19i STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



times careless iu this respect. Bnt want of neatness, and good health are 

 never in accord. Under this head we may well consider neatness of person, 

 neatness of dress, and neatness of surroundings. 



Physiological research has demonstrated the truth, that the body preserves 

 a nearly uniform temperature in all of the unexposed tissues of about 38^ C. 

 (100^ F.) Health, aye, life itself, demands that this be not suffered to rise 

 or fall beyond very slight limits. Tlie reduction of the temperature of the 

 blood, however, is not so speedily fatal as is its elevation. Bernard found by 

 experimenting with mammals that death did not come till the blood was 

 reduced 15° or ^0", while a rise of 7° was certainly fatal. Therefore we see 

 that it is not only wise but imperative to life itself to keep cool. The body is 

 a tremendous heat producer. Even in ordinary temperature, Avith moderate 

 exercise, enough heat is generated to raise the temperature of the body 3° 

 or 4° per hour; enough to kill were there no counteracting influence, in two 

 hours. To prevent this great caloric engine, the body, from burning us up, 

 'there are stationed on its surface over 3,000,000 little sweat glands. These 

 little sentinels are thickly set all over the body. Each sweat gland is a tube 

 3-lG of an inch long, but so many are there, that this fire brigade is con- 

 stantly using two and one-third miles of hose. From these there is thrown 

 ample sweat — mostly water — to quell the internal heat, even of the laborer 

 toiling hard under the hottest sun of summer. The giving off of sweat, or 

 perspiration, is the means by which nature keeps us from burning up. In this 

 intricate but admirable system, nature has provided such perfect machinery, 

 that it is left for us only to keep the hose in good order. We should not suffer 

 these pores to become clogged. This demands frequent bathing. It is a sin 

 for a person, who knows better, to let a week go by without a bath for the 

 entire body. Two baths are better, and most fortunate is that person, whose 

 early training, or habits of neatness, impel him to perform daily this luxurious 

 and health-giving ablution. The temperature of the water for bathing, may 

 vary from cold to tepid, depending upon the comfort of the individual; 

 though to those who feel no shock in its use, cold water is doubtless the best. 

 The morning is the best time in which to bathe, but if one feels too weary and 

 restless to sleep, a warm bath just before retiring, will promote sleep, and do 

 him good. After the bath we should rub the body quickly and energetically, 

 with a not over fine towel, till it is wholly dry. With the glow consequent 

 upon this friction, comes a sense of comfort and pleasurable stimulation, 

 surpassing intoxication, for it leaves no sting behind. In case a person is 

 constantly foul with the emanations of tobacco smoke, from which poisonous 

 filth the body is constantly striving to rid itself through these self-same sweat- 

 pores, then tliese all-over "baths should be all the more frequent and thorough. 

 I would urge upon every person that he make of himself, each Sabbath morn- 

 ing, a clean receptacle for a Sunday breakfast, "for cleanliness is not only 

 next to Godliness," but a clean body, and a clean garb are absolutely esssTitial 

 to that Heaven-like rest which the Sabbath is made to give. 



For the same reason, no one should wear clothing without frequently chang- 

 ing it. Clothing worn too Ions: becomes saturated with the excretions and 



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exhalations from the body, and thus effectually locks up the pores of the skin, 

 and not only prevents the necessary perspiration, but shuts within the body 

 with a murderous grasp those poisonous excretions which it is the province of 

 these sweat pores to remove. Every neighborhood has its examples of men 

 who seem so engaged in their pursuits that they forget to change their gar- 

 ments for days together. Such persons become loaded with nauseating 



