The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1909-01-20
The Dress Question.
The Science of UndercIothlnf--.
Why Wool is Preferable to
Cotton, as a Rule.

NIIlLEN OI Cne OUn IHbJs, On Iue SuDleCb
of the science of underclothing, has
elected from the proprietor of the Inde-
pendent of the 18th inst. an effusion on
1.-THE History of the Practice of Medi-
cine, and The Advance of Science in
Modern Times )" but this is a subject
entirely irrelevant, and has no connec-
ton with that communication, but one
which would gladly discuss with him
on future occasion.
Now, science is synonymous with
truth, and when it has proven natural
law, no power on earth can disprove it
as instanced by astronomical science in
the truth of the Heliocentric system of
nature, which was once opposed by the
highest authority in all Chrstendom.
Besides the truth of science, there are
self-evident facts, and have pleasure in
whiting that among the latter think the
proprietor of the Independent a polite
and accomplished gentleman, and as an
editor and thinker, one who classes with
the heavy-weights, and we'll qualified to
preach the gospel of cotton and wooden
fabrics, however erroneous he may be
concerning the matter in question. In
his final text on the subject he states -
"If these statements are not believed by
the reader we would suggest that he test
them to his own satisfaction. He will
satisfy himself that they are correct"
GAupI or,k;osorn mill o,,ffar I,
advice to go without protest, and it may
be replied that the only method by which
Reader" can make the test is, to doH
his winter flannels and appropriate his
linen; but it will be much safer to wait
until June LIST, 1909, to try the expert
ment, and restore the flannel the follow
ing October.
The revolutionary idea of our cotton
and linen instructor, that "it is capable
of demonstration by experiment, has
been already decided at the expense of
disease and death to thousands of hu-
man beings, and needs no new expert
ments for further test and the reason
why this is advisable is, as has been
stated, because wool is bad conductor
of heat, and cotton and linen good con-
ductors, and these are inexorable and
immutable natural laws, just as that
other one that heat causes bodies to ex-
pand, or that heat is mode of motion.
The science of chemistry has proven
them to be such, and can do it at any
time bylaboratory experiment, and when
our hero of the Independent succeeds by
this irregular method of advertising and
exploiting a commercial product, and
can establish the position he has taken
regarding cotton and linen underwear,
in opposition to philosophy and science,
geological epoch has transpired, a new
man is made. Cotton and linen have
given him an earthly omnipotence, his
printing press an earthly immortality.
In regard to the statement in my for
mer communication that the cotton and
linen scheme is dangerous to adopt /; it
is not supposed that civilian, layman,
or newspaper man outside the profession
of medicine and the collateral sciences
connected Herewith, is calculated to pose
as an exemplar of physics, philosophy,
or natural laws, especially when the
theory respecting the matter he exploits
has been solved, and found to be erron-
eous. His own dogmatical ipse dirit is
not sufficiently reliable, on so serious
and important subject.
Not all the disorders of humanity are
caused by "germs" alone, and requir-
ing only germicides for their treatment.
In cases of the eruptive fevers, however,
mildly they have run their course, we
often see the worst sequela from the m,
and sometimes death caused by improp-
er exposure to the atmospheric vicissi-
tudes during and after convalescence,
by reason of unprotected skin surface
and this may also be the case of any
one of the winter diseases and may all
be in consequence of the improper in
struction in the families where these
maiadies have occurred without a doc
tor, and only the newspaper as guide.
The humane physician is often some
thing more than the mere prescriber of
medicine in the families where he has
been accepted as the guardian of their
welfare. He is often their confidential
friend and adviser, and will instruct
them how to avoid disease, as we'll as to
cure it after invasion; while the nom
professional gentleman gives business to
the doctors and druggists by his en-
pirical publications.
The doctrine that linen underclothiug
is preferable in winter for the women
and children and all those of indoor
life is equally as erroneous as that which
applies to persons of constant outdoor
exposure. Those who live in warm
rooms are exposed to drafts of air in the
halls and door-ways and the windows,
when they need their worsteds from
head to foot, when not in bed, and in
the latter case they need wooden sheets
if they are able to have them; other.
Wiae woolen nipht Oarments