Part 2 (2/2)

There is an experiment that may be easily tried, which affords conclusive evidence that the areater than it is ordinarily supposed to be Take a dry glass jar, with a neck three or four inches in diameter, and thrust the hand and a part of the fore-ar the space in the neck about the arm with a handkerchief After the lapse of a few ers across the inside of the jar, that the insensible perspiration even from the hand is very considerable Many attempts have been made to estimate accurately the ah the skin; butprecise results There is a great difference in different constitutions, and even in the same person at different times, in consequence of which we must be satisfied with an approxih the precise aenerally agreed that the cutaneous exhalation is greater than the united excretions of both bowels and kidneys Great attention has been given to this subject Sanctorius, a celebrated hed himself, his food, and his excretions, daily, for thirty days He inferred froht, of both food and drink, taken into the systeree that froh the skin of an adult in usual health every twenty-four hours Take the lowest estied with the removal of _twenty ounces_ of waste matter from the system _every day_ We can thus see ample reason why checked perspiration proves so detri which such a state continues, we must either have this a in the systereatly overtasked, which obviously can not happen without disturbing their regularity and well-being It is generally known that continued exposure in a cold day produces either a bowel coan Instead of expressing surprise at this, if people generally understood the structure and uses of their own bodies, they would rather wonder why one or the other of these effects is not _always_ attendant upon so great a violation of the laws of health, _which are the laws of God_

The lungs also excrete a large proportion of waste matter from the system So far, then, their office is similar to that of the kidneys, the liver, and the bowels In consequence of this alliance with the skin, these parts are more intimately connected with each other, in both healthy and diseased action, than with other organs Whenever an organ is unusually delicate, it will be more easily affected by any cause of disease than those which are sound Thus, in one instance, checked perspiration may produce a bowel cos, and so on Hence the fitness, in prescribing re the into the account the _cause_ of the disease A bowel co or fro to be cured is the saht obviously to be different In one instance, an e cause, would be the most rational and efficacious remedy; in the other, a diaphoretic should be administered, to open the skin and restore it to a healthy action Facts like these expose the ignorance and impudence of the quack, who undertakes to cure every form of disease by one remedy

It has already been reed with the double function of _excretion_ and _absorption_ We have a striking illustration of the exercise of the latter function in the vaccination of children and others, to protect them from small-pox A small quantity of cow-pox matter is inserted under the external layer of the skin, where it is acted upon, and in a short time taken into the system by the absorbent vessels In like ht to the surface of the skin, and confined there, either by injudicious clothing or by want of cleanliness, there is ain absorbed It is established by observation that concentrated anietic poison We can, then, see why the absorption of the residual parts of perspiration produces fever, infla to its quantity and degree of concentration This leads me to notice the importance of

BATHING--The exhalation fro so constant and extensive, and the bad effects of it when confined being so great, it becomes very important that we provide for its removal This can bethe whole body This is a luxury within the reach of all, but one which is unappreciated by those who have not enjoyed it An aged gentleo a swi frequently and enjoyed it much; but,” he added, ”I have not bathed or washed myself all over _for the last thirty years_!” This, it is believed, is an extre instances in which persons do not bathe the entire person once a month, or once a year even! When the residual parts of the perspiration are not re, they at last obstruct the pores and irritate the skin It is apparently for this reason that, in the Eastern and warmer countries, where perspiration is very copious, ablution and bathing have assuious observances_ Those who are in the habit of using the flesh-brush daily are at first surprised at the quantity of white dry scurf which it brings off; and those who take a war intervals can not have failed to notice the great a of comfort which its use imparts It is remarked by an eminent physician, that the war health, ought to be in as coe of apparel, for it is equally a lect this, and enjoy health notwithstanding; but many reatly benefited by e it Cleanliness, then, is as essential to health as to decency Still more, it proely to strengthen and invigorate the intellectual faculties, and to elevate and purify the affections It co the _cardinal virtues_

