St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1903-07-18
WARNING AS TO UNDERWEAR.
which 1t May BE Well to Heed as the
Weather Begins to Get
Warmer.

pie change from the heavy underwear
of the winter to the light summer
weight. The majority abruptly jump
from one extreme to the other This
is not only foolish in northern lati-
tudes; it is dangerous. There will be
cold days, just as there will be ex-
cessively warm days, says Good House
keeping. a
The very thin underwear of midsum-
mer should be reached by degrees.
No outfit is complete or hygienically
correct if it does not contain inter-
mediate weights. ct is surprising to
me how many people persist in the
old-fashioned idea of dressing by the
calendar" once remarked a dealer
in underwear with whom I was talk
ing. IF they would let the calendar
alone and dress according to the day
you would hear less about spring
colds"
The chief function Of undertaking
is to assist in maintaining the normal
temperature of the body. It is obvious
that the problem becomes most COM
pick in the season of greatest changes,
spring and autumn. Whoever gives
the matter serious thought must see
the absurdity of supposing that an
even temperature of the body is main
tanned by any one given form OF dress
when the thermometer fuctuates
from the forties on one day to the six
ties on the next. These changes
should be met by constant changes in
clothing, and this. in the underwear,
rather than in the outer clothing. All
Of the best makes Of underwear come
in number of weights in all wool, in
silk, in wool and cotton, and in cot
ton. The variation is SO graduated
that every change in climatic condi-
tions can be met with comfort and
virtual insurance against sickness.
The theory on which the manufac-
ture of hygienic underwear is based
is that air at rest is the best known
non-conductor of heat. Therefore, it
is aimed to produce fabric which
shall retain large amount OF air at
rest within its interstices. Wool is
the best known substance for this
purpose. Thus an all wool garment is
warmest because Of the greater
amount of air it contains, which, sur
rounding the body. prevents the es-
cape of the natural heat of the body.
It is well known that piece OF new
flannel is warmer than piece which
has been shrunk and felted with wash
ing. From the latter some of the
air has been expelled, lessening the
non-conducting properties. This is
the principle which has produced the
so-called cellular underwear, which
has come into use in the past few
years.
But the conservation Of body heat
is not the sole aim. The covering next
the skin must be Of such a porous
nature as to allow the skin to throw
off all its watery ard poisonous mat
tiers with the least possible resistance.
This property must have due weight
in the selection of underwear. AS
warm weather advances it becomes
the more important of the two fac
tors. Lighter clothing is worn in or
der not to retain SO much of the ami
NAL heat. Just here the individual en-
tiers into the problem. With some the
amount of animal heat is very great;
with others it is small. It is plain
that the underwear suited to the
former will not be suited to the lat.
ter. A careful study should be made
of the needs Of the individual and
clothing selected accordingly, espe-
cially at this season. Mothers can
not be too careful Of their children in
this matter. Study to keep the tenn
perature of their bodies at normal
Watch the weather closely and make
them change their underwear accord
ingly. twill save anxiety and doctors
bills. Don't let them have their own
way in this matter.
When packing for the mountains OF
the seashore, see to it that there are
suits of underwear Of several weights
for every member of the family. The
thin balbriggan that is seemingly too
warm in the heat Of the cottage is in.
sufficient on, the yacht, and an extra
wrap will not answer the purpose. A
heavier weight Of underwear alone will
| insure safety.