The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-02-15

From Head to Foot Mems and WOm-
ems Dress Is Unhygienic.
London Mail.

London Mail.
''What shall wear to avoid smallpox"
is the pressing question of the hour.
Medical advice is short and to the point.
Wear smOOth-faced outer clothing that
holds as little dust possible, for ii is in
floating dust that the danger Of contagion
lies. For underclothing wear flannel. 1t
promotes circulation in the skin and sur
face muscles, and prevents chils AS a
chilled body is highly susceptible TO con-
tagion, flannel underclothing alone will
preserve the wearer from infection when he
would otherwise inevitably fail a victim.
The dress which the hospital authorities
in London compel persons visiting small
white Holland overall, reaching from the
neck to the ankles and buttonng tightly
round the wrists and neck. The moment
this garment is discarded it is disinfected
Doctors themselves rely almost entirely
upon the protection afforded by antiseptics,
but though they say that no particular
dress is an absolute safeguard attention to
these simple hints is calculated to lessen
the risk.
The medical point of view in regard TO
prevailing fashions is, however interesting
apart from smallpox, especially in connec-
ton with other diseases that are rife at
the present time of year. Dress ought to be
designed mainly for warmth, but as a mat
ter of fact many men and all women sacri-
flee everything to ornament
To begin with the head. That member of
our anatomy, having warm natural COW
erng and being exceptionally well supplied
with blood, needs scarcely any artificial
covering except in excessively hot or bit
terly cold weather And as the scalp per-.
spires freely and requires continuous re-
newal of air, any headgear worn should be
porous But men cover II with a hard i'm
perviOus top hat weighing six ounces or
half a pound. And this they wear in broil-
ing July as well as in freezing January
The evil results are numerous The hard
and rigid brim necessarily congresses the
arteries and veins, hinderlng the flow of
blood to the scalp. and, since there is no
ventilation, the air inside becomes damp
hot and impure. No scalp can continue in
a healthy state under these circumstances
less bald. The proper head covering in cold
weather should be soft, not rigid and well
ventilated. That is to say, it should have
several inlets for fresh air at the sides and
a fairly large outlet at the top. In summer
the straw hat of the American type is the
only correct headwear from a health point
of view.
All collars are a hygienic abomination.
The neck is always in motion and continu-
ally changing its shape. Hence it should
either be quite uncovered or have a soft
flexible covering. which would adapt itself
TO requirements. Our stiff collars construct
the veins and prevent the used-up blood
from returning freely from the brain They
chafe the skin and irritate the glands
which numerous in the neck These
glands have very important function TO
perform in removing waste products from
the brain. Consequently. when then are in
named the brain suffers. Any one who
wishes to have a clear head should wear
the lowest of collars.
In the region of the tie. again, we utterly
disregard health for appearance Just un-
derneath are the delicate bronchial tubes
and the apices of the lungs, which require
to be warmly covered. But fashion DEGREES
that we must cut piece out of our waist
coat and coat in that important spot. Re
suit: Bronchitis pneumonia, consumption.
coughs and colds. To do the sensible thing
we ought either to wear waistcoats button
ing up to the neck (and very becoming they
are) or substitute broad and really warm
"a rsfn of nil
monty used.
Although men are not open to the charge
Of tight lacing, they generally wear their
clothing too tight round the lower part of
the body One Of the laws OF healthy dress
is that free movement of the body must not
be interfered with. But it is not easy
matter for man who aims at being well
dressed 10 stoop and lace his boots or even
TO bend over table to write. This certain
~ should not be the case. for not only is
II uncomfortable, but very often danger
Gus.
In foot covering we sin most deeply
against the principles OF hygiene. The sin
gle fact that the foot is not allowed 10
come fiat on the ground compeIs the whole
spinal column 10 alter its natural shape,
with serious consequences.
But If men are foolish. women are worse.
Their hair that should be evenly spread
over the scalp, is tied in bundle over one
spot. unduly heating that particular part
the blood vessels, and the next tiny bon
nets that give no shade to the eyes.
The upper part OF their chests is scarcely
at all protected from the cold. their waists
are covered with a dozen thicknesses of
clothing, the blood vessels and nerves of
their arms are squeezed in tight sleeves.
their hands are compressed in tighter
gloves and their feet are crushed out OF all
shape in boots several inches too small. a
great anatOmist who has inspected over
five thousand wOmen's feet declares he has
not once met with pair shaped nature
made them. As for the corset. a physician.
who shall be nameless, says that not all the
famines. pestilences and wars OF the world
have done so much injury TO the human
race as this instrument.