RULES FOR DRESS. 65 



the internal organs, being at the same time deprived 

 of their fair proportion of blood, become enfeebled, 

 and afford inadequate nourishment and support to 

 the rest of the body. 



The insensible perspiration being composed of a 

 large quantity of water, which passes off in the form 

 of vapour and is not seen, and of various salts and 

 animal matter, a portion of which remains adherent 

 to the skin, the removal of this residue by washing 

 becomes an indispensable condition of health, the 

 observance of which, particularly in early life, when 

 waste and nutrition are both very active, prevents 

 the appearance of cutaneous and other diseases 

 common in infancy. Not only, therefore, is daily 

 washing of the body required at that age, but a fre- 

 quent change of clothing is essential, and every 

 thing in the shape of dress ought to be loose and 

 easy, both to allow free circulation through the 

 vessels, and to permit the insensible perspiration to 

 have a free exit, instead of being confined to and ab- 

 sorbed by the clothes, and held in contact with the 

 skin, as often happens, till it gives rise to irritation. 



In youth, the skin is still delicate in texture and 

 the seat of extensive exhalation and acute sensa- 

 tion, but it is at the same time more vigorous in 

 constitution than it was in infancy ; and the several 

 animal functions being now more equally balanced, 

 it is less susceptible of disorder from external 

 causes, and can endure with impunity changes of 

 temperature which, at either an earlier or more ad- 

 vanced age, would have proved highly injurious. 

 The activity and restless energy of youth keep up 

 a free and equal circulation even in the remotest 

 parts of the body, and this free circulation in its 

 turn maintains an equality of temperature in them 

 all. Cold bathing and lighter clothing may now be 

 resorted to with a rational prospect of advantage ; 

 but when, from a weak constitution or unusual suscepti- 

 bility ', the skin is not endowed with sufficient vitality to 

 F2 



