Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1897-06-03

New Comes q Physician who says Heavf
wooIon Underwear Is Bad.
A physician who has given much
thought 70 the hygiene Of clothing has
come 10 the conclusion that many
deaths nre caused by heavy woolen n
dcrclothing.
II can be proved that ilannelsare often
chs cause Of severe colds. To have a cold
Is TO be IN diseased condition aud that
means loss Of vitality and shortening
Of life. Itmay even mean sudden death.
One can easily demonBtrate In ones
own person on a small scale the III ef-
fects Of excessive hannels. Bind your
hand in thick wooden bandages and
leave II in that condition for a night In
the morning you will find Il damp and
Habby, the pores all open. II is in the
most susceptible condition for catching
cold. II the whole body were brought
70 tho same state the result would be
disastrous.
That the whole body is often brought
20 nearly similar condition Is certain.
The majority Of people during the win
Ter incase themselves In heavy, tight
woolen OF flannel garments. These
provoke persplrntion and do not alb
sorb II. The result is that the wearer's
skin Is hot, damp and highly suscepti
BILE 20 the inhammatory effects Of cold.
A slightly lowered temperature can
hardly fail TO bring on n cold.
Heavy wooden undertaking is able
70 do all the more harm because II has
the weight Of ancient domestic tradi
tion. Few people dare to be wiser than
their grandmothers. Woolen under
clothing, according to modern expert
ence, should be as light as Is consistent
with comfort. There are many persons
who 60 through the winter healthily
In cotton underwear and these are
probably the most fortunate class Of
The population. But the warmth-pre-
serving qualities Of wool are not TO
be ignored.
One of its great properties is that
II Is n bad conductor Of heat. The
hest Of the body, therefore, is not
given out by II. II also does not stick
TO the skin and does not absorb per-
spiration freely. This Is n quality OF
doubtful value. While IL is agreeable
not to have your underclothing glued
70 your skin II 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 docs not
cause excessive perspiration. II should
be light and loose. Wool is apparently
the best material for the majority OF
the people.
The subject Of colds receives too lit
tie attention. Many people are resigned
10 the perpetual possession Of them.
They should be regarded as disease
dangerous, offensive and unclean. Pat
ent medicine advertisements print elo-
quent descriptions of their final ef-
fects. These remarks are applicable
70 those who have neglected themselves
too long and are fit subjects for the
hospital or prolonged medical treat
ment. 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. Argu-
ing from these facts, some enthusiasts
would say that the less clothing you
wear and the more you expose yourself
the healthier you win be.
But a state of civilization Of consider
able antiquity has made II necessary for
man 10 preserve his natural heat by
artificial means. II Is not permissible
10 abandon clothing entirely in this
country. Nor is II advisable to wear us
little as the public authorities will per-
init during an American winter.
Neither warm clothing or artificial
heat will satisfactorily replace the
atural 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
should take an important place. As
far as colds are concerned Il Is all Inn
portant, because they rarely occur un-
less the skin Is In certain condition.
When the pores of the skin are opened
the cold air enters where Il 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 ex-
perience seems 10 prove tLat II is bet
ter to use warm water first. Much de-
pends on the individual constitution.
The warm water cleanses and softens
the skin and relieves the body Of super
huous moisture, the frequent source
Of colds. Following this, the cold wa
ter viii close the pores and put the
skin In sound, normal condition. No
one should stay N cold water long
enough TO feel discomfort. N. Y.
World