Page:Science ofDress130.png

130 nothing. "At last," said Mr. Wharton, "it occurred to me that perhaps the light, short-sleeved India-gauze vests that he wore in summer had some share in the causation of his agony; they were too thin either to absorb the perspiration, or to protect the skin from sudden chills.... I accordingly advised him to wear throughout the summer the thickest long-sleeved vests, made entirely of wool, such as he wore in the depth of the winter. The result was the absolute cessation of his experience of 'prickly heat.' "

There is a very prevalent idea that woollen clothing is weakening, but this is only a misapprehension of the fact that it is weakening to allow the body to be constantly overheated. Although woollen is worn, the body need not be overheated, even in summer, care being taken that the quality and quantity of the clothes is suitable to the external temperature.

To come now to the practical application of all the principles which I have endeavoured to explain in this and the preceding chapters, I recommend that the body, especially of growing girls, should be clad entirely in wool, and for this purpose I advocate the use of woollen combinations, with high necks and long sleeves. The combination garment, with the addition of woollen stockings, forms a complete and most sanitary costume, and, were it not for the sake of appearances, is all that is needed for summer wear; but other clothing is required in winter for warmth, and in summer for the sake of that tyrant appearance.