Читать книгу The Care of Children - Sebastian Kneipp Kneipp - Страница 7

Section 2. The Dress of the Mother.

One might well suppose that to give advice on such a matter would be quite superfluous.

I have, however, learned by experience that Mothers need it greatly, in order that they do not injure themselves by their dress, and that they may by precept and example instruct others of their sex.

When one thinks of the trouble, care, toil and sacrifice endured by a good housewife, it does seem almost out of place to warn her against vanity.

But it is not so; unluckily vanity and love of dress have established themselves so firmly that it I seems to me quite necessary to give advice as to how a Mother should dress.

The dress of the Mother should be simple, without slavish obedience to the latest fashion; it should, in fact, fulfil its function of protecting the body against cold and nakedness. Wear only linen on the body. The dress should not be laced or fastened too tightly; it should be loose round the throat, so as not to contract it, which has been the cause of much ill health. The blood cannot properly circulate when the throat is tightly bound, and so it clots and forms wens and swellings and lays the foundation of much mischief.

I will not say a word about tight-lacing. Every Mother should be sensible enough not to yield to such a folly, for it is just by tight-lacing that many women ruin themselves.

A wife need try to please no one but her husband. At the same time, I hope there are no men so stupid as to require from their wives that they should look like wasps, and so lace themselves as to bring their own lives and those of their children into danger.

So stupid and so ignorant can no man be. Wives, however, obey your husbands (even in the matter of dress); for this is your sacred duty.

Garters play no un important part in the health; by wearing them too tight women get varicose veins. They never will confess to wearing them tight, they invariably say "My Garters are quite loose" so they may be in the morning but during the last half of the day the feet and legs swell, the garter presses, and obstructions arise.

The wearing of shoes too warm and narrow very prejudicial, especially those furnished with so called elastic bands.

This make of shoe produces open ulcers on the feet by disturbing the circulation of the blood. Neither should the clothing be too warm. Fifty years ago among ten thousand country people who spent most of their time in the open air in all sorts of weather, you would not have found three who wore drawers; now nearly all people in all places wear them.

From this debilitating habit many diseases arise.

Even woolen drawers are worn which are peculiarly harmful; fur the warmer the lower part of the body is kept so much the surer will the blood flow into it from the feet, and if you see people without natural warmth shivering, even beside a hot fire, you may decide at once that they wear woolen drawers.

If in winter people wear an extra garment over their summer costume, it is quite enough for health – this applies to men as well as to women.

It would give me unspeakable satisfaction and be of endless service to the Mothers and children if my words could induce them to dress simply and suitably in summer and in winter, and thus avoid all debilitation.