State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1831-1836, 1836-07-26
SLEEPING ON FEATHER-BEDs.

Sleeping on soft beds" says writer in
the Boston Medical aud Surgical Journal
while treating of the causes of consump-
ton, is Il practice of almost universal prev
alence, at the present day, throughout the
civilized world (; yet perhaps there are lew
practices that have q more pernlclous IN
fluence on the young than this. sleep IS
as necessary to life as food the exhausted
exciteablity of the system must be repair
ed, as we'll as the channels of nutrition
supplied but excessive luXurles in either
nre injurious to health, and the epicure in
one is as irrational as the epicure in the
other. Children and youth who are accus-
toned to sleep on soft beds during the
warm season, require more than ordinary
force of constitution not to be injured by
it,"
In speaking, in this place, of soft beds,
it is believed that the writer refers primer
paly to feathers; for we know not why
the mere circumstance of IA bed being soft,
should he a very strong objection to its use.
1t is true it is an almost universal practice
with physicians, to place their patients who
are greatly dcbilitated, in many diseases,
on hard beds but we have supposed II
was chiefly because feather beds were OBJ
viousy injurious, and hard beds were the
only convenient substitute. We do not
know, however, but too much of mere soft
ness is injurious, even to persons in health
But as to the use of feathers, especially
in summer, we believe there is now scarce
ly division ofopinion, among those whose
opinion is of any value. Some reject them
both in summer and in winter. Even ID
Dunglinson, --and if he makes the conces-
sion, who will not?-admits that, son the
whole, perhaps the ordinary hair mattrass
is best adapted for both summer and win
ter"
Perhaps it may not be ensy to give q
satisfactory account of the manner in winch
beds of feathers so generally operate tt
produce weakness, as to have set the whole
medical world against them but that sucf
is their tendency, we believe, few, very
few, will have the hardihood to deny.
Every one who has slept much on leath'
ers must have observed, however, that the
air of the room where he sleeps always
appears to be more impure and oppressive
when lie rises in the morning, than when
the bed consists of other materials; and
that the lungs, in particular, are more al
fected by it. To some persons, the OPP
preston is quite intolerable. 1t is believed
that this arises from a peculiar kind OF ct
Huvia which the feathers emit. And hence
it is, perhaps, that feather beds tend to in
duce consumption.
Besides feathers do, in fact, however
difficult it may be to account for it, stmu
late the surface of the body-the circular
system more than any ether soft material
as well as cause a greater degree OF per
SEPARATION; and this of a more relaxing
kind, too, than perspiration induced by
other causes. The loins and kidneys APP
pear to be more affected, and indeed the
system in general appears to suffer more
There are thousand other causes lr
perpetual operation to produce this fata
maady. besides feather beds, it is true
These may, and most unquestionably do
STAY their thousands but abuses, in eating
bringing, dress, and formidable list OF
other causes, almost too numerous to men
ton, Stay their ten thousands mas, then
millions.
A fact came under our notice, not long
since, which may be worth relating 1t is
true it is only one fact, but as far as it goes
lis language is most striking.
a Boston boy, about nine years of age
has been accustomed go out of the city
fifteen or twenty miles, every spring, lc
spend a few weeks i'll the family of hi.
feeble at this season but the journey and
the residence there few weeks Away
restores him to his wonled yigor.
We said always; but last spring, this
effect failed of being produced. The boy
continued as pale and feeble after his re-
mova as before; indeed he was rather
more so. What could be the cause?
1t happened that the boy had never SLEPT
on feathers at home, nor until now, when
abroad. But in this instance, the good
grandmother had forgotten to take OIL hel
feather bed. 81 see now" said she, "whal
the matter is with johns" and so removed
the feather bed and gave him mattrass
He Immediately began to increase in vgor
and soon became uncommonly healthy.
Can there be stronger case than this
And yet the world is full offacts not unlike
it. Why then do not people make the
natural and legitimate inference ?-.lordl
Retormer.