Health, or, How to Live

GRAHAM ON CLOTHING

CLOTHING, then, is an evil so far as it prevents a free circulation of pure air over the whole surface of the body, or in any manner relaxes and debilitates the skin, and increases its susceptibility to be unhealthily affected by changes of weather and by the action of morbific agents; it is an evil so far as, by compression or otherwise, it prevents a free and equal circulation and return of the blood; it an evil so far as it prevents the free action of the chest and lungs, or in any manner or measure restricts respiration; it is an evil so far as it interferes in any degree with the digestive organs; it is an evil so far as it prevents the most perfect freedom of voluntary action, and ease and grace of motion and attitude, or prevents the full development of any part of the system, or serves by the substitution of artificial means for natural powers, to relax and to debilitate the muscles, or render the tendons, ligaments, cartilages, and bones, less healthy and powerful or in any measure to abridge the control of the WILL over any organ of voluntary motion; it is an evil so far as it serves to increase the peculiar sensibility of any organ of animal instinct, and to augment the power of that instinct on the intellectual and moral faculties; it is an evil so far as it serves to enfeeble the intellectual faculties, and render the mind sluggish and sensual; and it is an evil so far as it serves to excite an unchaste imagination, and cause the sexes to act towards each other more from the impulse of animal feeling than from the dictates of sound reason. HHTL 272.3

The application of these general principles to the regulation of clothing is perfectly easy, and cannot lead any intelligent mind into error. It requires — 1st, that whatever climate man may inhabit, he should endeavor to preserve that state of general health and vigor of body which will render the least quantity of clothing necessary for the preservation of a healthy temperature; 2nd, that the materials used for clothing should, as far as consistent with the proper temperature of the body, be such as serve in the least degree to relax and debilitate the skin, and through it the whole system; 3rd, that the clothing should be so adjusted as in the greatest possible measure consistent with the proper temperature of the body to admit of a free access of air to the whole surface, and of the most perfect freedom of circulation, respiration, and voluntary action, and attitude; and 4th, that the fashion of the clothing should be such as in the least possible degree to excite an impure imagination. HHTL 273.1

After having so fully laid down the general principles in regard to clothing, it is hardly necessary that I should say that corsets, stays, garters, and every kind of ligature or compression, and all kinds of tight dresses, should be avoided, and especially by the young and growing, whose bodies are very easily and almost inevitably diseased, deformed, and distorted, to a greater or less extent, by such unnatural means. The growing body should be free as the air. The flowing robes of the ancients were incomparably more favorable to health and more graceful than modern dresses. HHTL 273.2

Much has been said by certain writers on hygiene, in favor of wearing flannels next to the skin; and undoubtedly there are particular cases in which the habit being formed, had better be continued, than too suddenly abandoned. Yet it is certain that woolen serves to excite, relax, and debilitate the skin, and through it the whole system, and thereby to increase the very evils which it is worn to prevent, more than cotton, linen, and silk. While, therefore, I leave invalids and individuals to govern themselves on this point according to their particular circumstances and state of health, I lay it down as a general rule, with reference to the permanent interests of the human constitution, that it is better not to wear woolen next to the skin, when cotton, linen, or silk under-garments can be had. HHTL 274.1

What I have said concerning the regulation of the temperature of the body by means of clothing, is true in regard to the use of fire. In all cases it relaxes and debilitates the system, and diminishes the power of the body to regulate its own temperature; and therefore physiological interests of our bodies require that we should, as far as possible, keep them warm by their own healthy and vigorous calorific function, and only use fires as a necessary evil, and under such regulations as will not expose us to greatly unequal temperatures at the same time, or to powerful heat on one side and severe cold on the other. Our rooms should be so warmed as to be of mild and equal temperature in every part. — Lectures. HHTL 274.2

BREAD is the staff of life, and liquor the stilts — the former sustaining a man and the latter elevating him for a fall. HHTL 274.3