddenly
stops the perspiration, the heat is &C.
cumulated in the system and the blood
IS carbonized to q dangerous extent.
much in the same way as If we sudden
Nv auench fire of Goals and these are
left in the condition of charcoal; and
this carbonated blood rises in tempera-
iture and produces fever, or becomes a
very favorable medium for the growth
and rapid increase of the parasitic
germs which produce chills, ague, in
termittent and typhoid fevers of malig'
nant types, or the injurious matter at.
fects the liver and intestines and causes
diarrhea, dysentery. or cholera morbus'
30 that slow and gradual cooling only
should be permitted, and this is best
procured by bathing. if no more thar
pouring water upon the wrists. Spong
ing Of the body with tepid water ant
soap will cleanse the skin of the accu
INFLATED foul matter discharged with thu
perspiration, open the pores, and CIV
rise to a copious insensible perspiration
or escape Of vapor without condensa
ton on the skin in the shap'
of moisture, and thus produce pleas
ant and healthful GOODNESS. If this j
done after the days work is finished