28 GENERAL SCIENCE 



the more heat there is in the body the more there is disposed 

 of in this way; the lower the body temperature, the less ac- 

 tive is the secretion of perspiration and the less the loss of 

 heat with it. 



Since the temperature of the body is commonly higher than 

 that of the surrounding atmosphere, there is also a loss of 

 heat direct to the air from the warm body just as in the cool- 

 ing of any other heated object. By use of suitable clothing 

 protection may be had from the dangers incident to chilling 

 the body surface, and depriving the skin of its blood supply. 

 If one gets chilled the internal organs become congested 

 (overfilled) with blood that should have been distributed 

 to the surface and extremities of the body. The regulation 

 of body temperature by the skin is interfered with, and the 

 disordered condition of the body known as a "cold" may 

 result. Oftentimes this develops into dangerous ailments 

 such as pneumonia, or into an inflamed state of organs other 

 than the lungs. 



Exposure at the throat and upper part of chest is especially 

 dangerous when the lungs are themselves filled with cold 

 air. There should be especial attention given to the cir- 

 culation of blood in the extremities of the body. The feet 

 and hands should be warm at all times. Wet or damp cloth- 

 ing not only wastes body heat by vaporization of the mois- 

 ture, but clothing when damp conducts heat from the body 

 much faster than when dry. After a bath the body should 

 be vigorously rubbed with a dry towel till its surface is com- 

 pletely dry. This avoids any chill due to abstraction of 

 heat from the body as water on the skin vaporizes. The 

 rubbing should result in a redness of the skin. A feeling of 

 warmth, together with a "glow" of the skin, follows an in- 

 crease in the amount of blood sent to the body surface as 

 result of the irritation produced by the rubbing. The chill 

 experienced when leaving over-heated rooms, or crowded 



