General remarks on sanitation : lecture given at the Board School Room, Bow, north Devon, on January 4th, 1888 / by Richard Davy.

  • Davy, Richard, 1838-1920
Date:
1888
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: General remarks on sanitation : lecture given at the Board School Room, Bow, north Devon, on January 4th, 1888 / by Richard Davy. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    have received from Dr. Benjamin Richardson, F.R.S., in preparing this essay ; his hand directs the most fertile pen in our profession, and if time allowed, I would sketch an outline of his “ Hygeiopolis,” or “ City of Health.” I have presented a copy of this work to our reading room, and you can peruse Dr. B. Richardson’s ingenious plan at your future leisure. 3. Good clothing.—I will only offer a few remarks on the subject of clothing, and those more from a sanitary point of view than general, because women are a much better judge of these matters than men. In my opinion, in our treacherous climate every one should wear flannel next to their skin, and so prevent disease by protecting the chest. Flannel is not only a non- conductor, but also an absorbent clothing, preventing per- spiration acting as a wet sheet. Naturally, dress varies according to the season of the year, and is properly left, as to selection, in the power of the wearer. Children, how- ever, should always be warmly clad, especially over their face, arms, and legs. The nakedness of the extremities amongst English young boys ✓ and girls ought to be remedied. For adults, light, clean, cool clothing in summer, and warm, comfortable, coloured garments in winter, are to be recommended. Waterproof capes are good in rainy times, and especially beneficial against wind; no covering beats a loose waterproof coat for driving home in, after a day’s shooting or any prolonged exertion ; for colds are got not during the time of exercise, but afterwards, when the bodily functions are enervated and depressed in con- sequence of exhaustion. There is no danger in plunging into a cool stream when sweating in summer, provided that friction and thorough drying with a towel takes place at once; but the danger consists in bathing, after perspiration has ceased, and consequent depression of the circulation has ensued. I cannot leave the subject of clothing without firing a shot at that marvellous form of hat, yet worn by the mashers and gentility, and known to us as the box hat. I could name one or two museum specimens of the box hat in
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