The philosophy of beards : a lecture : physiological, artistic & historical / by T.S. Gowing.
23/92
10 (canvas 24)
The image contains the following text:
questions connected with the public health, and Dr.
Alison, of Glasgow, one of whom had seen the particles
of iron settling on and staining the Beards of foreign
smiths; and the other had noticed the dusty Beards of
foreign masons when at work, were led to the conclusion,
independently of each other, that the iron and stone dust
were much better deposited on the Beard (whence they
could be washed), than in the lungs, where they would be
j . sure to cause disease. The lungs of a mason for instance
are preserved in Edinburgh, which are one concrete mass
of same. These gentlemen published their convictions;
and through the beneficial agency of the press, that in-
formation, aided by papers in the " Builder," and in
" Dickens's Household Words," soon found its way to our
artizans, many of whom have tried the experiment, and
borne testimony to its satisfactory results. At this
juncture, let us also hope that the reiterated opinions of
eminent Army Surgeons will at length be listened to, and
the British Soldier be freed from the apoplectic leathern
stock, and allowed to wear that protection which nature
endowed him with. To the latter the most rigid econo-
mist cannot object, since it will add nothing to the esti-
mates, while it will enable the soldier to offer, if not a
bolder, at least a more formidable front, to the foe, aud
save him from many of the hazards of the march in which
more die than on the field of battle !