high winds and perhaps frosts
at night to warmth and even scorching heat is often very sudden. Even
the delicate are then very apt to throw off their winter or spring
clothing. But to do so suddenly is highly injudicious. Girls who are not
strong should wear some woollen material all the year round. This should
of course be of a lighter texture in summer, but woollen it ought to be,
without doubt.
It is, I believe, a fact that there are fully as many disagreeable colds
caught in summer as in winter, and this can only be owing to the greater
recklessness with which people expose themselves to the influence of the
weather.
During sultry and thundery weather, as it is called, many of the
delicate suffer from languor, listlessness, and headache. These symptoms
usually go away suddenly when the weather breaks or the storm comes on
and rolls over. Exertion in cases of this kind should be avoided, as
well as anything like heavy meals. The sufferer is better out of doors
than in, and better reclining in a hammock or easy-chair out of a
draught than standing or walking about.
Hot weather greatly depresses the vital energy, because it usually comes
on so suddenly. On very warm days the delicate should avoid the
sunshine's glare during the heat of the day. But exercise must be taken
if health is to be retained, so in summer even girls that are not strong
should get out of bed soon and take a tepid if not cold bath. About
half-an-hour after breakfast is the best time for exercise, and again
about an hour before sunset, just when the day is cooling down, but
before the chill, night air has begun to blow.
I have no intention at present to take up the subject of food in its
relation to weather, but I must be permitted to say that in our country,
as a rule, summer dinners are served on mistaken principles. Why, they
differ but little, if at all, from the same meals as placed before us in
the winter season--soup, fish, and great joints, pastry and cheese.
To the robust I have nothing to say. Let them eat what they choose; in
time they will find out their mistake. But I do seriously advise
delicate girls to live rather abstemiously and on light, easily digested
dishes during the hot weather. Salads (and fruit, if good and ripe) may,
however, be taken with great benefit.
We constantly hear young folks complaining of thirst during very warm
weather. The reason is not so much to be sought in the heat itself as in
the way they l
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