KINDS OF CLOTHING.

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When, however, the system has become chilled more or less thoroughly, it is an important rule, but one little regarded, to restore the natural warmth, not by sitting down before a large fire, but by vigorous exercise. Such a practice would prevent nearly half of the colds or catarrhs that afflict men.

Best kinds of clothing.

In cold and changeful climates garments made of woollen are decidedly the best, to be worn next the skin; and for invalids such a dress is indispensable. Cotton is next in

value; and for warm climates is generally superior, on account of its lightness. Linen is an article of luxury that should be indulged in with caution by the invalid; and it is not to be much recommended to the healthy. Silk worn next the skin, is still more objectionable. Persons of feeble health have not unfrequently derived benefit from wearing in winter a waistcoat and drawers of chamois or deer's leather.

Change of clothing.

Not a little mischief is done by leaving off the winter clothes too early in the spring, and delaying to resume them till late in the autumn. Some physicians have recommended that the winter dress be laid aside the day before midsummer, and put on again the day after. To be serious, however, June, July, August, and perhaps a part of. September, is the only time when summer clothes should be used.

Tight dressing.

It would seem hardly necessary to caution gentlemen against tightness of dress. Yet according to the experiments of Dr. Herbst, a young man of twenty one, when dressed, took in, every time he drew his breath, only 50 cubic inches of air: but when his clothes were loosened, he inhaled 96 cubic inches each time. This shows us,

that much as we may declaim against the corsets and tight lacing of females, we are not entirely out of danger; especially if we are ambitious of being brought into that wasplike form, that meets us in the drawings of the latest London fashions, hung up in almost every tailor's shop. But had Dr. Herbst performed his experiment upon some of the ladies, it is to be apprehended the result would have been truly appalling; for, as a medical writer remarks," we often meet ladies so cruelly dressed, that we wonder where their lungs and livers are gone to."* ·

CLEANLINESS.

Another branch of the subject of regimen is cleanliness. It does not strictly belong to this subject, in connexion with health, to speak of the effects of careless, slovenly and filthy habits upon the respectability of a literary or professional man in the world: and yet, I can hardly refrain from saying, that the success of such men depends nearly as much upon a proper attention to neatness and cleanliness, as upon their talents or acquirements. The world like to have their tastes gratified, as well as their intellects: and the avenue to the affections is through the taste. Suppose then, you are introduced into good society, as a man of talents, and you appear there with a long beard, a dirty cravat, unbrushed boots, or hair uncombed. Not the strongest mind, or the finest wit, or the deepest lore, can prevent you from being a disgusting object in such a community. And if your debut be of this character, depend upon it, that a prejudice will be excited against you, which you will find it no easy matter to conquer.

Slovenly practices.

Now the fact is, that the secluded life of the scholar, and the constant pressure of his studies, expose him, in a peculiar manner, to the acquisition of slovenly and filthy

• Journal of Health, p. 117, vol. 1.

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habits. Hence it is, that his room, if left to his own oversight, sometimes does not correspond with our ideas of the domicil of a young Cicero, or Masillon. Hence too, you will see him abroad with slip-shod shoes, or with a cravat in which he has slept for two or three nights; or with a beard, that is troubled with a razor only once a week. When a man is pressed with a multitude of cares and duties, he is sometimes compelled to neglect, more than he could wish, some of these minor points: but such an excuse, no student in a literary institution can plead. And just so certain as you find any one indulging such habits, while there, you may expect, if you meet him in after life, to find them still cleaving to him, and injuring his usefulness. I am not, indeed, pleading for a foppish attention to appearance; nor would I have the student indulge in costly articles of dress, or be very solicitous to have his coat in the latest London fashion. But I would have him show cleanliness and neatness in every part of his person; especially when he appears in public. If engaged in any employment, where dust will necessarily cleave to him, he ought, indeed, to adapt his dress to the situation, nor feel any more ashamed of it, than of the newest and richest garment in the proper place. But I would not have him consider it a matter of no importance, what be his appearance in public. If he chooses, in respect to his beard, to become a Jew, I have no objection; but I do object to his wearing a beard, which belongs neither to Jew nor Gentile : for it will make him alike disgusting to both.

Nor is attention even to such small things as the cravat and beard, of no importance to health. I have known a fit of dyspepsy and nervous depression removed, by a clean cravat and a clearing away of the beard: and indeed, cleanliness throughout produces such a sense of comfort, that this single feeling, like all other pleasurable emotions, contributes not a little to continue the wheels of life in motion. Hence, to keep the skin clean, is a most important object; for thereby the pores are kept open, and insensible per

spiration-whose operation is essential to life-is greatly promoted. This is accomplished by bathing.

Bathing.

Bathing, among the ancients, was practiced almost universally and in warm climates, and in Russia, and Hungary, much attention is paid to it at the present day: and it is the opinion of physicians, that its neglect by other nations is to be regretted. Certainly it is among the means of health, that ought not to be neglected, either by the healthy, or invalids.

Cold Baths.

In taking the common cold bath, a running stream, with a bed of pebbles, or sand, should be selected: and the common opinion, that if a person be in a state of slight perspiration, he should wait upon the shore till he becomes cool, is erroneous. He ought not indeed to plunge into the water if greatly fatigued lest the proper reaction should not ensue. But if moderately warm by exercise, his system is in the very best state for sustaining the shock, produced by the cold water. And the same remarks will apply to the shower bath; which, in many respects, is preferable to the running stream. In either case, a general glow and warmth of the whole body ought to succeed the chill first felt: and if that chill remain for a considerable time, and is succeeded at last by a dry skin and feverish heat, dullness, headache, or tightness across the chest, it indicates that the requisite reaction has not taken place; and that such bathing does not agree with the constitution. At any rate, vigorous exercise ought to succeed the act, until a considerable degree of perspiration is excited. In using the shower bath, only a single effusion of water should be taken at once; and no one ought to remain immersed in a stream, more than a minute or two, unless vigorously employed in swimming, when a little more time may be allowed: though in general, there is great danger of lingering too long in the deli

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cious sport. Immediately on coming out of the water, the body should be vigorously rubbed, with a coarse cloth, as a means of exciting the vessels to action. The early part of the day, particularly between breakfast and dinner is the best time for this business: and in our climate, the cold bath can hardly be continued with safety very late in the autumn, except by the most vigorous constitutions. Tepid baths, however, in which water is heated from 70 to 85 of Fahrenheit, may be substituted for the cold season. Or during the winter, invalids would do well to sponge themselves every morning on rising, with water somewhat warmed, or with vinegar and water. And some persons are in the habit on rising, of plunging their feet, for a moment, into cold water: and physicians speak well of the practice, where the constitution will bear it.

Vapour and Warm Baths.

Vapour baths are intended for the application of steam to the whole, or a part of the body; and usually require the direction of a physician. But warm baths may be used by almost every description of persons, as a preservative of health, a restorative to health, and a luxury; and that too, at all seasons of the year; provided a few precautions be observed. The water in the bath should never be used, until it has risen to a temperature between 90 and 98; and a person ought to remain in it, from 5 to 20 minutes. The best time of day for using it, is two or three hours after breakfast; and the conduct to be pursued on coming out of water, is similar to that already pointed out in respect to cold bathing.* Once a day in our climate, is often enough, and probably too often, for bathing of any kind.

I have been thus particular on this subject, from a wish to render the bathing establishment, some of you have seen fit to connect with this institution, as useful as possible; and to prevent any abuse of it. Believing, as I do, in its

* Note, E. E.