228 PHYSIOLOGY AND HEALTH. 



This coloring matter upon these under-dresses could only 

 come from the skin. If further proof were needed, notice 

 the foul odor, on Saturday, of the inner garments of some 

 laborious men, who do not bathe, and who change their 

 shirts but once a week. 



550. Clothing that is soiled by being worn next to the 

 flesh is offensive to the touch as well as the sight and the 

 smell. Shakspeare makes the merry wives of Windsor, 

 when they wished to throw the greatest indignity on Sir John 

 FalstafF, put him into a basket of foul linen, which was cov- 

 ered with the cutaneous excretions of the body. We feel a 

 sensation of comfort when we put on clean linen, and of dis- 

 satisfaction when we put on that which is otherwise. And 

 without the aid of the eye or nostrils, the sensitive skin can 

 determine whether a garment is pure or foul, when we put it 

 on. And, however dark it may be, we can tell by the feeling 

 whether our sheets are fresh and clean, or soiled arid worn. 

 No children are more particular to put off foul clothing and 

 put on clean, than the blind at the Institution at South Boston. 



551. To prevent this -accumulation of the cutaneous ex- 

 cretions, which, being retained, become foul and offensive, 

 the garments which come in contact with the body should 

 be frequently changed and washed. None of the clothing 

 of the day should ever be worn in the night, nor ought the 

 clothing of the night to be worn in the day. Morning and 

 evening there should be a complete change of every article 

 of dress; and each garment, when taken off, should be 

 separately spread, in order that the air may come in contact 

 with all their surface. By this airing, much of the foul ex- 

 cretions is carried away from them. The clothing which is 

 taken off at any time to be reworn should not be hung up 

 in a close closet, nor packed in drawers or trunks, until it 

 shall have been thoroughly aired by a similar exposure. 



552. That thrifty housewifery which requires the beds 

 to be made up in the morning as soon as vacated by the 

 lodgers, is prejudicial to health. The beds and bedding 

 need airing more than the day clothing. This last is ex- 



