224 PHYSIOLOGY AND HEALTH. 



CHAPTER XI. 



Clothing should be of loose Texture, and fit loosely to the Body. 

 Various Materials of Clothing. Linen, Cotton, Silk Wool. 

 Flannel, next to the Skin. 



538. THE great object of clothing being to defend the 

 body from cold, by preventing the radiation of heat, the ma- 

 terials should therefore be bad conductors of heat. This 

 non-conducting principle is not so much in the material 

 itself as in the air which is retained within its loose textures. 

 " In every case it is the power which the coverings possess 

 o detaining atmospheric air in their meshes which is the 

 cause of this warmth." * Clothes of loose and open texture 

 contain more air than those which are close and firm, and 

 garments that are lined and wadded with very light material 

 offer the same advantage of holding layers of air within the 

 spaces of their texture. The loose and light kinds of wad- 

 ding are the warmest, because they afford the largest space 

 for air. The old-fashioned bed-quilts, which were made of 

 double layers of old and worn woollen cloth, and a small 

 layer of wool, very closely quilted, were much cooler cover- 

 ings than the modern quilts of cotton cloth, with very light 

 wadding of cotton or eider down. For the same reason, 

 threadbare garments are colder than new, from which the 

 nap is not worn off; and those which have a long and 

 shaggy nap are much warmer than those which are well 

 sheared and nicely dressed. 



539. On the same principle, the garments should be 

 made to fit loosely to the body, so as to leave a space for the 

 air between them and the flesh. " Every one is practically 

 aware that a loose dress is much warmer than one which 

 fits closely ; that a loose glove is warmer than a tight one ; 

 and that a loose boot or shoe is more comfortable in the 

 winter than a tight one." * The loose sack is a warmer 

 outer garment than the close-buttoned surtout. If there are 



* Wilson on the Skin. 



