New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-07-17
SUNDAY,
JULY u, 1904.
KEEPING COOL.
Some Seasonable Suggestions as to
Diet and Apparel

TX the discomfort and suffering which result from
excessive neat are not so great this summer as they
nave Oeen IN certain exceptional years they are
severe enough TO force themselves upon nr,bIic at
tention and to justify the adoption of all availab,
means for securing relief therefrOua F-ortunatslv
Few hot waves endure more than three or four DAYS
at time. Nature relents at intervals and give.
sweltering humanity chance to recover from, her
worst infections but during the prevalence ~ ~.
latter ingenuity is severely taxed to avoid their
effects.
To meet the trouble inteIigentIy one ought ~
remember where the warmth comes from Part OF
this is produced inside the body. The animal Or
sanism is an engine. Food is fuel burned in it's
furnaces. If the quantity be large and the kinds
be unwisely chosen there will be surplus OF heat
Far less food is needed in summer than IN winter
Hence one of the most important precautions to be
observed at this time of year Is to limit the diet
almost exclusively to fruits and vegetables taking
little or no meat In regard to drinks. much
De left to the Individual taste but the of iced
beverages In any considerable quantity is objection
able for more reasons than one. They check df-
geston. chill the stomach and tend to set up con-
geston in other organs. Moreover in many cases
a very cold drink has the effect OF aggravating
thirst Often more lasting refreshments will be de-
rived from a cup of warm than from a glass Of
iced tea Lemonade. milk, coffee and such bever-
ages are more beneficial if their temperature iz
between 60 and 20 degrees than if below 20.
Most of the heat from which people suffer comes
from outside. and the thermometer rarely gives an
several reasons for the failure One is that hu-
nudity Is a variable factor and it's amount is not
Indicated by ordinary dry bulb instrument Cool
Ing is effected by evaporation from the skin. The
rate of evaporation depends upon the amount OF
invisible vapOr already suspended in the air When
saturaton is nearly reached. the atmosphere re-
fuses TO take any more moisture from any
source-not even to accommodate the most deserv-
ing persons Again. heat Is often reflected from
walls and pavementS in such manner raise
the temperature in the shade several degrees higher
than in perfectly sheltered spot like the interior
of a house or office. Finally the sun temperature
is frequently 20 90 degrees higher than the shade
temperature.
BY far the largest part of the heat lost by tn,
body is radated from the skin. Helmheltz thought
that fully three-fOurths of 1T was thrown off in
that manner while he estimated the amount dis
posed of through the lungs at only one-hfth
Clothing should be so designed in winter as to
check radiation. because there is a vast difference
between the temperature Of the skin-which ought
TO be nearly that of the blood-and the surrounding
air. In summer the difference is small. at least
during the prevalence of hot wave. Blood heat
is about sS12 degrees Fahrenheit and there are
days when the margin between this and the tenn
perature Of the air is exceedingly narrow-not over
eight or ten degrees AT such times only the light
est apparel should be worn II is prudent even
then for some persons 10 sacrifice little comfort
to health rapid chilling Of the surface may lead
the blood 10 accumulate inside at weak point
In winter that phenomenon is called taking cold
and the effect Is often pneumonia The lungs are
less liable 10 congestion in summer but other or
gans may be hurt by the same process especially
If they have previously exhibited weakness In
India ii IS common TO guard the waist with a broad
sash. even in the hottest weather.
Evaporation, 10 which reference has already been
made, Increases the influence Of radiation. The
favorite way or measuring humidity Is TO plaza
beside an ordinary thermometer another whose bulb
has been covered with muslin and mOistened. BY
evaporation the temperature OF the wet bulb Their
mometer is kept several degrees below that of its
companion. and the difference enables the expert
to compute the percentage OF water present in the
surrounding air. At all times. but especially in
summer. the skin is more nearly IN the condition
Of wet bulb Thermometer than Of a dry bulb Their
mOmeter: that evaporation then has a good
chance TO operate. To transform water from
liquid 10 vapOr aosOrbs remarkable amount OF
heat which reappears later when condensation
occurs Hence. greater coolness results from
moist skin than would be possible with perfectly
dry
The delightful sensation produced by breeze.
whether natural or artificial. IS easily understood
So long the air remains absolutely still layer
OF IT. which has acquired the same temperature