LINEN VERSUS WOOL.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 165, 6 April 1908, Page 9

LINEN VERSUS WOOL.

Many people seem to have been considerably startled by "tho great linen theory" advanced ■by Mr. Marcus Woodward in tho ."Daily "Express." In a- nutshell, 1 tho theory is, that the perfect undergarment should absorb moisture 'quickly, and pass it off quickly; so that the skin is ensured a dry climate.Wool, it ip argued,/absorbs mois-. turo slowly, and eliminates it slowly,.whereas porous linon acts precisely otherwise. , "1 ",was surprised and indignant," writes Mr. M. Lewin from Bristol,.-"'at the voiled attack on wool. The writer'of it seems to bo a crank who . is tilting .at full spoetl against tlw best opinions of tho entire medical profession. ' Tho reputation of wool is established. It is delightfully warm ..Id tho •skin when first put 1 on.; linon horribly cold, at least ill cold weather." Other correspondents write to tho snrno effect; but tho linon theory is not without support. .Thus' one .writes"lf tho theory is correct that an undergarment should absorb perspiration quickly, and dry quickly, it is easy to provo that linon is infinitely superior to' wool in these, respects. Who would over dream of wiping the hands on a woollen towel?", "Historicus Minor" points out that linen, .not\wool, is the oldest and-best tried underwear. "Tho Anglo-Saxons wore linen under and woollen oyer' garments," ho writes. "Tho historian'of Charlemagne says that lie was dressed in linen underclothes', after tho fashion of tho Franks. Tho ancient father 'of medicine, Hippocrates, laid it down that linen should lid worn next to the skin.

"Apuleius, a Roman author, said: 'Flax, the cleanest production of tho field, is used for.tho inner clothing of man instaad of wool.' , ' , "To'this day. the Russians wear linen underclothing; and they ought to know how to keep themselves warm. "And aro there not many allusions ,to flax in the Bible? Iu Lcviticus it is stated that tho priest puts on a linen garment breeches; while Ezekiel xliv., 17, roads: shall cloth him with linen garments and no wool shall como upon them.' " : On ,the other hand Mr. Tomalin, director of.Jaeger's Limited, says:—; : ."Animal .wool'is the sun-ival of tho attest in . clothing 'material;. Nature' created it t'o cover animals' bodies, to keep ;thoir skins uniformly warm, aud to allow a free outlet for the exhalation\of watery vapour from the pores. ' "Animals suffer much less than men from a variety of diseases, though oxposed much more to wet and cold. This is because naturo clothed the animal, but man clothes himself.

"11l tho days when a man loft Iris clothing to Aature sho covered liim with hair. Now, wool is only hair,. so thrit tho mnn of to-day who wears woollen garments ib following nature's; own plan. 1 . "It is a fact that wet wool takes longer to dry than wet linen—on a clothes lino. It is also a fact that a wot woollen undorr garment dries more quickly- on tho bodj ;h»r. a wet linen one. Tho reason is that the skin maintains a higher temperature ■livter tho wool than under tho linen. Hcncq damp woollen garments aro less dangerous than damp' linen ones. "This has been known to athletes for generations past-—for they have preferred wool or flannel garments to all others whon taking violent exercises in hot sunshine. "Athletes know also that wool has tho property of keeping out heat. In summer the ice merchant covers his ice with a flannel blanket to prevent it melting. Somo people imagino they would melt if lliey wore .woollen garments in hot weather. But wool is just as good a protection against heat •as against oold, and Bhould bo worn throughout tho year."