Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1886-10-23
UNDERCLOTHING.
Sensible Remarks Upon the Subject by
Elninant Auihnrify.

Eminent Authority.
| DR.. VIM. A Hammond, formerly Sur
geon- General of the United States Army,
and since eminent in his profession in
New York city, recently wrote the follow
ing valuable suggestions upon the wearing
of Undertaking
There are few matters concerning health
that are more completely misunderstood
| by the average man or woman than the
subject of Undertaking. In the first place
may say that in our climate some kind of
undertaking should be worn by man.
woman and child all the year round-sum
mer and winter-though, of course ii
should vary in character with the seasons.
There are doubtless many who wear moth
ing of the sort winter or summer, and who
have thus far escaped all i'll consequences,
or at least think they have. In all proba-
| bility, however, they are deceiving them
selves. They mag not yet have suffered
any serious inconvenience from that neg
lect to cothe themselves properly, but they
are quite certainly, even though the pro-
cess goes on slowly, weakening their resist
| ing powers, and are hence rendering them
selves less capable of bearing up against the
attacks which morbid influences are con-
stantly making. Every year finds them
!
each one of which debilitates the system
advancing age makes them more suscepii-
bic, and at last pneumonia, pleurisy, dys-
EMERY or some other serious disease strikes
them down. The changes in our climate
| are so sudden and severe as to require all
the vital strength of the organism to COM
bat them, and if the body be not properly
protected the danger is greatly increased.
Even with all the care that can be exer
cised the barriers are often broken down.
There is widely prevalent idea that silk
is the best substance from which to make
undertaking, and | have known many
poor girls to stint themselves in the neces-
saries of life in order to save enough money
to purchase silk undergarments. But silk
is not the best material with which TO
make underclo.hes, so far as concerns their
health-preserving qualities, whatever may
| be its advantages SO far as beauty and inn
mediate comfort are concerned. The chief
object of Undertaking is the retention of
the natural heat of the body in such a way
that low temperature and sudden changes
will not affect the surface. Several years
ago performed some experiments which
went to show without doubt that silk is
below wool in its power to prevent the loss
tof heat from the body, and very little su-
perior to cotton. Indeed, nothing is in this
terial all understanding meant for winter
use should be made. In summer MKT
ure of wool and cotton called merino may
be worn but even in very hot weather silk
is not desirable, for it is not such a ready
| absorber of the perspration as is wool, and
hence allows the body to be kept in state
not very remote from that known as par
boiled. Wool, however, taking up DIS it
does the moisture from the body, exposes
| 1t to the action of the atmosphere, 1t is
evaporated, and, the process being cool
ing one, keeps the skin from becoming
| oyerheated
Rabbit skins, cushions of various kinds
and the so-called protectors" worn over
the chest are unhealthy. as they prevent
| the escape OF the exeretions from the skin,
and hence facilitate the collection of dirt
as well as impeding the proper exercise
OF one of the most important functions OF
the body | have frequently seen persons,
men and women, divest themselves of
half dozen layers of skins and pads before
could get at the naked chest to examine it
with the stethoscope. The odor was dis
gushing, and the effect upon the organs
they were supposed TO protect certainly
deleterious. No underclothing should ever
| be so thick rs to prevent the passage of the
cutaneous excretions and the atmospheric
air The skin requires ventilation as well
as do the lungs. Channels skin undergar-
ments, perforated or unperforated," are
| denominations.
A notion exists that red is particularly
advantageous color to give to the under
shirts and drawers worn in very cold
weather. There is no foundation in fact
for such an idea II has been said that the
dyestuff used for the purpose of producing
the color in question is more irritating to
the skin than the other substances en-
ployed but even If this was true, and | am
strongly inclined TO question the correct
ness of the statement, it would be no rea-
son for using red-colored undergar. n ents
in preference brown or white 1t is not
irritation Of the skin that is wanted when
we put on undertaking, but protection
ffom cold and sudden viciss:tudes Of tenn
perature. When it is necessary to irritate
the skin it is better TO make use OF mus
tard plaster or a blister, and not to divert
the clothing from its proper objects. I'm
derclothing should be made of white ma
terial Theoretically, black would be pref
cradle for winter use, as it is better non
conductor of heat and better absorber of
moisture than any other color, other things
being equal but it would probably be diff
cult TO get people to clothe themselves in
clothing Of this color, or 10 find the nece5-
sary articles in the shops. Whatever color
be worn, the garments should be frequently
washed. as the exhalations from the skin
! cling with great tenacity to wooden mate
rails. They should never. after having
| been taken off at night, be put on again
till they have been thoroughly aired in the
open air.
|
EVERY day we have new evidence of the