Virginia advocate. [volume] (Charlottesville, Va.) 1827-1860, 1830-01-08

"dh ie"'"el oeds' by preserving The
head OF an immoderatc warmth, they are
apt TO induce caarrhs, and, in the yoauu
may become the remote or exciting cause
OF Inflammation in the ear-eruptions-
PAIN ofthe head, or even more serious dis.
eases. foi the same reason, all covering $
Tor the head at night, eNcepsmgin the in-
stance OF females who are accustomed to
wear cap during the day, are produce
tive of bad effects Children, therefore
of both sexes, should be accustomed from
an early aye to sleep with the heal bare
the covering with which nature has in
genera, so beautifully supplied this poation
otthc body, being amply suflicicn, 10 pro-
tect it from cold.
Alter what has been said above, upon
the injurious tendency of subjectlug the
body to an undue degree Of heat, durinn
the period of repose, cautions against an
excess OF bed clothes would appear un,le-
cesSary. 1t is all importan, that the body
be covered with sufficiency of clothing
to preserve it comfortably warm: aud this
may be effected during health, and in in.
divIduaiS accustomed to exercise, by few
err blankets, coyerIets, aud comtortaGles
than many are accustomed tospile upon
the bed
! 80 injurious is IAN excess of heat, dur
] my repose, esteemed by Dr. Beddoes, that
he has advised, and with great proprietv,
| that young persons, especially when they
| present symptoms oilanguor and debility
or complain OF unireshng sleep, should be
! examined III bed, :" and if found too warm
| awakened without, compunction. The
bed clothes should then be thrown off, 'sor
II The dry heat ofthe surface he consider
able" he adds, dit will be best to walk
up and down the room, in dress SO con-
trived as to guard the extremities from
ch,, While II permits the residue of the
oodyto be freely ventilated Cool rooms
| mattresses, and light bed clothes. will
in all cases prevent the necessity of hav-
ing recourse to the eypedieht here direct.
ed.
a proper niglt-;lrcss is an object of no
little importance.-A loose flannel gown
for winter, and one Of muslin for summer,
will be found the most proper, more espe.
ciaIly for children. No part of the cloth
ing worn during the day ought in fact, to
be retained atnight.s Whatever dress is
adopted, it should be free from every spe-
| cies of ligatare, particularly at those parts
which encompass the neck or the extrem-
tiles. This is an all-important caution,
from neglect of which serious injury has
| repeatedly resulted.
Closely shrouding bed with curtains.
| is one OF those numerous instances in,
which the requisi,ions of fashion are found
TO be opposed to health. By preventing
free circulation Of the air, they oblige
the Individual who reposes within them,
to breathe an atmosphere vtiated by re-
peated respiration. They become like
Wise recePtacles for fine particles of dust.
which are liable 10 be inhaled during sleep
Whenever disturbed by the motions ofthe
curtains Or of the bedstead this aitne.
according to Which, is a cause to which
many young persons may refer the FIRST
Development of a consumptive attack.
Equally pernicious is the practice OF
sleeping with the face euveoped in the
bed-clothes, as well as that most ridicu-
lous custom, so prevalent in this country,
OF suspendlDg curtain over the front of
an infants cradle. rl''S' pea ,y 49,
| Their own feelings might be supposed
sufficient to induce all 10 assume nj bed
that position, in which every portf1hJof
the body will he lett the freest IRON, con-
straint: yet in the case Of children, sbme
cautions may be necessary, in order to
prevent an awkward position from being
INDUCED in, calculated TO produce pre-.
judicial effect upon the symmetrical
growth and perfect developement of the
system.
Hence it is prudent, when young per-
sons lie upon their backs, to reduce the
size oil the pillows, in order to adRrd
galnst a,cOntortion of the spine While ~.
ing on the side requires pillows sufficiently
large to TILL up the space between the head
and point OF the shoulder. A constrained
position, if it had no other bad effect. is a
certain preventive 10 sound and refreshing
sleep.
Beds should never i've placed upon the
floor it is well known, that in all apart
ments occupied by living beings, the In
ferior portions of the atmosphere lare al
ways the most impure. The most whole
some situation for the bed is in the middle
1 OF the room, and raised some feet from tie
floor. From the vitiated state Of the at.
mosPhere Immediately above the latter,
and The great Importance ola free yeDtila-
ton, the practice Of placing the children's
bed ben1ath another bedsiead during the
day, cannot be too severely reprobated.
Those, IN particular, who are accustomed tc
wear flannel will find it advantageous to dis
2onse with 1T whilst in bcd-or TO exchange i
for an under dress Of cotton.