The Penn's Grove record., 1907-02-01
FORTIFYING THE BODY
AGAINST COLD.
By F. E. MCCLURE.



At this season of the year colds"
are prevalent, and the subject Of suit
able hygienic clothing is uppermost
in many homes. The matter of
proper bathing is also an intergral
point of the discussion. Ones liza
bility to take cold" depends almost
entirely on the condition of the elm
NATIVE organs and, to a very large
measure, on the condition Of the skin.
The skin has five functions: Pro-
t~ective, excretory, temperature regu-
lating, ~absorptive, sensory. Only
two, however, the eXcretory and tenn
perature regulating, are of impor-
lance from a strictly hygienic point
of view, the absorptive power being
so small, excepting in some diseased
conditions, as to be safely ignored.
The eXcretion of the skin is from
two varieties of structure, sebaceous
and sweat glands. The purpose of
the sebaceous secretion is to keep the
skin and hairs soft and pliable, but
thO oWCdt 6ldudO dlO ny IdI thO l1OoI
important of the two, for upon their
activity depends the temperature reg
ulating function also. Normally,
about thirty per cent. of all the mois-
ture excreted from the body passes
through the skin. This varies, how
ever, depending upon the climatic
conditions, clothing, exercise, etc.
Unless during active exercise this is
known as "insensible Precipitation"
and has been estimated by some OBJ
servers to be as high in amount as
two quarts daily. Perhaps one quart
or one quart and a half is more near
ly correct.
The proper action of the skin is
also, to a large extent, under the con-
troll of the nervous system. Thus the
matter Of bathing falls naturally I'M
der two heads; bathing for purposes
of cleanliness and bathing for the
refx, or Hardening" effect.
For purposes Of cleanliness, under
ordinary conditions during the winter
months, for people who are not en-
gagged in dusty Or laborious occupa-
tions, the hot soap-and-water bath
once a week is usually sufficient to
keep the mouths of the sweat glands
free from distractions and function
ating properly.
The daily ablution for hardening"
effect has popularity been taken to
mean "a cold bath every morning"
For the average person this is a mis-
take. Few people can react sufficient
ly after a cold morning bath to make
the procedure beneficial. In starting
the morning bath or sponge land all
baths should be taken in the morn
ing with the exception of the hot
cleansing bath, which is taken at
bedtime) tepid water should be used,
the temperature gradually cooled, day
by day, until water can be used which
is quite cold. This bath should be
taken very readily, then the entire
body should be Immediately and Wig
orously rubbed with a coarse towel
until a complete reaction has set in
ana the Dody IS IN a glow.
Bearing in mind that the real func-
ton of the sweat is the regulation Of
body temperature, the proper form of
clothing is more or less self-evident.
Generally speaking, the undercloth-
ing should be light, and the varia-
lions of temperature met by putting
off or putting on outer clothing. Cot
ton is an excellent conductor of heat.
Wool is a non-conductor. Individuals
differ, too, in the varying thickness of
the layer of fatty tissue lying just
beneath the skin, which is also a non
conductor of heat and acts as a
blanket. keeping in the natural body
warmth. The ideal undergarment
then, should be a light garment, COM
posed of from forty per cent. to sixty
per cent. of wool mixed with cotton
or silk. Perhaps the best form would
be to have a light wooden (sixty per
cent.) body, faced with cotton or
silk.
A very important hygienic measure
too often neglected is the proper ven
tilation of sleeping apartments. Each
individual should have 1900 square
cubic feet of air, changed every hour.
This can be obtained only by opening
the outside windows. Provided one
is not lying in g direct draft and is
warmly covered, it is impossible to
have too much fresh, cold air in the
room. A simple way to accomplish
this is raise the windows, and against
the inside Of the casing fix a wide
board in such a name that the cur
rent of air is directed upward, then
close the door and, no matter how
low the mercury sinks, sleep with no
fear of any harm. If possible one
should have a warm room in which
to dress in the morning, but if this is
impossible, more has still been gained
by having the windows open all night
than is lost by a very rapid dressing
in a cold room in the morning. Fresh
air is stimulating, tonic, germicidal,
health-giving.
A vigorous protest must be made
against the wearing of all chest pro-
tectors and pads, also against the
wearing of heavy furs unless they are
Immediately removed upon coming in
from the cold. The prevalent habit
of women in retaining their heavy
furs when calling or at public gath.
erings is most reprehensible. The ole
saying that "sealskin acque Kill
more people than does smallpox is moi
far from the truth.
Rubbers are another article Of
wear whose use has been abused. d
course they should be worn in E
heavy rain storm or when the walks
are wet and sloppy, and always re
moved Immediately upon going in
doors; but ordinarily the feet should
be kept warm and dry by means O
good, stout shoes with felt or corl
~insoles, If necessary. Rubber is alb
solutely impervious to moisture ant
so the natural perspirationi is retained
and cold, damp feet, with inevitabl,
colds result