o CLOTHING MATERIALS. 



loss of heat from the skin; and all the year round they 

 keep the skin from being rapidly cooled or heated when 

 exposed to sudden changes in temperature. 



Man has to provide his own clothing, but should al- 

 ways bear in mind this lesson from Nature: His cloth- 

 ing should vary in amount with the season, but the chief 

 garments should be made of materials which are bad 

 heat-conductors. 



17. The Relative Value of various Clothing Materials. 

 Furs are very bad conductors, and do not easily be- 

 come damp. They are the most suitable clothing for 

 very cold weather. Woollen fabrics are also excellent. 

 Silk comes after wool, and in our variable climate forms 

 the best material for the underclothing of those whose 

 skins are irritated by woollen materials, such as merino. 

 Cotton is not so good as silk, but is far better than linen, 

 which not only allows heat or cold to pass readily 

 through it, but easily absorbs moisture and becomes 

 damp. The same objection holds against linen bed- 

 clothing. Cotton should be used, except, perhaps, for 

 pillow-cases in summer. 



The proper clothing will vary with climate and sea- 

 son; but, except for those living in regions where sudden 

 temperature-changes do not occur, the following is the 

 proper rule: Wear silk or wool next the skin; over 

 this regulate the amount of clothing according to the 

 weather, but always wear at least one other covering of 

 non-conducting material, cloth, silk, or flannel. 



17. Name common materials for clothing in order, putting the 

 worst conductors of heat first. Why is linen not so good a clothing 

 material as cotton ? What rule as to clothing should be observed by 

 all who live in a variable climate ? 



