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Furs, and skins generally, feathers and down, are also bad 
conductors. 
Skin Stimulation—The property is usually objectionable in 
underclothing. The degree of trouble depends upon the 
sensitiveness of the individual, and upon the clothing material. 
The same material may in one individual cause a pleasant 
stimulation, and in another maddening irritation. The sense 
of warmth produced by skin stimulation is deceptive. It is 
due to dilation of surface vessels. 
Wool is very stimulating, especially coarse wools; silk is 
much less so, but much depends on its preparation. Cotton is 
very slightly stimulating, and flax even less so. Fabrics made 
with very loose projecting fibres are less stimulating than 
those with fluffy surfaces. Some poisonous dyes injuriously 
irritate skin. 
Water Absorption.—It is important that underclothing should 
readily absorb moisture, and pass it through its substance. In 
this way secretions of skin are not interfered with: evaporation 
takes place from surface of clothing instead of skin, and tuo 
rapid chilling is prevented. Overclothing for protection is 
better for having less power of absorption. Rain, etc., does not 
soak and make the clothing wet and heavy ; and, moreover, air 
driven by wind will not so easily penetrate, and so such 
garments better protect body from external cold. Power of 
-absorbing water is greater is loosely-woven fabrics. 
Different fibres vary in their individual power. 
Wool readily absorbs moisture. 
Silk is less freely absorbent. 
Linen absorbs moisture with difficulty. 
Cotton fibres absorb badly, and are easily wetted. 
Absorption of light and heat rays.—Dark-coloured materials 
absorb heat and light, and turn light rays into heat easily. So 
dark overclothing is hot in summer time. 
Dark clothing absorbs and retains smel/s more than light- 
coloured clothing. 
Clothing and garments should be arranged so as to avoid the 
following defects :— 
(1) Interference with free passing away of skin secretions, 
(z) Injurious action by friction or pressure. 
(3) Interference with natural movements of body. 
(4) Upset of heat-regulating power by excessive clothing. 
(5) Irregular clothing. 
These defects can be well appreciated by studying some 
common forms of clothing. 
