Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-07-12
HOT WEATHER RULES
Simplicity Of Diet Highly Es-
Sential in Summer.
a Cool Temper Much Better Than Ice
Cold Drinks.
external Baths Far Better Than copjous loier.
nal Baths Of Wafer.

the recent torrid spell testified elo-
quehtiy To the fact that in this climate
~ necessary to prepare ones self for
'he approach of hot weather. The fact
that the hot wave burst upon the
country unawares caused vast
amount of discomfort and had the ex-
| IRENE neat continued for a longer pc
ROD the effects undoubtedly would
nave been very serious for a large
| number of persons
The question as to what changes are
| necessary in our diet, clothing and gen
| eral mode of life in order to endure
comfortably the severe heat which is
| likely to prevail more or less steadily
| FOR the next four months is an impor-
tant one and requires far more careful
attention than the matter of renovat-
/ ing ones living apartments, to which
every housekceper gives thorough at
! tention. How to do this how to order
! ones daily life and amend ones habits
to meet the situation are matters re-
sarding which the ordinary citizen has
only vague general notions and con-
corning which he needs the advice of
an expert as he would that of a trained
architect if he We're to remodel his
house.
The necessity for a radical change
! in the ordering of our daily lives on the
arrival of hot weather." said a promi-
nert physician when questioned on this
point. arises from the fact that we are
surrounded by entirely different climat-
ic conditions. In the United States
the changes of the season are SO rapid
and pronounced that, tiguratively
speaking. We are transported to new
countries The only difference between
us ana those who actually emisrate to
different regions is that almost invari-
ably we keep up our old habits of liv-
ing. which are in themselves the chief
causes of the physical disabilities that
affect us
The lassitude of early spring conse-
quently finds us bearing the extra bur
denS of winter diet and heavy clothes.
We complain of the weather when We
ourselves are Oftenest at fault in not
responding properly to our new en-
vironments. 1t is generally considered
by the highest medical authorities that
the tired feeling and aches so univers-
ally experienced with the coming of
warm spells are due to the accumula-
ton of the toXines of tissue waste
that have imperfect vent in respiration
and other eXcretory efforts. Thus. in
stead of raking down the ashes and
lessening the fuel we are satisfied to
pile on the coal and to allow the fire
to burn as it will Because we are too
lazy to take extra exercise we imagine
We are SO weak that We require even
more food than was needed during the
colder months when not only increased
nutrition was necessary but extra bod
lily heat had to be sustained.
1T is often said and with a great
show of truth. that the average Amer
lean is an unnecessarily free liver for
his climate. Especially is this SO with
his food during the warmer months.
He hibernates on fat things during the
colder seasons. and keeps up the prac-
tice the remainder of the year. Not
infrequently he complains of being i'll
when he is simply overloaded. We
ought to live more sparingly when ma
ture lessons her demands for tissue
building.
In general terms the desirable
course to follow when summer heat be-
gins to manifest itself is to burn up the
surplus fuel Of the body by more ex
ercise in the open air and at the same
time to lower the future supply to the
level of actual necessity by taking less
food. Moderation is the golden rule Of
conduct for the heated season-modera- !
ton in food and drink. in exercise and
in labor.
ITO consider more particularly some
of the common faults and bad habits
that prevail in the hot weather season.
it is admitted by the medical profess
sion generally that a chief essential of
safety from the effects of heat is total
abstinence from or the sparing use of
alcoholic liquors.
1T is a mistaken idea that liquor
helps one to endure either heat or cold.
Nevertheless. when the mercury begins
to rise in the thermometer many men
commence pouring cocktails and other
alcoholic drinks into themselves under
the delusion that this will aid them in
keeping cool. The result of this is
stimulation. followed by reaction and
a general lowering of energies. The
statistics of sunstroke and heat pros
/ tration show very plainly that alco-
holics or habitual consumers of liquor
are the most frequent victims. While
it would be useless to advise men in the
habit of drinking to abstain entirely
| from the use of liquor during the hot
! months, they will consult their own
safety by partaking very sparingly and
by lessening the ordinary consumption
instead of increasing it, as many men
do.
Another inveterate foe to comfort
and health during warm weather. and
one that people should recognize, is the
ice water so universally used in this
country. Americans are a nation of ice
water consumers. On the other side of
the Atlantic ice is still regarded as an
American luxury rather than Euro
pean necessity. While the latter may
/ be an extreme view. ours takes the
other and more injurious extreme. We
use far more ice than is necessary. In
fact. its principal utility is not for con-
sumption. but for refrigeration in cool
ing various forms of food particularly
milk.
Ice water is injurious when taken in
large quantities because its contact
with the stomach shocks the nerves of
that organ. and also of the heart
Plenty of water should be taken in
n satisfy thirSt-hnt