But not only is there to be considered the danger of laying the seeds of disease from going out into the cold air while the body is too lightly clad, but also that, in order to maintain the normal temperature of the body in winter without the aid of warm clothing, requires a greater expenditure of nervous energy, which in turn is the equivalent of a large amount of life force. It is not only imprudent, but most injurious, to exhaust unnecessarily the powers, of the body, when mere mechanical appliances, like clothing, will obviate this continuous expenditure of vital energy.
Another way in which clothes save the wear and tear of the body is by diminishing the amount of heat the system must produce by the oxidation of the elements of food. When properly clad, there is less loss to the body of its heat, and consequently there is less food needed to supply this loss.
The Length of the Walking Skirt.—The present vogue of having the walking skirt five inches from the ground is an excellent one, as it not only considerably diminishes the weight of the skirt, but it interferes much less with the forward swing of the leg in walking, which otherwise has to be overcome by the muscular force of the leg. In walking, the length of the step should be proportionate to the length of the limb; the leg is carried forward by the unconscious swing at the hip.
The chief exertion in walking is caused by the raising of the foot and leg to the point at which it goes forward and downward. By any artificial shortening of the step, such as is caused, for instance, by long skirts, it requires much more muscular effort to walk the same distance. Besides which, there is the additional friction of the skirts, which is increased by the slightest wind; this has been likened to the process of eternally walking through a field of long grass.
Another most important reason for not wearing long dresses on the street is that they stir up the dust and collect microbes, and thus contribute materially to the dissemination of the germs of disease and subject the wearer and her family to the risk of infection.
The question of clothing takes an important place in the hygiene of the lungs. All clothing may be approved which is sufficiently warm, and which allows of modifications according to the variations in the temperature, and does not hinder the movements of the body, and particularly those which are carried out by the respiratory muscles. In the first place, it is very important that the muscles about the shoulders should have perfect freedom of motion, in order that the expansion of the apices of the lungs should not be interfered with. Clothes which hang heavily on the shoulders, and especially those which grasp the neck tightly, are unsuitable. Special attention must be given to this point in the selection of winter clothing.
In going up long flights of stairs furs and heavy top coats should be taken off and carried over the arm; this will prevent much shortness of breath and gasping when one reaches the top of many flights.
The Winter Street Dress.—The street dress for winter should be warm enough to prevent a feeling of chilliness, and yet be light enough to prevent the wearer from becoming overheated while walking, or from feeling a sense of weight of the clothing, which is always a sign of being too warmly clad.
For outside coats impregnated woolen materials, waterproof, but at the same time porous, are the best, except in very heavy rains. A storm coat of some kind should complete the costume for rain or snow. The woman should never stay indoors on account of very cold or inclement weather, as being housed up and the lack of sufficient exercise make one very susceptible to the very sudden changes for which our climate is so notable.