REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON EXHIBITS.
To the President and Members of the National Association Fire Engineers.
Gentlemen:
The undersigned Committee on Exhibits begs leave to submit the following as their report:
THE JAROS HYGIENIC UNDERWEAR FOR FIREMEN.
Underwear is a prime factor in acting as a guard against influences from without, and if of a properly constructed material, must tend much toward raising the efficiency of men in service, and thereby increase the standard of an already progressive department. The material—the Jaros Hygienic Wear—is a combination of unspun wool knitted into the meshes of a spun cotton fiber. This is after the recommendation of most eminent medical scientists in America and Europe. The wool unspun, worn next the body, acts as a cutaneous stimulant (guarding against irritation so often apparent with spun fiber), the body temperature being stored between the individual fibers, prevents the cold from directly striking the body from without (acting like double casement windows in a house), and, therefore so valuable when men are forced to sudden changes from in-doors to the cold of out-doors. The wool, again, absorbs moisture from the body, and transports it readily to the outer framework of cotton, thereby protecting against the possibility of wet clothing next the skin to chill the surface at every change in temperature. The cotton framework without, makes the material two-fold in its action; for while the wool has a power of absorption of moisture, the cotton has that of attraction and retention, so that any perspiration exuded from the body is taken up by the cotton from the wool and retained, while any water from without striking the cotton surface is attracted and retained, and prevented from penetrating through to the body. With all this, the material is porous, and does not therefore, retard the poisonous exhalations from passing off. The material is as nearly non-shrinkable as can be claimed of any material, owing to the cotton back, thereby having an underwear which will fit properly at first as well as last. No laps or folds to allow air to circulate next the body are apparent, where the consideration of shrinkage is discarded (which is the case with wear of spun wool, whether knitted or woven.) The wear is also more durable. The cost within the line of good woolen underwear. With a due consideration of all the scientific as well as practical facts and experiences, the Surgeon General of the United States Army recommended the wear to the Quartermaster-General, War Department, U. S. Army, and the result of experience by men and officers has given this underwear prominent place under the equipments of the Northwestern posts. They also point with great pride and satisfaction to the service among Police and Firemen in such cities where practical application has been made. They feel assured that the consideration of this subject, though comparatively new with the chief officers of our departments, will gain a hearing, with the view of raising the condition of the men.
Your Committee, upon examination, would recommend it for your consideration.
Very respectfully submitted,
| Chief, Providence, R. I. | G. A. Steere, |
| " Macon, Ga. | L. M. Jones, |
| " Springfield, Mass. | A. P. Leshure, |
| " New Albany, Ind. | C. T. Matthews, |
| " New Orleans, La. | Thos. O'Connor, |
| Committee. |