The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-10-29
PROPER WINTER CLOTHING.
THE TRxRD PROBLEM OF oorToN on
WOOL rs UP AGAIN.

Even fhyStotans Cannot Agree n to Which
Kind of Underoiothing to Wenr n,
whether It Should Bo Heavy or Light
IL IL Matter for Each Ono to Set.
tie for Himself, Says One Dortor
Some years ago distinguished physician ~
this city was spending an evening al the hovse
of some friends Outside the flrst snow AZ No
season was falling. Inch by inch the family
drew in closer TO the big open fireplace Tho
conversation turned upon tho prospects for IN,
coming winter and took rather petulant tonA
as II the speakers felt themselves personally Az,
grieved by tho advent Of cold weather rio
doctor sat silent and presently pulled a notrb,,u
from his pocket tore out a leaf, wrote pomethin,.
on it, and handed II folded 10 the man who snt
nearest 10 him.
Just hold that for q few moments please
he said quietly
what Is ity" asked ono Of the circle. IN ,ricLv-
Just a little experiment in prophecy" rrplrd
the doctor.
gust of wind that tore n, the shutter, ard
shrieked for admttance recalled the talk To- tho
weather. and the doctor smiled In satisfied NAM
ner Five minutes later u discussion IN srr.
monious as II could be with we'll peoplr va.
raging on n subject upon which each indi,idu
except the doctor showed him or herself To he a
bitter partisan. That gentleman interrupted
the proceedings by saying 10 his ntghhur.
will you kindly open the slip OF paper that l
gave you and read what Is written on ~"
in a moment" said the other "l}ul INST
want TO show these people that Grass Ignorance
and bull-hcaded obstinncy can't prevail agnins,
sound reasoning oven where ono Ia dealing with
stupidity unless 1t Is alleged with dishonesty
well As your paper has nothing Ia do with
the topic
BUTT has. interrupted the Doctor "!us, read.
Thercupon his neighbor opened the paprr ard
read aloud as follows:
$50 = NJ within ten mi nuten the convention
will have around 10 the topic Of undorc o,hnu
Each person present will advocate his or her own
pet brand The discussion viii probably be
lively"
1T is now" said the physician, '!ust S!2s ia
The discussion Is II may speak with The trrr-
dom OF an td friend. fully Ms lively as IL ought 10
be
There was a moment Of amused establishment
that swept away the gathering III humor and tho
conflicting arguments, and everybody wanted 10
know how the doctor had guessed IL.
NO guess about It," said he. 1T waa almes .
certainty. First you are mono OF you very
sturdy in health, largely because you worry, and
your clothing is Of the things you worry about
Second, when you all kept recurring In tie
weather, ! knew that each ono was considering
that weather in It's bearings upon himseif that
meant thoughts OF winter underclothea Third,
know by experience that what IL nearest the skin,
is nearest the heart, and there Is subject, e.-
cept religion. upon which intelligent human beings
rabdy bigoted upon tho relative merits
of cotton and woolcn underg Armenia II 10 ELI
thralls the spirit that tho most remark able effects
are produced. had a patient once who tor
twenty years wore a red flannel band ACROSS tho
upper part Of his abdomen. Ono day his vito
substituted blue flannel one, and he wore II all
day without knowing that tho color had been
changed but when he discovered Il that night,
he sent hurry call for me, and had my hands
full for week susding him not 10 die OF ntarh
OF the stomach"
The discussion indefinitely postponed
and the family talked books and gossip and topics
of the day very amicably for the rest of the even.
ing. but the physician in telling his diagnosis
used 10 say that 1t was a simple exposition OF
very common fall ailment Evidence of the pubIics
uneasy dubiousness Of mind in the matter Of
undertaking comes 10 THE SIN every yenr
about this time In the form of letters, Of which the
communication is typical.
TO TIE EDITOR OF THE SUN-.Sir: There
Is 40 much diversity Of opinio on the relative
merits of silk and cotton and wool, and possibly
be comforting great favor on thousands Of your
leaders ny requesting some medical man
advise us what sort OF material VIC should use i'll
lindcrgarmcnts, and whether it is better 10 dress
heavy or light in this direction in our uncertain
inquiry may depend the health. and possibly the
lives Of many Of your readers during the coming
year
MFR"
With view to giving some sort Of answer 10
this riddle a STU reporter questioned n number
opinions calculated 10 make the head buzz. How
ever nearly all the protectors Of the public health
agreed upon four points. and here they are;
l. That the climate OF this vicinity is the most
unrefIain and trying climate ever contItved.
That a general rule for Undertaking.. its
material, its weight and the time for seasonal
changes would miss as many cases as il hit.
hs m1 t hSg once put sh on his hG"Ev
IL TO his soul with rods OF steel for il he tries To
dodge the autumnal changes by shifting his
attire 10 suit the conditions. sooner or later tho
weather will catch him mapping.
l. That more people die OF, pneumonia than
oil Sunsroke: the corullary 10 which is that there's
more danger OF dressing too lightly than Too
The individual opinions of the doctors whom
The reporter saw were guided by their spcciallics.
lung specialist advised woollens Of varying
weight the year around 4 skin disea So expert
denounced overheatng Of the blood by too much
weight OF clothing in warm weather 4 nerve
ton from woollcn or flannel material against
The skin was extremely injurious 10 persons Of
ihiEhiy nervous temperament a man who bas
ihr slight irritation from this cause was health
in and an aid To circulation An authority
was suffering wholly unnecessary paugs h'.
cause it would not wear an extra thickness Of
Word is law in the matter u I sSs c"nd ]m Z
athletes was positive that New Workers arc de
selves too dainiily from extremes Of weather
Another NJ d. considered man safe who kept his
chest and back well protected Will" still another
believed wet feet 10 be the cause of NEST O(thr ills
that flesh IS heir to And So il went until the r.
porter hnally came upon general practitioner
VINO had no particular specially but large
practice and experience. and spoke thus,
IT all depends on the individual. \ young
and hearty man who has good blood circulation
and who keeps in good condition may wear ore
weight Of Undertaking throughout the year
without harm Thousands Of men in this city
do it. On the other hand. q man who is a lit'la
out Of condition needs a barrier between himself
3nd cold atmosphere. which snail be n non con-
ductor OF neat and wooilen goods are an excellent
non conductor You see, We have 10 keep tho
body at an even temperature Of 0S 2, and when q
man is outdoors with the thermometer below
lrceAng, he radlacS great amount Of heat.
oOlcn underCothes act as a barrier to that radi4-
ton whereas cotton, which is a good conductor
doesn't provide much Of barrier Wool is the
nalural protection Of all animals, A physically
rugged man, however will keep up his own bodily
temperature, even in very cold weather by tho
energy Of the human machine. People who
In he 81 in hn hiply