St. Landry democrat., 1889-11-23
A Plea for Wooden Underwear.

Very great progress has been made
within the past fifty years, not only by
physicians, but by all classes Of intelligent
Deople, in learning of the laws Of nature
which govern our bodies. The wisest,
most skillful practitioners are they who
most successfully aid her in the work OF
eliminating poisonous substances from our
systems, and rebuilding them A very
important help towards accomplishing this
consists in having the skin kept IN ci"an,
active condition and to insure this, not
only proper bathing is essential, but san-
sib;e clothing rs we'll
IL is no longer question, but well
attested fact, that all people in tbi; Iatl-
1uGe should wear wooden underEarInt hts
next TO the skin for the larger part Gf rot
the whole OF The year-most emphatic .ily
old people and young children. We
rarely no. see the latter class with barred
arms and necks, as was the almost uni
versal custom few years ago; but q1eS-
ton whether the average child is clothed
more sensioly aS regards its underwear
now than formerly. | am not using too
strong language when | say it is murder
Gus for mother not to keep wooden gar
ments next to childs body, till it is two
years old and yet, unless the child is SICK
and this constitutes part OF the medical
treatment, | doubt it's being generally
pracsiced. Even when so ordered, hare
heard silly mothers i'll plying tones com
miserate the poor child "for it's long suf-
feriug endurance" not knowing that they,
as well as every one el,e, suffer far less
from heat when dressed in this manner
than they do when wearing gauze, muslin
or linen, especially when one perspires
easily or freely.
Many good authorities unite in saying
that there is no better month in the whole
year than October for invalids and delit ate
people to recuperate their strength and
vitality. Nature often makes wise and
beautiful provisions like this for fitting Us
to endure coming demand or trial; but
of little avail is it unless we supplement Mt
her efforts with knowledge and common
sense If the fiarnels have been laid aside
during the summer months, they should
be again donned now. Doubtless there
will ba warm days yet, but 1t is folly to
wait till one shivers while with cold and
has already sorely taxed vitality in keep
ing up the bodily heat, before putting On
suitable clothing The belief that such
course is brave is on a par with the fast
waning one, that it is Conducive to good
health to sleep in extremely cod rooms.
All wooden underwear is nov made IN so
many grades, for mems wear, that there is
seldom any necessity Of buying tie coarse,
half. cotton makes for it should always be
borne in mind that softness and fineness OF
texture have far more to do with the
warmth of wooden goods than their thick
ness and weight. There are various styles
of garments now made for women's wear,
each having It's admirers and defenders
The main advantage a combination gar
ment has over the ordinary style lies in its
having but one thickness Of cloth over the
abdomen more warmth on the arms and
legs and less on the trunk is the rule for
healthful dress. A small child CAL wear
white muslin dresses during the whole
winter, if that suits the mothers pride,
and yet be comfortably and Lealthfully
dressed in fact, child s. outer dress is Of
comparatively little consequence if its
warm, extending well over both arms
and legs.
1t is almost impossible for either
young or healthy middle aged person to
appreciate the heat actually required for
delicate old persons comfort: DR.. Tai
mage recently said in his telling way:
No amount of praise for the dead can
atone for thoughclessness or lack Of kind
ness to the living. B8tter give the old
folks fewer tombstlpes ano more blan-
kets." Yes, and warm wooden under
ciothing-hannel night-dresses and shirts,
and knitted or crochetted worsted night
caps, for very many old people are made
restless and wakeful because Of their heads
being cold.-Katherine 3. j., OnondGga
County, ~ Y.