To secure the benefits of bathing or ablution, a great ae-bath, may not be best for all Every one can procure a wash-bowl and one or two quarts of water, which are all that is necessary To prevent the reduction of heat in the system by evaporation, and especially in cold weather, it will usually be found best to bathe the body _by sections_ It is generally agreed that the , then, the clothing being removed, let the head, face, and neck be washed as usual, and thoroughly dried by the use of a towel Proceed to wash the chest and abdomen, which may be dried as before, after which a coarse towel or a flesh-brush should be vigorously applied, until the skin is perfectly dry, and there is a pleasant glow upon the surface

The back and limbs, in turn, should be washed, dried, and excited to a healthy and pleasant glow by friction This last is of the utar may be added to the water, both of which are excellent stimulants to the skin[7] When these are used, and care is taken to excite in the surface, by subsequent friction with a coarse towel, flesh-brush, or hair glove, the healthful glow of reaction, it will be found to contribute largely to both physical and mental comfort The beneficial results will bethe chest and abdomen, pains are taken to throw back the shoulders, expand the lungs, and enlarge the chest

[7] It will frequently be found h as serviceable, to wash in soft water as usual, and excite a reaction in the skin in the use of a towel that has been dipped in brine and dried

By an act of the Legislature of the commonwealth of Massachusetts, passed in April last, it is required that ”physiology and hygiene shall hereafter be taught in the schools of that commonwealth, in all cases in which the school coy is not ive familiar and instructive lectures on the subject I know of instances where, by this simple means, the habits of a whole school, composed of several hundred youth of both sexes, have been radically changed; and the practice of daily ablution has ceased to be the luxury of the few, having become the necessity not only of teachers and scholars, but of the families in which they reside There is the most satisfactory evidence that cleanliness is conducive to health[8] How important it is, then, that _habits of cleanliness_ be fore

[8] The friends of educational refore from the increased attention which the subject of physical education is of late receiving frohty conservators of the public weal Since the text was prepared for the press, the following remarks and pertinent inquiry have appeared in the Family Favorite for February, 1850 They are quoted from a Discourse by the editor, the Rev James V Watson, on the First Sabbath of the New Year:

”The true interpretation of the providence of God in Asiatic cholera perhaps has never yet fully been given Is it not one of God'sinteradation--evils which result froovernment, and a want of Christian benevolence? The reformer, the philanthropist, and the Christian uished German physician, in his remarks on this subject, says, the best ti They are to be perfor from the bed, when the temperature of the body is raised by the heat of the bed The sudden change favors in a great measure the reaction which ensues, and excites the skin, rendered ht, to renewed activity Cold ablutions, he adds, are fitted for all constitutions; they are best adapted for purifying and strengthening the body; for woe The roohtly heated for debilitated patients in winter, to prevent colds in consequence of too low a temperature of the apartment; this exception is, however, only ad, ablutions et through the operation quickly, and can immediately afterward take exercise in the open air

It is the opinion of Dr Co is a safe and valuable preservative of health, in ordinary circu dangerous by causing liability to cold, it is, he says, ell ed, so much the reverse, that he has used it much and successfully for the express purpose of di such liability, both in himself and in others in whom the chest is delicate

In his own instance, in particular, he is conscious of having derived ular e which he has found hiainst the i the bath at shorter intervals than usual I shall conclude raph from this transatlantic author

If the bath can not be had at all places, soap and water lecting the skin If the constitution be delicate, water and vinegar, or water and salt, used daily, forently stihly beneficial, when the nature of the indisposition does not render theh and rather coarse towel is a very useful auxiliary in such ablutions

Few of those who have steadiness to keep up the action of the skin by the abovecauses, will ever suffer from colds, sore throats, or si health, they are often incalculably serviceable If one tenth of the persevering attention and labor bestowed to sothe skins of horses were bestowed by the huood condition, and a little attention were paid to diet and clothing, colds, nervous diseases, and stoe an iteue of human miseries Man studies the nature of other animals, and adapts his conduct to their constitution; hilects He considers hi of superior order, and not subject to the laws of organization which regulate the functions of the lower aninorance and pride, and not a just inference from the premises on which it is ostensibly founded

