Preservation of Health. 
183 
Silk is also an animal production possessing the same 
merit. Woven, raw silk may he classed next to flannel 
in its non-conducting power; and possesses the advan¬ 
tage of being less heavy and cumbersome. It may be 
used as a substitute, when flannel, from some peculiar¬ 
ity of constitution, is found to be irritating and uncom¬ 
fortable. Should silk become one of the staples of our 
country, its use as an article of dress worn next the skin 
would not be the least of the advantages to be derived 
from its cultivation. At present it is too expensive for 
common use. 
A vast amount of disease would be prevented if the 
laboring classes appreciated better the importance of 
flannel or silk as an article of dress. This fact does not 
rest wholly upon theory. It_ is well ascertained, that 
sjpee the use of flannel shirts have been prescribed by 
the navy regulations of Britain and the United States, 
and generally adopted by sailors, the diseases of this 
class of laborers have very greatly diminished; and, 
certainly, as a class, they are more exposed to the influ¬ 
ence of atmospheric vicissitudes than any other. 
In many localities in temperate climates, it would be 
advisable to continue its use throughout the year; and 
wherever changes are sudden and great, this is espe¬ 
cially important. Where the temperature is uniform, 
and variations gradually succeeding each other, it is 
less so. 
The following principles in connection with this sub¬ 
ject ought to be borne in mind :— 
1. The liability to imbibe disease from this source is 
much increased when the body is much heated, perspir¬ 
ation abundant, and the powers of the system exhausted 
by previous labor or other causes. The laborer should 
always have means of protection at hand to meet these 
circumstances. He should be careful never to allow the 
perspiration to evaporate rapidly under the influence of 
a current of air. Upon ceasing labor, he should put on 
an additional garment, instead of divesting himself of 
those which he has on already. He should avoid lying 
upon the damp ground, &c. He should especially be 
careful of exposure at night, when the temperature of 
the surrounding medium is much diminished, and the 
susceptibility of the body greatly increased by the ex¬ 
haustion consequent upon the labor of the day. 
2. Another principle equally important is, that the 
effect of changes of external temperature upon the econ¬ 
omy is greater, the greater the degree of heat to which 
the body has for some time previous been exposed. 
Thus, other things being equal, a lesser degree of atmos¬ 
pheric depression, will occasion a greater liability to dis¬ 
ease in a warm climate, than a greater degree in a cold 
latitude. This indicates the importance of clothing the 
body in a non-conductor in hot climates—to which silk 
is admirably adapted. I believe much disease would 
be avoided by properly appreciating this principle. 
A great deal might be said upon this branch of the 
subject, but I pass, to make a few remarks upon ma¬ 
laria. 
What the nature of that agent is which emanates 
from certain marshy localities in new countries, we do 
not know. It is something which eludes the senses, 
and therefore, scientific analysis. But we know that 
its effect in producing diseases, depends, in addition to 
its own proper action, very much upon an aptitude in 
individuals to become affected by it. In this latter 
point of view much may be accomplished in the way of 
prevention by artificial means. Its operation is also 
promoted by some external circumstances which may 
be ascertained to some extent, and our habits deter¬ 
mined in conformity to them. 
My remarks, owing to my limited space, must be 
very brief. Generally, it is to be remarked, by main¬ 
taining the vigor of the body by the strict observance 
of all those conditions under which health in every sit¬ 
uation is vouchsafed, we can do much toward protec¬ 
tion from malarious influences. Temperance, proper 
protection from atmospheric vicissitudes, regularity, 
simplicity and uniformity in habits of life, regulated 
passions, &c,; all furnish us with much, if not en¬ 
tire security against so great an evil. It should also be 
recollected that the moisture of the atmosphere is the 
vehicle in which the morbific influence is contained 
and diffused, and hence, by avoiding exposure at night, 
early in the morning, and at certain periods of weather, 
the liability to disease is much lessened. 
In connection with this topic I would add a consider¬ 
ation for the benefit of those who unfortunately suffer 
from malarious diseases. Providence has kindly fur¬ 
nished a specific for many forms of these diseases. It 
is the bitter principle which resides in the Peruvian and 
other barks, and which when extracted by chemical 
principles, and presented in a more concentrated form, 
is called Quinia or Quinine. 
An impression very generally prevails that this is a re¬ 
medy involving peculiar hazard, and that a variety of 
evils are apt to result from its use. This impression 
has originated with unprincipled nostrum-dealers, who 
wish to supplant a known remedy by their secret com¬ 
pounds, most of which owe all the virtue they possess, 
to the very article which they attempt to discredit. 
The discovery of the febrifuge property of the barks 
was one of the most important ever made. It is calcu¬ 
lated to prevent a vast amount of suffering and loss of 
life; and seems, in connection wilh the great exposure 
necessarily involved in the redemption of our national 
domains, to have been a specific dispensation of Divine 
benevolence for the benefit of the human race. That 
injury may arise from its injudicious application, must 
of course be admitted of this, as of all other remedies; 
but that its judicious administration is hazardous, as ve¬ 
ry many may be led to believe, is an error of great mo¬ 
ment, and one which has been diligently fostered by a 
class of men whose motives are to speculate upon the 
credulity of mankind, and satisfy their mercenary crav¬ 
ings at the expense of their fellow beings. 
I have already encroached too much upon your col¬ 
umns, and will therefore defer other considerations for 
another number. 
Austin Flint, M. D. 
Buffalo , July, 1842. 
Mr. Edward W. Brewster, of Illinois, in a letter 
full of kind feeling and complimentary remarks, gives 
a brief account of this season’s crops, which we sub¬ 
join. We have seen something of those immense agri¬ 
cultural and mineral resources which lie on the west 
side of Lake Michigan; and since our first acquaint¬ 
ance with the favored region lying between that lake 
and the Mississippi, we have thought, from its pecu¬ 
liarly varied and abundant advantages; its healthful 
climate ; numerous streams, furnishing illimitable water 
power; its facilities for commerce, having, by the aid 
of the lake on one side and the “ father of rivers” on 
the other, the choice of two markets; but especially 
from the high character for intelligence and moral 
worth of its inhabitants, it is destined soon to contain 
as dense, populous, and intelligent a community as is 
to be found west of the Hudson. 
“ Our harvest is nearly finished. The crop 
of wheat in Northern Illinois is a very heavy 
one. We shall send you a perfect avalanche 
of bread stuffs this fall. Our cool season, 
has retarded the growth of corn. Oats and 
