THE FARMER AT HOME. 



45J 



But in cold weather, there is in most minds a dread of water, almost 

 as great as in one afflicted with the hydrophobia, and hathing and 

 washing in winter, are generally discontinued ; and this is one cause 

 of colds at this inclement season. 



In summer the skin is soft and moist, and by profuse perspiration, 

 and the frequent change of garments, the system is cleansed, in some 

 measure, without washing ; yet washing is necessary. But in winter, 

 the perspirable matter passes out to the surface of the body, where it 

 lodges, forming a dry scurf, closing the pores of the skin, and perspir- 

 ation after a while becomes impeded, and the redundant matter is 

 thrown inward upon the lungs, and must be thrown off by coughing ; 

 thus requiring a double office of these delicate organs, which have 

 enough to do in their own peculiar province, in climates where the 

 thermometer often varies in twenty-four hours as many degrees. 



Infants are generally washed daily, but when they become large 

 children and adults, they often go six months without this operation, 

 so essential to health and comfort. The face is washed often, the 

 body seldom. Why this difference? A thorough washing of the 

 whole system once a week, is not a hard task, and the advantages 

 from it will be great. It will not only add to health and happiness, 

 but to life itself. If one thinks he has not time, let him take the 

 time from the hours of sleep, even if he be already limited in that 

 respect to five or six hours in the twenty-four. He will sleep faster, 

 after bathing, and make up for the deficiency. After bathing or 

 washing in cold water, brisk rubbing with a coarse cloth will produce 

 a pleasant glow, and prevent injury to a person of delicate constitu- 

 tion. But those who choose can use warm water in a warm room. 

 We say to our readers, as you value health, life, and happiness, give 

 due attention to thorough and frequent bathing and washing. See 

 that every member of the family attends to it, at least once a month ; 

 once a week is better. There is no excuse for the gross neglect on 

 this subject, for if any one has not a bath, or shower-bath, a tub is 

 sufficient ; and any one who has^six hours to sleep, can take half an 

 hour for bathing, and then he will gain an hour in sweeter, sounder 

 sleep. 



WATCH. In Mechanics, a machine which shows the parts of 

 time, and may be carried in the pocket. The invention of the spring, 

 which answers to the pendulum of a clock, and without which a time- 

 keeper for the pocket cannot be made, is attributed both to Hooke and 

 to Huygens. Among the first watches, according to the modern ac- 

 ceptation of the name, that were made in England, was that present- 

 ed to Charles II. 



The business of watch-making, like most kinds of mechanism, is 

 now carried to great perfection ; and the pocket watch in its early 

 use was so expensive that few only could be furnished with it. But 

 they are now made with so much expedition, and consequently at so 



