Evening star., 1928-06-07
In Canadian Wilds.
Dear DR. Brady:

Dear DR. Brady:
Regarding the pores OF the skin, Win =
I was a boy in school our SchoolmaStcf
told us the story of the boy who Was
gilded at a Roman feast. just to show
how necessary 1t was to keep the pores
open by washing at least three times
day; and if we didn't do that we were
liable to sufIOcatc. because VIC breathcd
almost as much through the pores Of
the skin as We did through the mouth
and nose
Well, l washed somo. anyway. but T.
never believed in this theory about the
breathing part of it; it didn't appeal to
my reason.
Doctor. you say nothing can get
through the unbrUken skin from the
outside" / am glad to know that for
as a farmer / have some dirty jobs to
! do sometimes. but / have never read or
| heard it from any one but you' but
| feel you are right.
| salt and water come through the
/ skin from the inside" ! have prac-
| tical demonstration of that every day.
| Question. If that is so. why Is 1t that
nothing can get through from the out
side. and cnly salt and water can get
| through from the inside? This Is a
! question that StlImps me when / am up
An artist on the stage gets insI,ira-
ton from applause. and l wish TO say,
doctor. that you are we'll worthy OF all
the applause a poor humble reader like
myself can give you Ma, OF course. Is
in this, too. We have read your articles
for about six years. and / am little
ashamed to say that this is the hrst
time / have ever sent you sign OF
our appreciation We have seven good,
healthy children. and their good health
is due a whole lot 10 the knowledge we
have gathered from reading your
articles.
Editorial note.--Right here let me
interrupt our friend to say that 1 don't
care a hoot about the applause, but
believe me. it is one big thrill to learn
that my teachings have helped a little
in keeping those seven children healthy
am proud, too that ma is in IT'D
have worked in the Canadian. woods
for about Is years: and in the Winter
time we often get 40 below zero, but
don't remember ever catching cold
on account of it. Also for about three
weeks, from March 10 to April l or a
little later when the snow is going. we
are working in wet snow, slush; and
know of no clothes we can work IN
which will keep the lower part of our
bodies dry during that time. so from
morning till night we are wet to the
hir-5. l have dropped through the ice
in Lake Superior in February. Like the
cold weather, it is not exactly comfort
able, but never can remember one in
stance of catching cold" on account OF
being wet.
i am afraid 1 shall try your patience
If 1 write more; so. wishing there were
more like you who would tell us the
truth, regardless, am,
Yours respectfully.
That legend of the boy who was
gilded is the only ground the quaint
notion of the skin breathing" rests
upon.
The legend has the advantage over
the truth that ii gets there first. See
how this schoolmaster impressed 1t on
the children: and probably no phySiol-
cgy is taught in that school to this very
day.
Physiology will always be unpopular
because, as this world is run at present
the person who attempts to teach
physiology is certain to encounter re-
sentiment and animosity and if he per-
sistS in his indiScretion he is likely tC
lose his job.
The physiologists have demonstrated
that IL an animal be vanished or coated
vita any impermeable substance. tht
animal soon dies, unless by artificia
means the body temperature of the ami
NAL be kept up to or near the normal
J When that is done. 1t has no apparen
/ effect to paint the animal.
If the boy who was gilded died. III
died from exhaustion of the body heat