174 [Assembly 



between the flannel and the vapor. The pores of the skin are disen- 

 cumbered , and they are continually surrounded with a dry and salu- 

 brious atmosphere. It is astonishing that the custom of wearing 

 flannel next the skin should not have prevailed more universally ; it is 

 certain it would prevent a number of diseases, and there certainly is 

 no greater luxury than the comfortable sensation which arises from 

 wearing it after one is a little accustomed to it. It is a mistaken no- 

 tion that it is too warm a clothing for summer ; it may be worn in 

 the hotest climates, at all seasons of the year, without the least incon- 

 venience arising from wearing it. It is the warm bath of a perspiration 

 confined by a linen shirt wet with sweat, which renders the summer 

 heats of a southern climate so insupportable. But flannel promotes 

 perspiration and favors its evaporation, and evaporation as it is well 

 known, produces positive cold." 



I can vouch for the truth of every word of this. I wear the same 

 kind of flannel waistcoats in summer as I do in winter, with sleeves. 

 When I take exercise, and perspire, and my body and flesh are always 

 cool, and in part, to wearing flannel next my skin, I owe the fact of 

 never having had the fever and ague in this western country, which 

 is full of it. 



All this may appear trivial, and salutary rules are not regarded, but 

 it is of the utmost importance. Say that 15,000,000 of our people 

 wear flannel ; three flannel waistcoats to each : 45,000,000 of waist- 

 coats at only two yards each, (not enough with sleeves,) 90,000,000 of 

 yards would be required for flannel waistcoats. Only old people, 

 delicate women and children, above all, consumptive people, ought 

 to wear flannel drawers as well as flannel waistcoats, next their skin. 

 Men who drink spirituous liquors to increase the animal warmth) 

 should wear flannel instead, and " keep the body warm and the head 

 cool." 



( PAPER c. ) 



It would be of great utility if experiments could be made for the 

 sole purpose of discovering what is the kind of food and treatment 

 that will increase wool on each sheep individually, whether it is nitro- 

 gen, gluten, or what is it? The experiments must be made regard- 

 Isss of all expense or trouble; the thing is to discover the substance 

 that will increase the quantity of wool. Should it be too expensive 



