The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1821-10-03
MIoCLLLAN EOUS ARTICLES
From the Cincinnati Gazette.
BEDS AND CURTAINS.

A majority OF tho people OF this country
are emig ants, OR the immediate descend
ants Of emigrsn,s, from the Northern States
and from the temperate parts OF Europe. ln
tho whole of those countries the summers
are so cool that the same bed NAV be CON.
fortably occupied throughout the year. This
Is not The case in our climate (; but from hab
10 we continue tho practice OF lodging on
ie eathers in the summer. This Is uue not
only Of a great number of actual omigtants,
but Of their cbidcen also for families have
habits as we'll as individuals. No o;hei sea
son, ] approhend, can be assigned for our
custom OF sleeping, or rather siumberiog and
tossing, on a feather bed eight hours ou, OF
every twenty-four, during hot summer OF
four months. Why should we not as ree1
larly throw aside feather beds 81 the approach
Of warm weather, as blankets, sur'outs and
Dutch stoves! Tho practice Of lodging ,he
sick, and especially those i'll Of fevers, on
beds Of this kind, in summer, is particularly
TO be deprecated. Ii is not easy TO conceive
Of any thing. more unfavorable To the proper
treatment of acute diseases, or more -intolera-
bic to those afflicted wIth them, lhan TO be
buried in feathers for fortnight IN the sui.
try month OF August. In behaI., therefore,
OF all children and sick persons, l enter
solemn p otest against the custom OF steep.
ing nom in feather bath from May to Sep.
fembor; as enfeebling the constitutions of
the former, and infsming the diseases OF the
latter.
The use Of curtains, lat any season is scarce.
Iy less preposte rous than the use of feathers
in summer. They must have originated
when habtations wore open and destitute OF
parlit'ons, serving at once 10 exclude moe
effectualy the external air, and to divide
common COON into lodging apartmsn's. As
houses are now constructed hat we can
regulate the admission of external ait, aud
as each bed is placed in q separate room,
these enclosures are 90 longer dsd, and
being injurious should be laid aside. Ii is
important that both those who ore i'll and
thosc who are in health, should have rooms
we'll supplied with fresh air, snd no,hing can
be moro unfavora5,e 10 efec,ual ventilation
than curtains.
This kind Of drapery, moreover, is often
preiudicial 10 the sick IN another way. Ii
generally exhibits variety OF colors end fig
ures, on which the eyes OF those who labor
uHder fcvers and nervous diseases are apt to
dwell, until headache and delrium are not
unfrequcnlly the consequence. The same
effects may lie produced by wall paper, which
fot other reasons than this, should never be
applied 10 rooms that are designed Tor the
sick. There should be but few co!oss IN
such chambers, and they should be OF grave
and sobs, cast.
Finally, to conclude this e.ssy with trans
ition from the original subject, the bed OF o
sick person should no, ne placed 10 corner
nor even in contact with the wall and II
should be 30 disposed, that no sueso, OF
light can fall upon the patients eyes which
are often 50 mnch Increased in sensibility, as
10 render that psioinl to Aim which is pleas.
an, 10 kis aliendanl'.