The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1902-04-12
ESTABLISHED 1850.

least once day, if the skin is to do
its duty by the blood and nerves.
For the same reason the skin must
have its daily water bath. l favor
the cold plunge for few persons. I
think the warm tub bath should be
used sparingly, but a sponge bath,
followed by vigorous friction, every
body should have once day. Cold
water is preferable, but that, like the
air bath, may be matter of educa-
ton. Bathe one portion of the body
IN tepid water, keeping the rest of
the body covered. AS the shock les
sens with habit, bare more of the body
at one time. When you are harden
ed to exposure to air and tepid water,
gradually lower the temperature of
the water until you are taking a
sponge bath in cold water. That
word sponge bath is misnomer. 1
hate sponges. They are germ and
filth carriers. Use your hands, or,
better, rough wash rag that will
create friction and can be boiled be-
tween baths. Don't use one wash
rag for week as some people do.
The thoughtless uncleanliness of de-
cent people is beyond my conprehen-
sion.
Take the matter of underwear.
That's right in line with the cold cure
we are discussing. Nine persons out
of ten wear soiled underwear next the
skin. 1 admit that laundry bills
would keep many, save plutocrats,
from changing every day, which is
the ideal course, but at least under
wear may be we'll ventilated between
wearings. advise keeping two suits
going at once. Wear a suit one day.
Put it where it will be we'll ventilated
in fresh air the next day and don a
second suit. Alternate the two suits
until both are soiled. Then have a
new deal. The rule will be worth
money to you-but be sure to hang
the suit you are not wearing out in
the fresh air. Don't tuck it away in
a dark closet.
while we are talking about un-
derwear, wool is unquestionably more
conducive to warmth than anything
one can wear, but there is absolutely
no sense in wearing fannels as thick
as board. If all wool irritates the
skin too much lightweight silk and
wool mixture is quite as good. In
case person simply will not wear any
wool silk is the next best thing but
most of the physicians will, think.
agree with me that silk and wool is
an excellent underwear mixture. Cot
ton and linen are good conductors of
heat. They take the animal heat
which the body produces by great
effort and carry it away from the
body as fast as it is pumped up.
Wool, being poor conductor, allows
the body to preserve its warmth for
its own purpose.
Recently in several northern cities
a most sensible plan has been adopted
fa~ 4ha .ae1ioorl1an -r..isAAA--a-..aa--
l1ceman, instead OF putting on woollen
underwear a foot thick, wears two
full suits of very light weight woollen
underwear. The idea is based on
scientific fact and has worked most
successfully. The two light, loose
suits allow the air to circulate freely
and make thorough skin ventilation
possibility with greatly increased
cold resistance as a result. I myself
have adopted the idea and find it ad-
mirable. can't say enough against
the clinging, tight-ftting, ribbed un-
derwear that seems so dear to woman
kind and is sinfully put upon many
children. 1t is opposed to all rules
of health and mankind.