Finally, bodies passing from the gaseous to the liquid state emit the heat—latent heat—which was essential to their assuming the gaseous condition. This occurring in the case of perspiration in the cloth interstices increases by just so much their warmth, in other words lessens the demand for heat production.
Before leaving the subject of texture, note should be made of the importance of its being of a loose nature. However great the hydroscopic power of a material in the raw state, if it be tightly woven that power is greatly diminished, or even quite destroyed. Hence the advantage of loosely knitted over tightly woven goods.
Important indeed is the proper fitting of clothing. However good the materials they may then not accomplish their purpose for the following reasons:
I. By close application to the skin certain materials acting as cutaneous stimulants, maintaining an active equable circulation. Wool possesses this property most markedly; even in some delicate skins proving an irritant. A very marked increase of oily matter is excreted over these areas where oil-glands exist in greatest abundance, i. e., mesial line of thorax, in front and behind; thus improving the flexibility of the skin.
II. By fitting neatly, chambers of air heated by the body are not with every change of position of the wearer forced out, as occurs in illy-fitting clothing. Upward currents of air naturally occur, and if permitted to exist carry off large amounts of caloric. Simple attention to these two facts reduced the death rate of the Wurtemburg Army Corps from 3.22 to 1.64, as compared with the other departments of the German Army.
The general application and advantages of such an ideal clothing to diseased conditions, it is needless for me to describe to a body of medical men; but particular references ought to be made to rheumatism and nephritis, ("kidney troubles.") To the former, because best provision is made for cutaneous elimination (always acid!) so essential in that disorder, in which there is so marked a diminution in the alkalinity of the blood; to the latter because sudden congestions are obviated in an organ already overworked, by preventing sudden chilling of the surface.
It only remains for me to call your attention to my accidentally finding such a clothing upon a patient of mine (Mr. Jaros), and the tests to which I have put it.
He described its history and manufacture as follows:
"While suffering from an attack of rheumatic sciatica in the Harz mountains, following a peasant's advice, I enveloped myself in loose lamb's fleece which he provided, and I experienced speedy relief. On reaching Berlin I consulted Chief Councillor-of-Health, Dr. Abarbanell, who advised me to have constructed some underwear with a fleece lining. I sought a weaver and had some underwear knitted, into the meshes of which were worked, "by hand," during the process of knitting, layers of loose lamb's wool."