Daily Arizona silver belt., 1907-08-18
THE ACTION OF HUMIDITY
Feature of Hot Weather Most Responsi
 ble for Discomfort and Suffering

Humidity is the feature of hot weath- CT that is most responsible for the dis comfort of living things.
 There is in every human organism a complicated heat-regulating function-a sort of automatic thermostat-- the To- cation of which is supposed to be near the base of the brain. It is due to the activity of this force that man may go from the equator, where the mean temperature is well above the hundred mark, to the region of eternal snow, where again the temperature is as far the other way, and yet the internal heat register of his body will not vary fraction of degree, if he is in good health. It is the healthy working of this regulator that insures the health of the individual, within practical linn itations. This force acts chiefly through millions of sweat glands, that are To- cated in every part of the body, and by well-arranged scheme of nature they are so situated that the most profuse action takes place.
 These glands are extremely small in some areas; as many as 5000 may be found in a square inch of the palm of the hand, yet from these there is con stantly escaping an invisible perspira- tion. They furnish one of the main av- onues for the escape of the fluids and products of bodily activity. The aver age amount of this liquid precipitation from an adult is about quart in twenty-four hours.
 Humidity, practically speaking, is the relative amount of moisture suspended in the atmosphere. This may vary widely from 40 per cent or less in cold, dry areas, to S5 per cent in warm, wet areas, and it is the existence of these various degrees of saturation that af- fleets the health and comfort of the individual. The reason for this is that
 the temperature of the body is regu lated practically by this precipitation, as it evaporates from the surface of the skin. The condition of the surrounding air which has to receive this perspi- ration is, therefore, of the utmost con sequence.
 If the air is already saturated with water from other sources it does not readily take up the moisture from the body, and the water, instead of passing away in vapor, remains on the surface of the skin, with all it's solid eonstitu- ents, to clog up the pores and produce many discomforting conditions. On the other hand, if the air is not saturated, it readily takes up the evaporated moist ure, and a feeling of refreshing coolness prevails.
 Many conditions arise that affect this humidity. The locality in which one lives may be dry and the humidity low, but variable winds may bring moist ure into the area in large amounts and SO raise the saturation point to an un- comfortable degree Or the moist areas may as effectually be changed by winds from a dry scource. Warm air is much more easily saturated than cold, but it may not be as acceptable, on account of it's uper-saturation, which interferes with the free absorption of perspi- ration, while on the other hand cold air may be uper-saturated, but never to such a degree as the former.
 One may modify the uncomfortable effects of too much humidity by proper clothing worn next to the skin.. For this purpose lightweight woolen or silk is the best material, as it retains the moicture in suspended form, away from the body, allowing circulation be- tween. while cotton does not do this Applied to health, humidity is of great importance. Excessive evaporation from the body means stimulation, in just ratio, and persons suffering from ner- vous conditions, whether they go for health or pleasure, should seek condit- ions where the degree of humidity is at a fair average, such as sea trip, or near the water
 On the other hand, those who are suf. fering from "muscle tire,' and fatigue from too much bodily exertion, should seek drier areas, as muscle energy does not radiate from the body as freely in dry air as it does under moist humid conditions. Most air favors all germ diseases and therefore thos suffering from most of the diseases of the air passages will improve much faster in high dry areas.-Boston Globe.