The Ohio union. [volume] (Ashland, Ohio) 1849-1854, 1853-08-31
Sleeping on Feathers.

SiN"P'"5 VII oOib uCus, bd1'n WIlleT III |
the Boston Medical and Surgical Journal, |
while treating OF the causes of consump. |
iion, is practice of almost universal
prevalence, at the present day, throughout
the civilized world; yet perhaps there are
few practices that have more penicous
Influence on the young than this. Sleep
,@s- as necessary 10 life as food; the ex. |
hausledy exeitabiHty.of The system must be
prepared, as>well as The channels of nutr-
tion supplied, but excessive luxuries in
either are injurious 10 health, and the
eplcure in one is as irrational as the epi.
cure IN the other. Children and youth
who are accustomed TO sleep on soft beds
during the warm season, require more than
ordinary force Of constitution no, to be
injured by it,
In speaking, in this place, of soft beds,
1t is believed that the writer refers princi
pally 10 feathers; for we know not why
the mere circumstances of bells being
solt' should be very strong objection to
lls use. 1t is true, that il is an almost
universal practice with physicians, to place
| their patients who are greatly debiltated,
IN many diseases, on hard beds; but we
have supposed it was chiefly because feah.
er beds were obviously injurious, aud hard
beds were the only convenient substitute.
We do not know. however, but too much
OF mere solaess is injurious, even 10 per
sons in health.
Bat as TO the use of feathers, especially
in summer, we believe there is now scarce.
ly a division of opinion, among those
whose opinion is of any value. Some
reject them both in summer and winter.
Even DR.. Dunginson--and If he makes
the concession, who will nol!-adniis that,
'on the whole, perhaps the ordinary hair
ma tass is best adapted for both sumner
and winler
Perhaps ii may not be easy TO give a
satisfactory account of the manner in
which beds of feathers so generally oper.
ale 10 produce weakness, as to have sci
the whole medical world against them; but
that such is their tendency, we believe
= lew, very few, will have The hardihood 10
deny.
: Every one who has slep! much on
feathers must have observed, however
that the air Of the room where he sleeps
always appears to be more impure and
oppressive when he rises in the morning
I than when The bed consists of other ma.
] Ierals; and that the lungs, in particular
are more affected by it. To some persons
the oppression is quite inlolerabe. il is
believed that this arises from a peculiar
kind Of efiluvia which the feathers emit
= And hence il is, perhaps, thai feather ted.
4 tend 10 induce consumption.
e Besides, feathers, do, ia fact, howeve,
g u liculI i. may be 20 account iur il, slImu
d ale the surface Of The body-the culicula
d system-more Ilan any other soft material
P as well as cause greater degree of per
$ 'tI'allon; aud this oil more relaxing kind
e TOO, Than Precipitation induced by oihe
d causes. The loins and kidneys appear {,
be more affected, and indeed the system
:. in general appears to suffer more.
d There are thousand o.her causes il
e perpetual operation to produce this fala
IS naiady, besides feather beds, il is true
l. These may. and most unqneslionably do
y say their thousands; but abI ses in eating
+, drinking, dress, and a formidable list u
( other causes, almost too numerous Il
mention, slay their ten ;housands-nay
e their millions,
', A fact came under our notice, not lon
:; since, which may be worth relating. Ii i
l, true, it is only one lacl, but So FIR as
d goes, It's language is most striking.
f. A Boston boy, about nine years Of age
a. has been accustomed To 20 out of the cir
fifteen or twenty miles, every Spring, t
spend few weeks in The family Of hi
grandmother. He is usually somewhs
a feeble al this season, but the journey, an
\. The residence there Of few weeks, a
" ways restores him to more than his won
e. ed yigor.
- We said always; but last Spring, til
n effect failed of being produced. Tue bo
c continued as pale and feeble after his r,
moval as before; indeed he was ralh,
,e more SO, What could be the cause!
I'd 1t happened that the boy had nev,
h. slept on feathers at home, nor until no,
70 when abroad. But in this instance, ii
to good grandmother had forgotten to take u
Ia. hes feather bed, i see now said sh
ed what the matter is with John;' aud so r
n. moved lhe feather bed and gave him
ii. mattrass. lie Immediately began 10 i
crease in vigor, and soUn became uncOl
,r. monty healthy.
ed Can there be a stronger case than thi
to And yet the world is full OF facts not u
lv, like II. Why then do not people NAL
is. the natural and legitimate inference!
he
bo IrrTLE SINs.-Nour consciences ST.