Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1840-01-02
M Z. A " z


from the Library oie ttaih'
SLEEPING WITH THE HEAD COVERED.
Before the danger Of sleeping with The
| head covered can be rendered sufficiently
| plain, it will be necessary to state one
fact in physiology to which we have not
| yet adverted.
The same change Of blood, from bad
to gooo-from pure to impure-which is
| effected in the lungs, is effected also, IN
some degree, on the whole surface OF the
body. Some insects or worms may be
| said to breath entirely on the surface OF
the body. They have no lungs whate-
yer. AS we rise in the scale of exlsien.
ces, to snakes, &C., we begin to find lungs
or gills, in which, a part of The change Of
| blood, to which we allude, is Effected
Rising, still further in the scale OF beng,
we find the lungs larger and larger, and
the skin less and less concerned IN the
change, till we come 10 man, and some
few other animals. in whom the change
is almost wholly accomplished by the
lungs. Still, we repeat it, the skin, even
in man, has some share Of the work OF re-
novating the blood as may be readily
shown by a very simple experiment, Ike
the following:
When a person has lain, several hours,
in a bed, closely covered to the neck,
with thick covering-say with the mod
ern article, called a comfortabl Die let u
candle or lamp be introduced under the
clothing, and it will soon be extlnguishcd.
The oxygen is so much diminished, and
the carbonic acid gas so much increased,
as to be incapable Of supporting combus.
lion and by the same rule unfit for res
piration. Let it be, also, distinctly un-
derstood, that this change is wholly effec-
ted without the agency of the breath (;
though, when the head is covered, it is, oil
course, accomplished much faster.
This fact, that we breathe, as it were,
/ that is to say, purify the blood, and poi
bson the air with the whole surtace of the
zSoGy, ss well as b. means Of the lungs,
is of the utmost practical importance. 1t
is of Importance TO be understood by those
on whom we urge the duty OF keeping the
skin clean ; for how can a foul skin-a
skin vanished over with dust-perform
It's delicate and important functions! 1t is
of Importance to be understood, In order
TO know how to clothe themselves; Tor
all those forms and circumstances OF our
clothing, which tend to embarrass or IN
'errupt the action Of the skin, in It's work
of assisting the lungs to purify the blood,
are, of course, Objectionable. It's, how
ever, of still higher importance, that IL
should be well understood by mothers, IN
the management OF theii infants, not only
IN regard to cleanliness and dress, but par
tcularly in regard to sleep.
For, in the first place, the bed clothing
ought to be as loose and porous as it can
De, and yet, at the same time, retain d
sufficient amoun Of heat, in order thai
Inc carbonic acid gas may have opportu'
n''y to escape, and the purer air to tlnc
us way through it. Secondly. Thai
Clothes ought to be, often, thrown open.
and the air, under them, thus exchanged
Tor better. Thirdly. The child ough'
never 10 be allowed to sleep with its heat
under the clothing. immense, is the mis-
ghlef done in this way, as we have AREA
ny said, by Ignorant parents and, ever
~ those whose fault is more that Of care
iIssSness than of Ignorance. Fourthly.-.
ne should sleep alone as much as posi-
DIE, either in q bed or q crib, rather thai