Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1839-12-04

From the Library OF Health.
SLEEPING wITH THE HEAD COVERED
Before the danger of sleeping with the
head covered can be rendered sufficiently
plain. il will be neccssary.o state one fact in
Physiology. 10 which we have no, yet adyer-
ted
The same change of,he blood from bad to
good--from pureto impure--which is effect
ed in the lungs, is effected also, ia some good
degree. on the whole surface OF the body
Some OF the insects or worms. may be said
TO breathe entirely on the surface oil the body
They have no lungs whatever. AS we rise
ia the scale of existence, to snakes, Sc. we
beginto find lungs or giils. in which part
of the change OF blood 10 which we al
lude. is affected Rising still further in the
scale OF being, we find the lungs larger and
larger, and the skin less and less concerned
in the change. till we come TO man, and some
few other animals, in whom the change is
almost wholly accomplished by the luugs.-
Sill we repeat il, the skin, even in man, has
some share of the work of renovaling the
blood to perform. as may be readily shown
by simple experiment, like the following.
When a person has lain in bed several
hours closely covered to the neck with thick
covering-say with the modern article called
comfortable--et candle or lamp be intro
duced under the clothing. and ii will soon be
extinguished. The oxygen is so much di-
minishcd and the carbonic acid gas so much
increased, as to be incapable OF supporting
combustion, and by the same rule. unfit for
respiration. Let il be also distinctly UNDER
stood. that this change is wholly effected
withou, the agency Of the breath though
L IL l. a = 81 Il u. -
compished much faster.
This fact, that we breathe. as il were. that
is TO say. purify the blood and poison the air
with the whole surface Of our body, as well
as by means oil the lungs, is of the utmost
practical Importance IL is Of importance to
be understood by those on whom we urge
the duty, OF keeping the skin clear for how
can a foul skin-a skin vanished Power with
dust-perform its delicate and important
functions II is of importance 10 be under-
stood ia order 10 know how TO clothe oursel-
YES; for all those forms and circumstances oil
our clothing which tend to embarrass or in
trrrupt the action Of the skin. in its work oil
assisting the lungs to purify the blood, are
OF course, objectionable Il is, however, oil
clill higher importance, that il should be well
understood by mothers, in the management
ofihel infants, not only in regard TO cleunli.
ueess aud dress. but particularly in regard to
sleep.
For, in the first place, the bed clothing
ough, to be as loose and porous as il can be,
and yet at the same time retain sufficient
amount of heat in order that the carbonc
acid gas may have opportunity TO escape. and
the purer air 10 find lis way through it,
Secondly The clothes ought TO be often
thrown open. and the all under them thus ex.
changed for better Thirdly; The child
ought never 10 be allowed to sleep with its
head under the clothing. Immense is the
mischief done in this way, as we have already
said byignorant parents, aud even by those
whose fault is more that OF ariessness than
ofignorance. Founhly; He should sleeF
alone as much as possible. either in bed OF
in crib rather than with parents, brothers
sisters. Sc. Filthy; He should never BE-
permitted TO have domestic animals. as favor
ito dogs or CATS sleep in the bed with him
practice quite loo common in our country
especially that Of having puppy in the bed
The chiId's body poisons the imprisoned ali
quite fast enough without any aid from ths
dogs s. cats. or from other human bodies &
above all, without being aided by his owl
breath.
What has been said in relation to tht
management Of infants, will be generally ap
plicable--the principles which il involves
will at least be so--in the management o
childhood and youth, and manhood and ole
age. Fires without 6ues. lamps candles
breathing. the action OF the skin, (if not pre-
vented by dirt, improper clothing, &c.,) ant
many more cases, will continue 10 operate Il
deteriora,e the atmosphere al every period o
existence There will be no moment of oul
lives when we shall not need The whole &C
tive force oil a free. vigorous pair Of lungs
and healthy skin. to form and reform The
blood,a and cast of The poisonous carbonic acis
which is formed by those important process
SEES. There will be no waking moment o
our lives when weshall not need 10 be con
stanily on the Eatch-at least as much al
our circumstances and employments will ad
mit--against an agent which will threaten
our destruction, and which, after we hav'
done our best will probably gain, more u
less, the dominion over Us.
Hence the importance which philosopher
in all periods OF the worlds history. have at
tached TO pure air, and the concessions which
have been made--proud as mankind hav,
been. and ashamed ofand ayerse TO labor
in favor of agricultural employments. Nh,
habtual breathing Of pure air, with plenty 0
active exercise. will counterfeit. in no littI,
de1ree the had tendencv Of a host Of the or