Clothing for the Tropics

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Feb 4, 1909

Clothing for the Tropics

THE question of devising a suitable fabric for wearing apparel suitable to tropical climates, which shall shield the wearer from the actinic rays of the sun, is one that has occupied conspicuous attention during recent years. A thin white material is generally selected for this purpose, preferably white duck; and although it promotes a certain degree of coolness and comfort, it does not succeed in fulfilling health conditions. Discriminating nature has provided the native in the torrid belt with an effective protection against the sun in a skin pigmentation which absorbs the actinic rays, so that their dangerous effects upon the constitution are counteracted. Consequently, the native is able to continue his labors without the slightest signs of fatigue during the hottest time of the day, when the white man is practically prostrated, or, at any rate, refrains from carrying out his duties from motives of self-preservation.

Investigation has shown that the piercing actinic rays, striking the neck and back, exercise a highly dangerous effect upon the spinal column and the nerve-centers, which react upon the organs of the stomach, promoting such maladies as indigestion, which in turn react upon the brain, and in time completely undermine the physical condition of the body, until at last collapse results. Experiments have proved that if only the natural pigmentation of the native is artificially produced in the clothing of the white man, he experiences no more harmful effects than the former, since the long, or heat, rays are themselves quite innocuous, so far as any effect upon the constitution is concerned. The degree of protection secured by pigmentation has been decided by practical investigation, and it has been found to have strong absorption qualities in regard to the actinic, or short, rays, the degree of pigmentation being proportionate to the intensity of the light prevailing in the native’s accustomed environment. A thin layer of the skin was obtained, and the spectrum of an electric arc between two iron poles was photographed after the rays had passed through the layer. It was found that the dark-brown skin of the Hindu entirely absorbed all the rays of shorter length than thirty-six hundred. From the result of these observations, it is obvious that the white man, when in the tropics, should wear black, red, or orange-colored clothing, as it prevents the passage of the short rays.

The white man, however, has a strongly developed aversion to wearing aught but white clothing, which offers no protection whatever to the harmful actinic rays. Numerous efforts have been made to provide a non-actinic backing to such material; but the disadvantage of such a fabric is that its weight and thickness are unduly increased.

Recently, however, a British inventor has succeeded in devising a process in which the non-actinic material or thread is interwoven with the white or colored surface of the textile in such a manner that while the weight and thickness of the cloth are not increased, no evidence of the red material is observable on its external surface. The prevention of the threads of the red material penetrating the outer face proved the most difficult task, but this has now been successfully attained. These new fabrics, to which the distinctive name “solaro” has been applied, are either of wool, or cotton, or mixed, the former being preferable for cold or moist climates, and the cotton where a dry heat prevails.

By means of this invention, the resident in the tropics has the same facilities in the choice and patterns of textiles for clothes as those living in temperate climes. All the various cloths and latest fashionable styles can be reproduced in solaro with perfect success and comfort; and this facility is already much appreciated, as it enables one to secure a welcome relief to the monotonous white. Moreover, the material is also shower-proof, and has a remarkable capacity for resisting heavy thunder-storms, mists, and so forth. The waterproofing is not secured by means of rubber or chemical solution, but is due to a secret process in the manufacture of the yarns employed. In this way there is no interference with the ventilation of the cloth. Although an excellent sun-repellent fabric, it is equally applicable for winter wear, while it has a high standard of durability. It is suitable for all external garments for either sex, and it compares in price with the best qualities of cashmere. Its hygienic properties have been fully approved by the examining board of the British Institute of Hygiene, while, moreover, it is sealed at the British Colonial Office for officers appointed to the tropics.—Scientific American.