The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1889-03-08

before protested, us We now do, against
the indiscriminate use of the thick and
heavy overcoat. We would rather see
men in fairly robust condition, especi-
ally if young, clad warmly next the
skin, and wearing either a light top
coat or none at all There can te no
doubt that the habitual use of great
coats is indirectly accountable for the
chills which they are intended to pre-
vent. Were the overcoat worn con-
tinuously, it might attain its Object
Its intermittent use, even when ample
underclothing is worn. affords nc solid
guarantee of safety, but rather the re
verse. The man of sedentary habits
has especial need to remember this
He emerges daily from warm break
fast room clothed in his ordinary win
ter garments, with probably woolen
underwear, and over all the heavy ul-
ster or top coat. After short walk
he finds that the sense of warmth he be-
gan with is more than maintained. He
arrives ut his office or place of bust
ness, and off goes the oyercoat, though
the air of the newly opened room is as
cold as that without, and draughty in
addition. During the day perhaps he
travels to and from adjacent business
houses wearing only his house cloth
ing. The overcoat is laid aside till
closing time reminds him of the jour
ney home. The frequent result is that
somehow, between the hours of his de-
parture and return, he is chilled. No
doubt he would run as great a risk if,
lightly clad, he were to face the rigor
of a winter day, In this case, howev-
er, exercise and habit might do much
to develop the power Of endurance and
there would, at all events. be less dan
ger of sudden cold acting upon free
ly perspiring surface Woolen under
clothing represents state of healthy
comfort intermediate between these ex-
tremes, and more resistant to chill than
either. In commenting its use, how
ever, we do not assert that the influence
of age and constitution is to be over
looked. Youth can oppose power Of
resistance to depressing agencies which
does not reside in the worn ont nerve
centers of ripper age. Similarly, that
elastic reaction which characterlzes
the nervous and sanguine types is not
to be looked for in the lax tissues of
the lymphatic The weaker physique
naturally calls for fuller protection
than the stronger and any rule re-
quiring the disuse of the overcoat
should allow of reasonable exceptions
in favor of the old and constitution
ally feeble. Unusual severity OF
weather, especially if associated with
night air and the loss of sleep which
this implies, is another condition which
might we'll constitute an exception. In
such case We are compelled to add
some form of overcoat to the ordinary
amount of clothing. Some parts Of
the body-for example, the chest
throat, and feet-are certainly more
susceptible to cold than others. As
useful safeguard, cold or tepid bath
ing of such parts is in merited favor
The custom so common with many
persons, especially women, of walking
out in thin soled boots often plays N
important part in catching cold. The
| progress of time and of rational
thought may be expected to bring in
more comfortable arrangement by
clothing the foot in woolen hosiery and
a stouter boot.-Lancef.