Femina, A Work for Every Woman

by John A. Miller

Dr. Horace Dobell, of London, in his work entitled “Winter Cough,” makes some very practical and useful remarks, when he says: “But before leaving the subject of sudden changes of temperature, I must not forget to speak of sleeping rooms. It is quite astonishing what follies are committed with regard to the temperature of sleeping rooms. On what possible ground people justify the sudden transition from the hot sitting room to a wretched cold bedroom, which may not have had a fire in it for weeks or months, it is impossible to say, but it is quite certain that the absurd neglect of properly warming bedrooms, is a fruitful source of all forms of catarrh. We cannot too much impress this upon our patients.”

There is another source of danger in artificial heating, and that is, in having the air of the house always much warmer than the most favored temperature of the open air. This is a great mistake because it is under these circumstances almost impossible to go from an overheated house or apartment into the open fresh air without catching cold, and for this reason the thermometer should be found in every well-regulated household. Women who are under treatment for female disease should never get into a cold bed, even if there has been fire in the sleeping room during the day. In damp and cold weather there should be greater precaution in this respect. The best bed warmer is one or more earthenware jugs, like the German seltzer water jugs, filled with hot water. Earthenware radiates the heat better and retains the warmth longer than glass, while there is no danger of the heat cracking the jug, as it will glass bottles. One or two of these jugs filled with hot water and put into a bed an hour or so before retiring will bring the temperature up to an agreeable warmth.

Proper clothing is perhaps from a sanitary standpoint of equal importance with that of artificial heating and ventilation. With appropriate clothing, the body can be protected against the inclemency of the weather and the sudden changes of the atmosphere so that no ill effects are experienced from the great changes of temperature to which we are exposed. Women are dressed less warmly than men, although they do not possess the bodily strength to resist cold in the same degree as men. Their garments are not only made of lighter material, but the loose, fluttering manner in which they hang around the limbs does not protect their bodies in the same thorough manner that similar material made after the style of men’s clothing protects men.

This does not imply that women should don men’s clothing, because the present costume or outside apparel of women of civilized countries, is both graceful and modest. A reform, however, in her underclothing is not only desirable but in many cases absolutely necessary to insure permanent relief from catarrhal affections.

All women who are suffering from uterine or pelvic diseases, and who are still wedded to the injurious costume of open drawers and skirts, have an important lesson to learn.

A warm and complete covering for the lower extremities and pelvic organs is paramount to any medicine or treatment that can be given.

It is during the menstrual period that the pelvic organs are more susceptible to congestion and inflammation from exposures than at any other time, and from the manner in which women dress, it is surprising that there is not more sickness among them than there really is. Wide and open cotton drawers, and skirts hanging loosely around their limbs, with cotton hose, are no protection against drafts and sudden changes, so that it often happens that the extremities are chilled and cold, which is in itself sufficient to cause uterine diseases. When this exposure continues, with some already existing disease, it will neutralize the best-directed efforts to accomplish a cure.

It is said of the celebrated Boerhave, that among his effects there was a carefully-sealed prescription, which contained the secret for preserving health and vigor to a ripe old age. In his last will and testament it was provided that the prescription should be sold to the highest bidder at public auction. A physician who was anxious to procure the recipe of this renowned Dutch doctor, bought it for a very high price. On breaking the seal and anxiously unfolding the paper, he found these words: “Keep the head cool, the extremities warm, and the abdomen free.” The buyer was greatly chagrined at the simplicity of the supposed panacea, but, if the profession and the public only appreciated the real worth of the advice, there would be much less sickness.