Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1895-11-01
Dangers In Flannels.

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has come to the conclusion that
many deaths are caused BY heavy
wosIen underclothing.
1t can be proved that fiannels are
often the cause of severe colds. TIC
have a cold is to be in q diseased
condition, and that means a loss OF
vitality and shortening Of life. II
may even mean sudden death.
One can easily demonstrate in
ones own person on . small scale
the ill effects of excessive hannels.
BIsd your hand in thick woolen
bandages and leave it in that con-
dition for a night. In the morning
you will find it damp and flabby,
the pores all open. 1t is in the
most susceptible condition for catch
ing cold. Ii the whole body were
brought to the same state the result
of exposure of cold air would in
evitably be disastrous.
That the whole body is often
brought to a nearly similar condi-
tion is certain. The majority of
people during the winter encase
themselves in heavy, tight wooden
or flannel garments. These pro-
woke perspiration and do not absorb
it. The result is that the wearer's
skin is hot, damp and highly sus-
ceptible to the inflammatory effects
of cold. A slightly lowered tenn
perature can hardly fail to bring on
a cold.
Heavy WOODEN underclothing is
able to do all the more harm be-
canse it has the weight of ancient
domestic tradition. Few people
dare to be wiser than their grand
mothers. Woolen underclothing
according to modern experience,
should be as light as is consistent
with comfort. There are many
persons who 60 through the winter
healthiiy in cotton underwear, and
these are probably the most FORUM
ate class OF the population. But
the warmth preserving qualities of
wool are not to be ignored.
One of its great properties is that
1t is bad conductor of heat. The
heat Of the body, therefore, is not
given out by it. 1t also does not
absorb perspiration freely. This is
quality of doubtful value. While
it is agreeable not to have your un-
derclothing glued to your skin. it
is injurious to carry deposit of
moisture which may become cold
and do harm in all parts of the
body.
The object, therefore, should be
to wear underclothing which does
not cause excessive psrspiration.
1t should be light and loose. Wool
is apparently the best material for
the majority of people.
The subject of colds receive too
little attention. Many people are
resigned to the perpetual possession
of them. They should be regarded
as disease, dangerous, offensive and
unclean. Patent medicine adver-
tisements prints eloquent descrip-
t;ons of their final effects.
These remarks are applicable to
those who have neglected themselves
too long, and are fit subjects for
the hospital or prolonged medical
treatment. A wise attention to
clothing and the general health is
more valuable than all remedies and
treatment.
Colds are probably the chief cause
of illness and disease among human
beings. They give little trouble to
animals, who wear no clothing.
Arguing from these facts, some
enthusiasts would say that the less
clothing you wear and the more You
expose yourself the healthier you
will be.
But state of civilization of con-
siderable antiquity has made it ne
cessary for man to preserve his nat
ural heat by artificial means. 1t is
not permissible to abandon clothing
entirely in this country. Nor is it
advisable to wear as little as the
public authorities will permit dur
ing an American winter.
Neither warm clothing nor arti-
fetal heat will satisfactorily replace
the natural heat OF the body. To
preserve this should be the first aim
of all who wish to avoid colds.
Good food, fresh air and exercise
are obviously the principal means.
In the care of the body the skin