The record-union., 1892-06-23
PROTECT THE HEAD.
A Dangerous Practice Condemned by
the Doctors.
What the State Board of Health Says
About Barring the Head at
Outdoor Funerals.


The frequency of reported cases of Sc
we're illness. and sometimes death, trace
able to the removal of the hat at funerals,
has determined the California State Board
of Health to address the reverend clergy
and the officers of secret, fraternal and
beneficiary societies throughout the State,
respectfully directing their attention to
the serious consequences which not in
frequently follow the observance of the
custom during the prevalence of in
clement weather or under the rays of u
hot summer sun.
The hat is used as a covering for the
head. In an infinite variety of shapes and
patterns the hat or cap has been worn from
times of remote antiquity. In its various
forms it has been known under different
names, and adopted by some nations as
symbol. The most ancient form is the
cap, such as is seen in figures represent
ing the goddess of liberty. The Grecian
plleuS was wooden cap, sometimes worn
as lining to helmet. The aged and in
hrm Romans wore caps of the same ma
terlaI for warmth. When conical, the
cap was the apex of the Roman priests,
worn probably from the time of Numa.
With the elevated crest pointed forward,
like the liberty cap, it was the Phrygian
or Mysian bonnet. With a briIn it became
the petaSus, hat much like the round
felt hats now Worn.
Among the Romans the cap was SYM
Dol OF liberty, and slaves We're presented
with one on receiving their freedom. In
modern times 1t has been a conspicuous
article OF dress, and has been adorned
with snowy pumes, jewels and rosettes.
IL mas also been worn as mark of author
lty, and its shape and ornamentation
have frequently made it an insignia of
rank and station. Its form, and some
times it's color, has been made to desig-
nate the rank and character OF its Wearer
as the monarch, by his crown; the cardi-
nal, by his red hat, betokening his readi-
ness to spill his blood for the sake of the
Savior; and the court fool with his cap
and bell. In one form it serves to dis
tinguish the military officer, and in an
other the peaceful Quaker. The wearing
OF the hat as an article of apparel is an
almost universal custom. There must
underlie the wearing of a covering for
the head deeper significance than a
mere conformity with the prevailing
fashion.
The spectacle of an adult person walk
ing the streets or country roads, or labor
ing in the open air, without wearing
hat, would excite comment everywhere
Doubts of the mental Soundness of the
person would be freely expressed. The
custom OF hat wearing arose from neces-
sity. Every one will acknowledge the
warmth and comfort of a fur or wooden
nat or cap in cold and stormy weather.
The fashion of wearing the hair short in
creaSes the need of an artificial protection
to the head, while to those who are bald
it is indispensable to the preservation of
good bodily health. Nurses often find it
necessary to put flannel bonnet on the
heads OF young infants before they can be
cured OF cold IN the head and nostrils a
foundation for chronic nasal catarrh is
one of the results of repeated colds dur
ing infant and child life
Not one man in thousand goes out of
doors ten minutes of the day without
taking the precaution to put on a hat.
Experience has taught him that neglect
to do so may bring on fit OF sneezing, a
watery suttusion Of the eyes, a sore
throat, headache, earache, neuralgia,
| toothache and symptoms of a cold with
fever, cough, and, perhaps, pneumonia
So fully is this recognized in Europe that
the custom of saluting ladies and friends
by lifting the hat has been of late years
| greatly superseded by wave of the hand
or half military salute.
Since the prevalence Of la grippe, the
risk of outdoor exposure has multiplied.
Many cases of severe illness and not a
few deaths have been noted from this
cause. The most common occasions of
danger have been during the attendance
on funerals, either as pall-bearers or
mourners. In Well-conducted funerals
undertakers nowadays furnish skull caps
to be worn by pall-bearers. The skull
cap, although it has no visor to protect
the eyes, is nevertheless an efficient COW
erilg, does not offend cur Sensibilities
and implies no want Of respect for the
dead. The minister and the mourners
vs,ls. IL ,,g,l,s. i
There need be no discrimination in favor
of the pall-bearers. But all rejecting
persons will agree that it requires a
stretch of imagination to detect the differ
ence between the wearing of an ordinary
hat and the wearing OF a skull cap on
such occasions. Barring the head at
funerals is a mere convention that serves
no useful ceremonious purpose. Wear
ing skull cap is no compromise; it is a
surrender.
The custom of taking off the hist in wet
or cold and stormy weather while the re-
mains are carried from the home to the
hearse, or from the hearse to the chapel
or lodge-room, and again when the last
sad rites are performed at the grave. is
traught with danger. Ten, fifteen and
twenty minutes are not infrequently con-
sumed, during which pall-bearers and
mOurnerS remain uncovered, while chill
wind, laden with damp, diminishes the
foundation for a decline. The recently
sick, the aged and intIrm, and those who
have lost the hair of the head, are IN the
greatest danger. But none are exempt
There are but few who, in the absence of
suggestion, will defy the almost universal
custom of Christian nations to uncover in
the presence of the dead. Their senti-
ments of love, honor ind respect for the
dead impel them to disregard the danger
involved by the exposure, notwithstand-
ing full comprehension of it's evil i'm
port.
1t is on such occasions that the intell:-
gent and masterful influence of the min
istry and chief officers of lodges and So
cietieS having the burial in charge NAV
be exercised in the beneficent advice to
remain covered, and avoid discomfort and
danger. This can be done with neither
injury nor disrespect to the dead but
with great kindness and benefit TO the
living. Speaking with authority, and
themselves setting the example by re-
manning covered, they administer COM
fort, relief and protection, and with GER
tainty lessen apprehension for the results
of the necessary exposure incidental to
the interment.
\ desire to live to fuIlness of years is
instructive III all men. 1t is believed that
the pursuance of the course herein indi-
Gated will not only be the means of pre-
venting much sickness, but may be the
means of preserving many useful lives.
That the efforts to prevent disease shall at
least be equal, If it does not exceed, the
art of cure, is one of the possible tri-
umphs OF modern civilization.
w. q. COCHRAN, Nj. D., President.
}. IL. LAME, M. D., Secretary.
Oakland's Surprise.
SAN Francisco, June 22.-Oakland de-