HOUSING AND CLOTHING 1043 



cold and from sudden changes in temperature, and must take care of the 

 perspiration. Our ideas of clothing that will best accomplish this, change 

 as we gain knowledge of the physiology of the human body and of the 

 properties of the different materials. Also, the changes which have come 

 about in living conditions (warmer houses, overheated trains and street 

 cars, and poorly ventilated buildings of all sorts) demand a different type 

 of clothing from that worn by our forefathers. 



The entrance of women into outdoor sports, into business and pro- 

 fessional life, has done much towards the development of saner and more 

 varied dress for women, such as the tailored suit, the shirtwaist, the house 

 dress and the sporting costume. 



Undergarments. — In considering clothing for health the undergarment 

 is of first importance. It must perform three functions: (1) regulate the 

 body heat, (2) absorb perspiration, (3) allow ventilation, so that the per- 

 spiration may be evaporated. It is important that the materials chosen 

 be capable of fulfilling these requirements. Loosely woven materials 

 absorb moisture into the meshes readily without seeming wet, these same 

 meshes allow ventilation, and the still air held in them, being a poor con- 

 ductor of heat, makes them warm, provided the outer garment is woven 

 sufficiently close to prevent too sudden changing of the air. Several 

 layers of light-weight material, holding air between them, are warmer than 

 a single layer of heavier material. For summer, the loosely woven under- 

 garment takes care of the perspiration and a thin outer garment allows the 

 constant changing of air which cools the skin. 



Character of Material. — Cotton and linen, closely woven, absorb 

 perspiration, but get veiy wet, because of the lack of meshes to hold air 

 to hasten evaporation. Woolens, because of the nature of the fiber, con- 

 tain many air spaces ; however, with washing the fibers mat or felt together 

 and this characteristic is lost. Wool also is irritating to some skins and 

 is too warm for people in active life. As the skin must be clean, so must 

 the clothing be clean if it is to perform its functions. Cotton and linen 

 wash more easily than wool, another point in their favor. 



Amount of Clothing. — The actual amount of clothing required for 

 warmth will vary with the individual. Old age and infancy require more 

 than active youth, while an invalid or a person leading a sedentary life 

 requires more than one exercising or possessing great vitality. The old 

 custom of putting the woolens on in October and not taking them off until 

 May was not a good one. Clothing should be regulated by the weather; 

 with summer temperature in the house, summer underwear may be worn 

 all the year and the outer garments changed when greater warmth is desired. 



When the body is over-heated and the ventilation cut off, one becomes 

 over-sensitive to cold. The throat swathed in furs or a muffler is more 

 likely to suffer when exposed than one left bare; therefore when such neck- 

 wear is worn it should be left slightly open at the throat. This does not 

 mean, however, that the whole chest need be exposed, as fashion some- 



