Page 6 - Boca ViewPointe - September '22

Page 6, Viewpointe September 2022
Book Review

Sweating And Sweaters elaborate cooling systems so they could perform their many
tasks. Going further afield, she suggests a museum for
Sarah Everts. The Joy of Sweat: The Strange Science of collection of sweaty clothes like the Queen’s inaugural gown,
Perspiration. New York: W.W. Norton and Company. 2021. or the sweaty shirts of famous athletes. Perhaps it could be
Victoria Finlay. Fabric: The Hidden History of the Material placed next to the museum which collects DNA spray on
World. New York: Pegasus Books. 2022. dresses.
“vestis virum facit” Erasmus. “Clothes make the man. Naked Once our evolutionary advancements secured the removal
people have little or no influence on society.” Mark Twain of fur and the instigation of sweat glands, we emerged
“Who would fardels bear, to grunt and sweat under a weary naked, and our intelligence innovated one of its outstanding
life.” Shakespeare accomplishments: to clothe our nakedness. Humans are the
“Success is a great deodorant; it takes away all your past only species to create a fashion industry to provide dress
smells.” Elizabeth Taylor for practicality and beauty. Fabric by Victoria Finlay, who
previously has written about color and jewelry, turns her
By Dr. Ronald J. Meyers attention to the fascinating story of the evolution of fabric,
Everts offers a range of interesting stories of illustration and uncovers science, history, mythology, literature, and
There’s no question but like the South African nurse who sweated red and the autobiography. One might argue that she tries to do too much,
that sweat has a dubious lessons there from, individuals who are obsessed with their the book is perhaps overly dense, and would benefit from
reputation, which Sarah unpleasant odor of sweat and seek medical procedures some editorial excision.
Everts, a chemist, journalist that remove the eccrine glands, or lately undergo armpit Yet it is a great story. Our fabrics attest to human ingenuity
and professor at Carleton transplants; the doctor who thought he had been inoculated to utilize plants and animals and even tree bark and moths
University, would like to by the sweat glands of his lover, to potential use of sweat to to provide us with cotton, linen, wool, bark cloth and silk.
correct. From the ancient monitor bodily health. Apropos the space program, scientists, Professor Finlay offers a primer how ancient cultures
world where the Egyptians solving the problem of astronauts with their elaborate space
experimented with creating suits, had to find a way of disposing of their sweat by devising Book Review on page 7
abundant perfumes to the
Osmothèque at court of Louis XIV in Versailes with its
wall to wall vessels of diverse perfumes employed by the IMPERIAL ROYALE AT BOCA POINTE
French to conceal and disguise body odors, to the modern 2 AmAzing 3/2 Condos BoTH PEnding sAlE.
conglomerates spending millions in R & D developing
perfumes and deodorants; the purpose has been to suppress ovEr 3,000 sq. fEET EACH AT onE of THE mosT
the bacterial invasion by millions of microscopic molecules, PrEsTigious Buildings
and disguise the disagreeable odors. 7235 Promenade dr.
Not so fast, argues Professor Everts. She suggests the 502 H – One unit per floor!
evolutionary purpose of sweat in the notable survival of the
human species. At one time, the furry corpus of our ancient 502 J – Two units per floor only!
ancestors suppressed sweat which limited their ability of Please contact agent for further details & to preview!
motion. But discarding fur in favor of hair, we humans Prudence J. (PJ) Carswell
fleeing the same furry predators would gain advantage by
REALTOR EMERITUS
sweating, and so our sweat glands evolved some 35 million Licensed Real Estate Advisor. Licensed CAM
years ago, with purpose, as long distance runners would Direct: (954) 242-4260
attest. Sweating is the air conditioning system employed PjCarswell@myLoKation.com Resident Owner of La Mirada
by the body to cool us efficiently lest we expire from heat pjcarswellrealtoradvisor@gmail.com and Boca Pointe Club Member
stroke. The second century philosopher and medic Galen
intuited it as the source of insensible liquified vapors. Sweat
cleanses the body and revivifies it. While dogs and sheep
pant, and seals cool down by secreting urine, and storks
and vultures poop to achieve the same result; sweating is
a biological process that has evolved to the unheralded
benefit of our existence.
The sense of smell is a guiding source of awareness.
From birth, the mother bonds with her child through their
senses of smell. And odor guides us through life, Everts
suggests, even informing our intimate relationships. She
notes that handshakes and oriental practice of bowing
connect us through the odor of sweat. Each individual
has his or her distinctive body odor that function like
fingerprints (which derive from our sweat). Activated
when we are fearful or anxious, we sweat as therapy and
a warning. Bad odors are correctly associated with self
defense; perhaps sweat would have served as warning of
danger to our comrades, or deterrent to discourage predators
(as with skunks). Humans have until now been focused on
the malodorous aspects, but for Professor Everts, bring on
the joy and healthfulness of a good sweat.

Lease Renewals

Renters- If you plan to renew your lease at Boca
Pointe, please provide the BPCA Management
office a copy of your renewal lease and vehicle
registration prior to your lease expiration date.
Both items are needed to ensure that your
transponder does not get deactivated when the
lease ends. Please email to admin@bocapointe.com.
Thank you! 

Stamp and Coin Club

Boca Raton Stamp & Coin Club asks you to start
a new hobby.
Visit with us at the Stratford Courts Auditorium
located at 6343 Via Sonrisa del Sur, off S.W. 18th
Street, between Powerline Road and Military Trail.
We meet the second and fourth Thursday each
month at 7 p.m. Please call membership coordinator
Harvey Golinger at (561) 752-4922. 