Clothing
the clothes or dress, that is, the artificial coverings collectively, which people wear. Nothing is more necessary to comfort than that the body should be kept in nearly a uniform tem- CLOTHO perature, thus preventing the disturb- ance of the important excretory func- tions of the skin by the influence of heat ance of the important excretory functions of the skin by the influence of heat the question of Clothing becomes of spethe question of Clothing becomes of special importance. The chief end proposed by Clothing ought to be protection from the cold. A degree of cold amountinjury to the health, and the strongest injury to the health, and the strongest constitution cannot resist the benumbing influence of a sensation of cold constantly present, even though it be so moderate as not to occasion immediate complaint, or to induce the sufferer to seek protection from it. This degree of cold often tion from it. This degree of cold often lays the foundation of the whole host of chronic diseases, foremost among which are found scrofula and consumption.
The only kind of dress that can afford the protection required by the changes of temperature to which the cooler or temperate climates are liable is woolen. Those who would receive the advantage which the wearing of woolen is capable of affording must wear it next the skin; for it is in this situation only that its health-preserving power can be felt. The great advantages of woolen cloth are briefly these: the readiness with which it allows the escape of sweat through its texture; its power of preserving the sentexture; its power of preserving the sencircumstances; the slowness with which it conducts heat; the softness, lightness, and pli pliancy of its texture. Cotton cloth, though it differs but little from linen, approaches nearer to the nature of woolen, and on that account must be esteemed as the next best substance of which Clothing may be made. Silk is the next in point of excellence, but it is very in- Clothing may be made. Silk is the next in point of excellence, but it is very inpossesses the contrary of most of the ferior to cotton in every respect. Linen woolen. It retains the matter of perproperties enumerated as excellencies in woolen. It retains the matter of perith it; it gives an uncomes imbued with pleasant sensation of cold to the skin; it is very readily saturated with moisture, and it conducts heat too rapidly.
Clothes should be so made as to allow the body the full exercise of all its motions. The neglect of this precaution is the body the full exercise of all its moerally believed.