WET CLOTHES.—WET FEET.—NIGHT AIR, &c. 95

changes in the atmosphere, and by their pains, coughs, and oppres-sions of the breast, &c. they become a kind of living barometers.

WET CLOTHES.

Wet clothes not only by their coldness obstruct the perspira-tion, but their moisture, by being absorbed, or taken up into thebody , greatly increases the danger. The most robust consti-tution is not proof against the danger arising from wet clothes ;they daily occasion fevers, rheumatisms, and other fatal disorders,even in the young and healthy.

It is impossible for people who go frequently abroad to avoidsometimes being wet. But the danger might generally be lessen-ed, if not wholly prevented, by changing their clothes soon ; whenthis cannot be done, they should keep in motion till they be dry.S,o far are many from taking this precaution, that they often sit orlie down in the fields with their clothes wet, and frequently sleepeven whole nights in this condition. The frequent instanceswhich we have of the fatal eifects of this conduct, ought certainlyto deter all from being guilty of it.

WET FEET.

Wet feet often occasion fatal diseases. The colic, inflam-mations of the breast and of the bowels, the iliac passion, choleramorbus, &,c. are often occasioned by wet feet. Habit will, no doubt,render this less dangerous ; but it ought as far as possible to beavoided. The delicate, and those who are not accustomed to have**their clothes or feet wet, should be peculiarly careful in this re-spect.

NIGHT AIR.

The perspiration is often obstructed by night air ; even in sum-mer this ought to be avoided. The dews which fall plentifullyafter the hottest day, make the night more dangerous than whenthe weather is cool. Hence in warm countries, the eveningdews are more hurtful than where the climate is more temperate.

It is very agreeable after a warm day to be abroad in a cool eve-ning ; but this is a pleasure to be avoided by all who value theirhealth. The effects of evening dews are gradual, indeed, and al-most imperceptible ; but they are not the less to be dreaded : wewould therefore advise travellers, labourers, and all who are muchheated by day, carefully to avoid them. When the perspirationhas been great, these become dangerous in proportion. By notattending to this, in flat marshy countries, where the exhalationsand dews are copious, labourers are often seized with intermittingfevers, quinseys, and other dangerous diseases.

DAMP BEDS.

Beds become damp, either from their not being used, standingin damp houses, or in rooms without fire, or from the linen not be-ing dry when laid on the bed. Nothing is more tobe dreaded by