the Moijiure absorbed from the Atmofphere „ 24? 
Perhaps the apparent dampnefs of linen, to the touch, arifes 
more from the eafe with which that fubfrance parts with the 
water it contains, than from the quantity of water it actually 
holds : in the fame manner as a body appears hot to the touch, 
in confequence of its parting freely with its heat, while ano- 
ther body, which is actually at the fame temperature, but 
which witholds its heat with greater obftinacy, afreets the' 
fenfe of feeling much lefs violently. 
It is well known, that woollen clothes, fuch as flannels, &c. 
worn next the (kin, greatly promote infenfible perfpiration. 
May not this arife principally from the ftrong attraction which 
fubfifrs between wool and the watery vapour which is conti- 
nually ifluing from the human body ? 
That it does not depend entirely upon the warmth of that 
covering, is clear ; for the fame degree of warmth, produced by 
wearing more cloathing of a different kind, does not produce 
the fame efreCt. 
The perfpiration of the human body being abforbed by a 
covering of flannel, it is immediately difrributed through the 
whole thicknefs of that fubftance, and by that means expofed 
by a very large furface to be carried off by the atmofphere ; 
and the lofs of this watery vapour, which the flannel fufrains 
on the one fide, by evaporation, being immediately refrored 
from the other, in confequence of the frrong attraction be- 
tween the flannel and this vapour, the pores of the (kin are 
difencumbered, and they are continually lurrounded by a dry, 
warm, and falubrious atmofphere. 
I am aftonilhed, that the cufrom of wearing flannel next the 
(kin fhould not have prevailed more univerfally. I am confi- 
dent it would prevent a multitude of difeafes ; and I know of 
N n 2, no 