CLOTHING--The skin is very materially affected in the healthy performance of its functions by the nature and condition of the clothing It is a very commonly received opinion that one principal object in clothing is to impart heat to the body This, however, is an erroneous idea; the utmost that it can do is to _prevent the escape of heat_ All articles of clothing are not alike in this respect Some conduct the heat from the body readily, and are hence ain, have very little tendency to convey heat froht in cold weather Of this nature are furs, and cloths manufactured from wool I do not intend in this connection to speak of the , but to re clothes often, or at least of ventilating them frequently This re worn next to the skin, and to beds Clothes worn next to the skin during the day should be reown should be put on The for up in a situation that will allow the accumulated perspiration of the day to pass off by evaporation By this means they will beco, to be worn another day, when the night-clothes, in turn, should be ventilated

Beds also should be thrown open and exposed to fresh air with open doors, or at least s, several hours before beingschools, and literary and benevolent institutions of all kinds, particular attention is now paid to this subject In so rooms are furnished with fra the ventilation of the bed-clothes

I, the clothes are removed from the beds, and exposed upon these frames to a current of fresh air for several hours, the s being opened for that purpose

Notwithstanding care be taken to promote personal cleanliness by daily ablutions, if the ventilation of beds and clothing be neglected, and perspiration be suffered to accuain into the circulation, produce all the mischief of which I have before spoken

THE TEETH--I have already spoken of the relation the teeth sustain to digestion Their use in the proper orous perforood set of teeth contributes largely to both the physical co of their possessor; but when neglected, they very commonly decay and becoreat and almost constant discomfort for years In order to preserve the teeth, they must be _kept clean_ After every meal, they should be cleaned with a brush and water A tooth-pick will sometimes be found necessary in the removal of particles of food that are inaccessible to the brush

Metallic tooth-picks injure the enamel, and should not be used Those oose-quill, are unobjectionable The brush should be used, not only after eachin theThis will prevent the acculected teeth If suffered to reums, and destroys their health By this means the roots of the teeth become bare, and thus deprived of their natural stimulus, they prematurely decay Food or drink either very hot or very cold is exceedingly injurious to the teeth Sour drops, acidulated drinks, and all articles of food that ”set the teeth on edge,” are injurious, and should be carefully avoided

Should it become necessary to take sour drops as a h a quill, and every precaution should be taken to prevent their co in contact with the teeth Even then the mouth should be well rinsed iestion is a great source of injury to the teeth both in childhood and in orous, there is less deposition of tartar, and the teeth are naturally of a purer white

Especially is this true when the general health is good, and the diet plain, and contains a full proportion of vegetable es possess teeth that would be envied in town Tobacco is sometimes used as a _preservative_ of the teeth It is, indeed, occasionally prescribed as a _curative_ by ignorant physicians, and those who are willing to pander to the diseased appetites of their patients But there is the best medical testimony that the use of this _filthy weed_ ”_debilitates the vessels of the gums, turns the teeth yellow, and renders the appearance of the reeable_” Dr Rush informs us that he knew aIn speaking of the _ tobacco, by rendering water and other simple liquors insipid to the taste, dispose very er stiars throughout our country has been followed by the use of brandy and water as a common drink” A dentist of extensive and successful practice in the Middle and Western States, after listening to the reading of this article, said tolady, two of whose front teeth had decayed through, laterally, in consequence of s the caries, he found it is continued through them He thinks, as do many others, that the heat of the s the conditions upon which the healthy action of the voluntary organs depends is a due degree of _appropriate exercise_ This is a _general law_, and holds with reference to the _teeth_ as well as to any other organ or set of organs The proper mastication of healthful and nutritious food constitutes the appropriate exercise of the teeth, and is a condition upon which _their health_, and the healthy exercise of the function of _digestion_, alike depend If from any cause the teeth of one jaw are re thus deprived of that exercise which is essential to their health, are pressed out of the jaw, appear to grow long, become loose in their sockets, and soe of inserting _artificial teeth_ where the natural ones fail; an event which rarely happens when they are properly taken care of I need hardly add that nuts, and other hard substances that break the enamel, are injurious to the teeth, and should be avoided