THE USE AND ABUSE OF THE MACKINTOSH

Te Aroha News, Volume I, Issue 44, 5 April 1884, Page 7

THE USE AND ABUSE OF THE MACKINTOSH

A caution may not be unnecessary, and let us hope, nv>t unheeded, as to the use and abuse of this serviceable, but, when improperly i employed, dangerous, article of clothing When once si uui kin tosh is put on to defend the body from wet, it should on no ocoount be taken ofl; until the weai'er has not only taken shelter, but is in a position to change his clothes. What a covering of oiled f-ilk does for a wet rag in surgery — namely^ convert it into a poultice — the mackintosh does {or the clothes of its wearer. The insensible perspiration which finds a way of escape through ordinary ciothing is kept in by the waterproot, anil the clothes are saturated with moisture. A very few minutes will suffice to remlor the uuderciothing " damp" under a mackintosh, pirticiiiurly if either thj wearer p'^pi res 1'ivbly, or lup weather be what is called " muggy" as vv a ll as wet When, therefor , the wearer of a mackintosh takes off that article of clothing because it has ceased to r.iin, he is in the position of a

person who has dampHoihps on, and if lie sits in the saddle, or walks home, or rides in an open tr?p. he is more likely to take cold than if h; bad not used tho mncWntosh at nil. If therefore, we say a mackintosh is once put on. it should on no account be removed until the clothes can 1)3 changed or dried by a fire Avitbout reduction of bodily temperature. The use ni' a mackintosh is to protect a man from ■ a severe storm of r.iin. His clothes must h* damp if ho okp of tV i< s n protector-;. The polo £iin from usintj it is to lender ihfihioisluiY wnnn instead i)l : cold, and t) prevent \w* of heal by evaporation. If the mackintosh be removed, evaporation commfnccs imnu i di.itely, with all tho 'consiMiuout ribk^ oL* tint piouess. — Lancet.