HEALTH COLUMN

Otago Witness, Issue 2086, 15 February 1894, Page 48

HEALTH COLUMN

THE FUNCTION OF CLOTHING.

Wind carries off the layers of air in contact with the body, replaces them by colder air, and promotes evaporation, whereby the temperature is lowered to an almost indefinite extent. Everyone knows the sensation caused by wind blowing on damp clothes or on the wet skin, and the intense cold thus experienced. To obviate this effect the wind must be prevented from reaching the surface of the body, and for this purpose skins and furs are the most efficient coverings. These constitute extremely warm clothing, and cannot be dispensed with in many parts of the world. It is perhaps well to repeat that these articles possess no warmth in themselves. When worn they prevent the natural heat of the body from being rapidly dissipated and neutralised by the external cold air. Next to these come thick, coarse, woollen fabrics which entangle and retain large volumes of air. These are especially suitable whenever great fluctuations of temperature have to be encountered. Besides the properties already mentioned, there is another peculiarity connected with wool which enhances its valne as an article of clotbiDg— vjg., its power of

absorbing water, which penetrates into the fibres themselves and causes them to swell, and also occupies the spaces between them. This property is a very important one as regards health. The normal skin gives off nearly a pint of water, in the form of perspiration, during 24 hours, and this fluid disappears by evaporation. The passage of liquid into vapour causes heat to become latent, and the bodily temperature is thus lowered, as may be clearly observed some little time after exertion. If dry woollen clothing be put on immediately after exercise, the vapour from the surface of the body is condensed in and upon the wool, and the heat which had become latent in the process of evaporation is again given off. Flannel clothes, therefore, put on during perspiration always feel warm, whereas cotton and linen articles allow the perspiration to pass through them, so that the evaporation and cooling processes are unchecked. There is, therefore, an obvious reason for selecting flannel clothing for wearing after active exertion. An individual who is perspiring freely is far less likely to take cold when clad in flannel than when clad in linen or cotton. Dr Poore thinks that cotton might be made to acquire properties similar to those of wool by adopting a looser method of weaving the material. If linen or cotton be woven "in a loose porous fashion, these fabrics then become, as heat retainers, scarcely inferior to wool." Woollen fabrics cause a sensation of warmth in virtue of another peculiarity which they possess. They often present a rough surface, which, coming into contact with the skin, causes friction and therefore more or less warmth. The irritation tbua produced is intolerable to some persons, but if it can be borne with for a short time the skin often gets accustomed to the sensation. The colour of the material* has some influence on the warmth of clothing. Black and blue absorb heat freely from without, but white and light shades of jellow, &c, are far less absorbent. This difference can be demonstrated by expeiiment ; the same material, when dyed with different colour?, will absorb different amounts of beat. In hot countries white coverings are universally worn, and sailors and others wear white clothing in hot weather. With regard, however, to heat given off from the body, the colour of the materials used as clothing makes little if any difference. Red flannel is popularly Bupposed to be warm, though it is no better in this respect than similar materials of equal substance, but white or' grey in colour. Dark clothing is best for cold weather, because it more freely absorbs any heat that is obtainable. Waterproof clothing is very valuable under certain conditions. It protects against cold, rain, and wind ; but it is an exceedingly hot dress, for it prevents evaporation and condenses and retains the perspiration. Save for very short periods, it should never be worn by persons I taking active exercise. For those, however, I who are not exercising their limbs to any great extent, but are exposed to wet and cold, waterproof materials are an excellent protection. Woollen should be worn underneath in order to absorb perspiration, and the waterproof should be taken off as soon as the necessity for it has passed away. Venj tilating waterproofs are sometimes offered, but a real combination of this kind is an impossibility. If a garment let out air and perspiration, it will let in wind and wet. If thoroughly waterproof, it will not admit of any true ventilation. With regard to woollen clothing as a protection against wet, it must be remembered that fabrics of this kind, especially if loosely woven, absorb an enormous amount of water. A man clad in thick woollen clothes, and walking in rain for some hours without other protection, is conscious of great weight and inconvenience. Under similar conditions cotton and linen garments are speedily saturated, and the wearer soon becomes chilled. Garments made of pure silk are exceedingly comfortable, but very expensive. Thin silk, worn under flannel, adds greatly to the protection afforded by the latter against chills, and likewise prevents the unpleasant sensation of friction. Thin flannel socks, worn under merino or woollen ones, form a good remedy for cold feet. The principal conclusions to be drawn from the foregoing paragraphs may be thus briefly stated : — 1. As a protection against cold, woollen garments of equal thicknesses are much superior to either linen or cotton, and should always be worn for underclothing. Furs and leather are serviceable against great cold, and especially against severe wind. Waterproof clothing should be reserved for very wet weather, and generally for persons wbo are not taking exercise when exposed to it. 2. The value of several lajers of clothing as compared with a single warm garment should be borne in mind. An extra layer even of thin material next the skin ia often ! very valuable. 3. As a protector against cold, a garment should not fit closely to the body, but should be comparatively loose and easy, so that a layer of air is interposed between it and the Bkin. A loosely' woven material is warmer than one of an opposite character. 4. For wearißg at night, woollen clothing is not generally desirable ; cotton or linen is far better. The blankets constitute the woollen covering, and ought to protect the body sufficiently, 5. Lastly, it must always be remembered that the source of heat is within the body itself, and not in the clothes. Proper food, coupled with a due amount of exercise, will produce heat ; the function of -clothing is to retain the heat thus generated. — Dr Robson Roose, in the Fortnightly Review.

Why We Get Bald Heads. — In talking about this an acquaintance said: — "I" wash my hair every morning, and that removes the natural, oily matter, so J have to put something on instead," But it is doubtful if any patent medicine man can offer us as good a dressing as that which we destroy •with soap. Too average young man may not be so industrious as this, but be often damps his bair to make it look nice and orderly, and then puts on a bat that will aot like a steam-box, suggestive of the process gone through at a tannery for removing bair and wool from dead skins. Thus the hair, which was designed for exposure, is turned into a hothouse where it is not likely to flourish under any sort of dressing, We

may see how Nature adapts the blacksmith's band and arm to bis work, and the writer's to bis desk. If bard bands are required, after a little while Nature will harden the soft ones. And it is qDite likely that where hair is required it will grow abundantly; but a thick bead of hair enclosed in a steam-box is a superfluity never intended, and is kindly removed. Catting the hair short may be a good plan, but preventing it from standing on end a little is likely to be a bad one. But appearances come in here also, for the bat is seldom chosen for its ventilation and coolness. Then we shave our cheeks and throats, thus exposing sensitive and important glands which Nature tries to protect, and in her efforts to do co may possibly draw upon the supplies intended for the hair ; bat for want of our co-operation she only succeeds in growing bristles for the razor, and forming bright and shiny places on the tops of our beads. It appears that a shaven face and bald head indicate to us a thoughtful mind, but a few generations hence they will only indicate a man of fashion or want of thought, which will be then about synommous. — R. H.