From The Medical Intelligencfr.
{"newspaper_name": "American watchman and Delaware advertiser.", "edition": "01", "page": "p1", "byline": "FLANNEL."}
From review OF the different substances worn
next the skin, it would appear that wool has greatly
the advantage over the others. Flannel, by lis gen
tie stimulous the skin, has the beneficial effect
of keeping the pores in state the most iayorablS
to perspiration. In flannel, the discharge by per.
spiration proceeds uniformly; but not SO in linen.
when soled by the moisture OF the skin. The diff
ferent effects OF flannel and linen particularly
percepble during brisk exercise. When the body
is covered with the former, though peispiraticn be
necessarily increased the perspired matter passes
off through flannel into the atmosphere or cir, and
the skin remains dry and warm. Ii the same ex-
ercse be taken in linen shirts, perspiration, as in
the former case, is indeed also increased, but the
perspired natter instead of being dispersed into the
atmosphere, remains upon the linen and not only
clogs the pores but gives disagTeeable sensation


Flannel has another advantage which merits at
tention. AS it does not retain the hnmors dscharg-
ed from the skin, people who perspre profusely
in flannel shirts will not easily catch cold on gong
into the open air. But the is not the case 10
respect Of linen Shirts which, by retaining the per-
spired matter, will occasion sensation ot chillness,
often followed by violent cold and sometimes even
fatal effects.


| The prejudces of people have been much excl.
ted both in favor of flannel and agains ii. 1t has
been objected, that flannel worn next the skin occa
sions weakness, by too much increasing perspira
ton but this objection seems not TO be founded n
truth, since perspiration scarcely ever can be i'm
moderate or hurtful, long the skin remains dry,
! Flannel, when first used, is often apt to an
uneasy sensation, but this soon goes off. In those
who wear flannel, the skin, on being much rubbed,
will become red and inHamed; but We ought not
on that account infer that flannel produces cutane-
Gus eruption; on the contrary BY preserving the
pores open, and increasing perspraon, it tends
greatly to remove the OF cutaneous eruptons,
which arise chiefly from an irregular state OF that
discharge through the pores OF The skin.


The prejudice against the use OF flannel next the
skin seems to be owing, in great measure to the ef.
lects which ensue, from not changing II sufficiently
often but this objection is to be imputed TO the
wearer not to the flannel ITSELF


1t must be acknowledged, that the advantages
above mentioned strongly recommend the use of
gannel as a preservative Of health, particularly 10
those who are exposed to all kinds OF weather. 1t
has the additional advantage of being suitable to all
seasons and of compensating deficiency of upper
dress. Extraordinary beneficial effects have been
experienced from flannel in variety OF cases. In
gouty, and particularly, rheumatic habits, it has op
Grated with singular advantage. In obstinate coughs.
where symptoms of consumption were apparent, it
has proved highly sersiceahle; and upon the whole,
il merits more general and extensive application
than it has ever yet obtained.