Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1888-11-30
GOLD WEATHER HEALTH NOTES

DIR. w. F. Hutchinson, writing for the
November issue of the American Maya
zine, disagrees with the generally-accept-
ed theory that furnace heat is unhealth-
full. He says:
After watching sick beds in rooms
heated by steam, by stoves, by open fires
and by furnace heat, | am decidedly in
favor of the last, provided sufficient
moisture be added to the heated air be-
fore it comes into the living rooms.
Steam heat is too dry, open fires cannot
keep up an even temperature nor warm
room in northern midwinter, and stoves
burn oxygen from air too rapidly with
out providing a fresh supply. What is
essential from sanitary point, in heat
ing houses, is to have the temperature
even throughout. There is probably no
better way of catching cold, of laying
foundation for bronchitis or pneumonia,
than stepping out of a warm bed into a
cold hall. Every skin pore is open and
relaxed, every nerve of resistance is half
asleep, and the insdious chill which has
proven forerunner to so many dangerous
diseases of chest and throat, sends one
shivering back to blankets that are some
time in getting warmed up again. While
lower than the rest of the house-kept so
by open windows; and if this suggestion
is followed there can be no harm done by
needful nightly wanderings. A proper
range at night is coo to 75o F. Beside
the bed of those who are given to noe
turnal excursions should always stand a
pair of bedroom slippers, ready to be
slipped on at short notice: for cool cur
rents of air are always playing about
floors, and bare ankles are exceedingly
sensitive to small temperature variations.
There is change of late years in the
winter heat of American homes. With
almost universal substitution of better
forms of heaters for old-time stoves, and
better understanding of health laws by
the people, has come cooling down of
the suffOcating temperature that made
our homes dry forcing houses and sent
our people out into wintry cold about as
well fitted to face it as if they were max
ed. Except in rooms where are sick or
aged persons, mercury should never rise
above 20 nor fall below 60. A narrow
range, truly-but within such strict linz
its lies the zone of health.
Proper clothing for winter includes
soft, firm wooden textures next the skin
If some of the various varieties of health
wear cannot be obtained, good substi-
tute may be found in vests and drawers
made of pure flannel. Looseness of fiji
is essential. for in such pliable folds as
these garments are forced into by pres.
sure of outer garb, body heat is entang
led as in net and retained, while outside
cold is barred entrance. My patients oft
ed say to me, ''Doctor, l cannot beal
wool next my skin; it causes intolerablt
itching and is uncomfortable" "Very
WE'LL" l reply; "but try it for just p
hours longer, and then if you are still
restless you may change" Inside the
given time the cutaneous nerves have be
come accustomed to the newcomer, anC
have welcomed him as far better friene
than the one set aside, and in week the
most delicate patient would not change
back again at all. Besides additiona
warmth, there is an electrical actor
aroused by friction of wool against hu
man skin that promotes capillary circu
lation, keeps skin functions going an(
largely contributes to general health il
that singular way which have named
for want of better term, yitalizin,
power. For electricity is close kin Il
!. life how near no one can tell.