Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-07-06
HOT WEATHER HINTS.
Errors in Diet and Dress Which i'm
pair the Digestion.


summer. coming after chilly and
wet period. accumulated the necessity
for all classes of people to guard
against the disease incident to the
heated term. Doubtless the change
affords relief to many from the de-
pressing effects Of the long rainy spell
which until Sunday characterized
June. But with temperatures of al
most tropical intensity and agra
waited by a considerable increase of
humidity, it becomes especially i'm
portant to avoid all errors in diet and
dress which impair the digestion. re-
duce the strength of the body. and un-
| fit the system to resist the toxic in
fuences of excessive heat.
II is well known that the creates,
mortality of the hot months is due
| to diarrheal diseases. and that is pc
culiarly the case with infants. AL
though the summer of 1872 was not
throughout rhenomenaily hot. July
was marked by high mean temper
allure with an excess of humidity. and
consequently the summer quarter of
that year was the most fatal that had
ever be en- known in New York. while
the deaths under / year of age in the
| CITY amounted for the whole quarter
ITO 50 per cent. of all deaths 1t is
obvious. therefore. that safeguarding
the lives of infants in the torrid spells
| is a problem of cardinal Importance.
Although individual cases of debility
or disease arising from the current
climatic changes can only be safely
treated by experienced physicians.
rzS., mi
for preserving the health at this sea
son. In the matter Of dress IT is in
dispensable that the clothing be Of
light weight, to permit free respiration
and free evaporation from the skin
which is natures primal provision for
preventing too great an increase Of
BODY temperature. The outer gar
ments should be of light colors. which
serve to reduce the quantity of solar
heat reaching the body. But It is de-
sirable that the clothing should not
be SO light that the body is subjected
to sudden chilling when exposed to
indoor drafts of air. high winds, or
rapid drop of the external tempera-
ture, always occurring after the heavy
thunderstorms. Consequently, in our
ATTITUDES the texture of summer
clothing should never be wholly de-
void of wool, though it is imperative
to keep the neck and chest as cool
and unincumbered as possible.
But no precaution against the eff
fects Of excessive heat will avail much
unless the digestion is maintained in
normal state. To secure this happy
condition all impure. stale, and twice
cooked foods should be eschewed and
the gastric juices should not be rob-
bed of their digestive value by di)u-
ton with an oversupply of soups.
The simplest foods, taken in moderate
quantities. are always preferable when
thermometers are climbing into the
nineties. The immoderate use of iced
drinks of any kind causes serious
and sometimes a fatal check to the di-
gestivc processes and consequently to
the proper action of the heart, So in
dispensable to preserve the natural
circulation when high vapdr tension
of the atmosphere makes it most OPP
pressive. Still more destructive OF
all healthful conditions at such times
is the overindulgence in alcoholic
drinks.
With a careful observance of such
simple precautions there is little
reason to apprehend the fatal conse-
quences of heat waves, unless per-
SON. is weakened by insufficiency OF
sleep, overwork, or overexertion out
of doors in our crowded city thorough
fares-New York Herald