Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-11-16
uNnERCnoTHINq,
It's HygienIo Uses and Hints on the Ma
teriaI to Use.

It's Hygienio Uses and Hints ON the ma
terial to Use.
DR., VIM, A, Hammond, formerly sur
xeon-general of the United States Army,
writes to the New York Morning Journal;
SIN the first place, may say that In
our climate some kind Of underclothing
shouln be worn by man, woman ana chlld
au the year round, summer as well as
winter, although, Of course, il should vary
~ character with the season. mere are
doubtless many who wear nothing OF the
sort, winter and summer, and who nave
thus far escaped all i'll consequence, or at
least think they have. In all probability,
however, they are deceiyiug themselves
They may not ethaye suffered serious In
convenience from their neglect TO proper
~ ciOthe themselves, but they are quite
certaiuly-eyen though the process goes
on slowly weakening their resisting pow
ers, and are hence rendering themselves
less capable OF b airing up against the at
tacks which morbid Influences are con-
stantly making. Every year finds them
more apt to suffer from slight ailments,
each one of which debiitates the system;
advancing are makes them more suscep-
tible. and at last pneumonia, pleurlsy,
dvsenterv or some other serious disease
strikes them down. The changes in our
climate are so sudden and severe as TO re-
Cuire all the vital strength OF the organ
Ism to combat them, aud il the body be
not properly protected the danger is in
creased. Even with all the care that can
be exercised the barriers are often broken
down.
There are many men and women with
in my personal knowledge who cannot
even tor single day omit their custOma-
~ wooden shirts or drawers without con-
tracing cough or becoming subject to
rheumatic or neuraTgic pains. One OF
these is a gentleman holding a high office
unCer the government of the United
States. He dislikes the sensation of wool
next 70 his skin. and has repeatedly tried
10 harden hmselfto the point of being
able 10 dispense with the thick flannel
shut that bis wife insists upon his wear
ing. As often, however, as he has made
the attempt he has as often been obliged
after few hours abstinence TO return to
the dsagreeable garment, for gentle re-
minder comes to him in the form OF a
light stitch In mis- side while he Is shifting
the fresh morning air on his way to his
Office. BY the time that he has gone
few blocks, whether upon foot or in his
carriage, it is most painful for him to
breathe, and the sun -ring goes on increas-
ing until he is forced to 20 home and put
on the protecting shirt, very much to his
wife's delight at the ful1lment Of her pre-
dictions.
''Silk is not the best material with
which to make underclOthes so far as con-
Germs their health preserving qualities,
whatever may be its advantage so far as
beauty and immediate comfort are con-
cerned. Tee chief object of undertaking
is the retention of the natural heat of the
body in such way that low tempera-
lures and sudden changes will not affect
the surface. Several years ago perform
ed some experiments which went to show
beyond any DOUBT that silk is below wool
in its power to prevent the loss of heat
from the body, and very little superior to
cotton. Indeed, nothing is in this respect
preferable to wool, and of this material
all undertaking meant for winter use
should be made. In summer a mixture
OF wool and cotton, called merinO, may
be worn, but even in hot weather silk is
not desirable, for 1t Is not such a ready
absorber Of the perspiration as wool, and
allows the body to be kept in state not
very remote from that known as pasa1tfh
ed. WOOL however, taking up, as it does,
the moisture from the body, exposes 1t 70
the atmosphere, it Is evapOrated, and, the
process being a cooling one. keepsY enc
skin from becoming Over-heated. No an
dercl0thing should ever be so thick as to
prevent free passage OF the cutaneOus ex-
cretions and the atmospheric air. The
skin requires ventilation as well as do
the lungs. Chamols skin undergarments,
perforated or 'unperfOrated,' are abomi-
nations.
"a notion exists that red is a particu-
Early advantageous color to give to the
uhdersarts and drawers worn in very
cold weather. There is no foundation in.
fact for such an idea. 1t has been said
thar the dive stuff used for the purpose of
producing the color in question is more
Irritating TO the skin than the other sub
stances employed, but even If this were
true-and am strongly inclined TO ques.
ton the correctness Of the statement-it
would be no reason for using red-colored
undergarments in preference TO brown or
white. 1t is not irritation of the skin that
1s wanted when we put on undercloLhing
but protection from cold and sudden vi
cissitudes of temperature. When it is
necessary to irritate the skin it is better
TO make use OF a mustard plaster or bis
ter and not to divert the clothing from its
proper objects. Underclothing should be
made Of white material. theoretically,
black would be preferable for winter use,
as 1t is better noncOnductor OF heat and
better absOrber OF moisture than any
other color, other thin2s being equal; but
1t would probably be difficult to get PEG.
pie to clothe themselves IN clothing OF this
color or to ind the necessary articles in
the shops.
cit is the fashion now to have all the
undertaking made Of the knit material
called 'stOckinet,' but l am quite sure
that flannel shirts and drawers, such az
our ancestors used, are preferable for
winter use, and a mixture OF wool and
cotton for summer. The chief objection
to stOckinet is that the garments made OF
1t ht too close to the skin to be comforta.
bic or to fulfill all the objects to be OBJ.
tanned from underclOthing. When, how.
ever, the garments are made out of piece.
goods, and expressly for the person who
Is 20 wear them, they cannot be so formed
as 10 embrace the body az tightly as
though they were made OF IndIa-rubber.
Strata Of air, therefore, are formed at va
rious points, and these help 10 retain the
heat. II stockinet be used, the articles
made OF il should be large and roomy.
aud should not therefore Mt close 20 the
SKIN"
UNCLE SAINTS CONVERSATIONS.
EnIrffaH -.