Woolen comforters, scarfs, and fur mufflers, so commonly worn around the neck, are more likely to produce throat troubles and local chill than to have any useful effect.  Harm ensues from the fact that the extra covering induces local perspiration, which enfeebles the natural defensive power of the parts; and when the warmer covering is removed, the perspiring surface is readily chilled.  Those who never bundle their throats are least liable to suffer from throat ailments.

252.  Ill Effects of Wearing Tightly Fitting Clothing.  The injury to health caused by tight lacing, when carried to an extreme, is due to the compression and displacement of various organs by the pressure exerted on them.  Thus the lungs and the heart may be compressed, causing short breath on exertion, palpitation of the heart, and other painful and dangerous symptoms.  The stomach, the liver, and other abdominal organs are often displaced, causing dyspepsia and all its attendant evils.  The improper use of corsets, especially by young women, is injurious, as they interfere with the proper development of the chest and abdominal organs.  The use of tight elastics below the knee is often injurious.  They obstruct the local venous circulation and are a fruitful source of cold feet and of enlarged or varicose veins.

Tightly fitting boots and shoes often cause corns, bunions, and ingrowing nails; on the other hand, if too loosely worn, they cause corns from friction.  Boots too narrow in front crowd the toes together, make them overlap, and render walking difficult and painful.  High-heeled boots throw the weight of the body forwards, so that the body rests too much on the toes instead of on the heels, as it should, thus placing an undue strain upon certain groups of muscles of the leg, in order to maintain the balance, while other groups are not sufficiently exercised.  Locomotion is never easy and graceful, and a firm, even tread cannot be expected.

The compression of the scalp by a tight-fitting hat interferes with the local circulation, and may cause headaches, neuralgia, or baldness, the nutrition of the hair-follicles being diminished by the impaired circulation.  The compression of the chest and abdomen by a tight belt and various binders interferes with the action of the diaphragm,—­the most important muscle of respiration.

253.  Miscellaneous Hints on the Use of Clothing.  Children and old people are less able to resist the extreme changes of temperature than are adults of an average age.  Special care should be taken to provide children with woolen underclothing, and to keep them warm and in well-ventilated rooms.  Neither the chest nor limbs of young children should be unduly exposed, as is often done, to the cold blasts of winter or the fickle weather of early spring.  Very young children should not be taken out in extremely cold weather, unless quite warmly clad and able to run about.  The absurd notion is often entertained