Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1895-05-15
HOW TOAVOID COLDS.
A CLAIM THAT THEY ARE LARGELY
DUE TO FLANNELS.

A CLAIM THAT THEY ARE LARGELY
DUE TO FLANNELS.
Have Your Underclothing Light and Loose
and Keep Up Your Natural Heat-Colds
Are Responsible For a Great Deal Of
Illness and Should Not Be Overlooked.
A physician who has given much
thought to the hygiene of clothing has
come to the conclusion that many deaths
are caused by heavy woolen undercloth-
ing.
It can be proved that fannels are Of
ten the cause of severe colds To have a
cold is to be in a diseased condition, and
that means a loss of vitality and short
ening of life. 1t may even mean sudden
death.
One can easily demonstrate in ones
own person on small scale the i'll eff
fects Of excessive fannels Bind your
hand in thick woolen bandages and
leave it in that condition for a night.
In the morning you will find it damp
and habby, the pores all opeI- 1t is in
the most susceptible condition for catch
ing cold. If the whole body were brought
to the same state, the result of exposure
to cold air would inevitably be disas-
trous
That the whole body is often brought
to nearly similar condition is certain.
The majority Of people during the win
ter incase themselves in heavy, tight
woolen 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 susceptible to the
inf1ammatory effects of cold. A slightly
lowered temperature can hardly fail to
bring ON cold.
Heavy woolen underclothing is able
to do all the more harm because it has
the weight of ancient domestic tradi-
tion. Few people dare to be wiser than
their grandmothers Woolen undercloth-
ing, according to modern experience,
should be as light as is consistent with
comfort There are many persons who
go through the winter healthily in cot
ton underwear, and these are probably
the most fortunate class of the popula-
tion. But the warmth preserving quail
ties of wool are not to be ignored.
One of its great properties is that it is
a bad conductor Of heat. The heat of
the body, therefore, is not given out by
it. 1t also does not stick to the skin and
does not absorb perspiration freely. This
is quality of doubtful value While it
is agreeable not to have your undercloth-
ing 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 perspiration. 1t should be light
and loose. Wool is apparently the best
material for the majority of people.
The subject of colds receives too little
attention. Many people are resigned to
the perpetual possession of them. They
should be regarded as disease danger
Gus, offensive and unclean. Patent
medicine advertisements print eloquent
descriptions of their final effects. These
remarks are applicable to those who
have neglected themselves too long and
are fit subjects for the hospital or pro-
longed medical treatment. A wise at
tention to clothing and the general
health is more valuable than all RENE
dies 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 consider
able antiquity has made it necessary for
man to preserve his natural heat by ar
tificial means. 1t is not permissible to
abandon clothing entirely in this coun-
try. Nor is it advisable to wear as little
as the public authorities Will permit
during an American winter.
Neither warm clothing nor artificial
heat viii satisfactoril ly replace the natur-
al heat of the body. To preserve this
should be the first aim of all who wish to
avoid colds. Good food, fresh air and ex-
ercise are obviously the principal means.
In the care of the body the skin should
take an important place. As far as colds
are concerned it is all important, be-
cause they rarely occur unless the skin
is in a certain condition.
When the pores of the skin are opened,
the cold air enters where it is not want
ed and causes an Inflammation. In cold
weather the pores should be closed.
Cold water is an excellent vehicle for
closing the pores. The weight of expert
ence seems to prove that it is better to
use warm water first. Much depends on
the individual constitution.
The warm water cleanses and softens
the skin and relieves the body of super
fuous moisture, the frequent source of
colds. Following this, the cold water
will close the pores and put the skin in
sound, normal condition. No one
should stay in cold water long enough
to feel discomfort. New York World.