The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1909-03-03

time made its appearance in Europe,
the origin of which, by all other nations
was imputed to the French, and called
by their name, but by that gay and gal
liant people the insinuation was transfer
ed to the natives OF Hispaniola or other
parts unknown. To this the mercuriai pre-
parations of Paracelsus seemed to be
sovereign and specific cure. What with
his opium, and what with his mercury,
he rose to an immense popular reputa-
ton. He delivered and published the
most scandalous diatribes against the
old physicians; publicly burnt the works
of Galen, Avicenna, and those old au-
thorities which the profession had been
following for hundreds of years. The
great principle which animated him was
the preference of his own experience to
the combined wisdom of antiquity. But
perhaps l do an injustice to the memory
of this immortal quack-the reformation
he was called to demanded such man
strip him of his alchemy, which never
could prevent his being deplorable
pauper, and ofhis Elixir of Life of which
he carried bottle always in his pocket
and which could not prolong his earthly
thread beyond the forty-seventh year,
and he did great things for the profess
sion. He made the doctors in white
gloves for SO he called those who were
too vain to soil their fingers in labora-
tory laughing stock from one end OF
Europe to the other. But none of these
characters in the whole history of medi-
cine has been known to butt against
a truth of Nature, alaw ofthe Universe.
1t was left for polite and accomplish
ed gentleman of the twentieth century,
residing in this corner Of the Keystone
State, to assume the prerogative of per-
forming miracles of this kind, which en-
titles him to the cognomen of prince
among mountebanks.
1t is not to be supposed that because
the Egyptians dressed their mummies
thousands of years ago in linen under
clothing, nor that because Hippocrates
who died in tropical climate B. G.. 357
recommended it, is reason for wear
ing it for that purpose in low tempera-
lures in these modern DAYS. Were our
champions theory true, Peary and his
companions would now be equipped
with an outfit ofthe stuff, and to be dis
tributed among the Esquimau they
may find in their journey northward,
Peary acts from the stand point of science
and philosophy, and not from blind
caprice.
Did the doctrine of wearing linen OF
cotton underclothing in our climate, in
the winter season, possess the extraor,
dinary superiority and efficacy given il
by our champion, it would have been
known to the members of the medical
profession here, who generally know q
good thing when they see it as soon as
others, and are as quick to act upon it
Where in our country are they teaching
such doctrine in the medical schools
and universities Were it in accord with
science or truth, our medical societies
would have advocated it long before oul
champion was the owner of a printing
press.
Why do northern explorers use wool
len shirts and drawers on their expedi
tions? 1t is because woollen is baG
conductor of heat; aiding their wearerl
in retaining it; did cotton or linen pos
sess like property it would take the
place of woollen, for economic reasons.
When the objects around us are a.
warm as ourselves, we lose no heat by
radiation or by conduction. What il
radiated from us is radiated back b,
them. Here cotton or linen underwear
is the sine que nOn-without which moth
ing. In winter weather natural law ask
for an equilibrium of temperature be
tween ours of 98% degrees F. and th'
surrounding atmosphere. Here radia
ton and conduction are both at work t.
rob our organism of the animal heat
and will win, unless the fur, hair, o
woollen bad conductor Of heat prevents
If the temperature is low enough, a
Gin Greenland's icy mountains"
With this article, all essential point
connected with the subject under discus
sion having been covered, the writer
share in the controversy ends.
OCToGENARIAN NJ. d.
| AUCTION.-Next consignment sale at Bra
mans livery, Friday. March 18th, at on
| O'clock D. M, Horses, COWS-anYthlng yOl