The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1856-09-24
NUMBER Sc.
IFrom the Medieal Rgormr.]
NIGHT AIR.
BIT JOHN HODGE, N. D,


To avoid exposure to the night air, 10 a
all times precaution of very great impor.
tance, to those who covet continuance of
health but perhaps never more so than ut
the present season of the year.
The very great difference which now
prevails between the temperature of the
day and that of the night, the injurious ef-
fects of which inequality are increased by
the large amount of moisture that is precipi-
tated towards the earth after sunset, in the
form of dew, renders the imprudent expo
sure Of the body at night to the external air,
a very fruitful source of disease.
But it is not merely from the system be-
ing subjected to the influence of cool and
damp atmosphere, during exposure on an
autumnal night, that bad effects are to be
apprehended. There is still another cause
of disease: prevalent in particular situationsj
the influence of which is much more active
after sunset than during the day We al
lude TO bad and impure air--the malaria Of
Italian writers.
In low, wet, or marshy districts, in tho
neighborhood of extensive collections Of
sagnant water, along the course of rivers,
upon the wharves of commercial city, or,
indeed, in every situation where consid.
cradle amount of animal and vegetable sub.
stances, or filth of any kind, is allowed to
accumulate and undergo decomposition,
there is generated during the day certain
deleterious principle, which, combined with
the atmosphere, impairs its purity and
wholesomeness or when in considerable
amount, renders it totally unfit for the sup.
port of life. Under ordinary circumstances,
this deleterous principle. being diffused du-
ring the day over large extent of the at
mosphere, however much it may impair
the health and vigor of the system and I'm.
dermine the constitution, is seldom suffi-
ciently concentrated to produce, at once,
actual disease. After night, however, when,
in consequence of diminished heat, the wa.
terry vapors contained in the atmosphere
] become condensed and descend, they carry
with them the impurities floating In the lat
| ter, which in this manner are caused to &C.
cumulate in the immediate vicinity of ths
earth-communicating disease Of the most
malignant and fatal character TO all who
may chance to be exposed TO their infu-
| ence.
So much and so justly dreaded is tho
evening dew in Italy, and particularly in
the neighborhood of Rome, where the Pom.
tine marshes constitute an immense labra.
tory for the production of malaria, that the
inhabitants shut themselves up in their
houses on the decline of day-never going
abroad, unlesss compelled by absolute ne
] cessity, after shnset in the evening, nor he
fore sunrise in the morning. The sa.ne
precaution to avoid the damp and coolness
of the night, experience has taught to every
I people who reside in situations where in-
termirtenl fevers prevail, or in warm and
tropical regions, where the heat Of the day
is sufficient to develop the dreaded malaria,
by which the bilious, yellow, and other ma.
lignant fevers are produced.
The prejudicial effects of the night air
will more certainly be experienced by the
system during sleep, than during state of
wakefulness. Instances have indeed oc-
Cured of individuals lying down to sleep
J at night in the Campagna, near Rome, and
being found dead in the morning. Very
few at least, escape an attack of disease
who have the imprudence to fall asleep ex-
posedto the open air in an unhealthy dis!
trict. Thus, history records many exam
Piles of the finest armies being destroyed,
and the progress of the conqueror COM
pletely arrested by encamping for single
night, without sufficient shelter, in such q
situation.
Though, in our own country, it is only in
the most unhealthy districts of the south,
that effects such as these are 10 be feared
yet the chilly and humid state of the nigh,
air, independent of various causes which,
in all situations, tend to produce in it more
or less of impurity, is sufficient reason
why it should be carefully avoided by all
who would preserve their systems from dis.
ease.
1t is not merely; however, from exposure
out of doors, OF from sleeping on the bare
ground without shelter Of any kind, that ini
jury 10 health is to be anticipated after
night--it may, likewise, and with nearly
the same certainty, be incurred by sitting
opposite an open window, or in current
of air admitted from without, or still more
surely by sleeping in either of these situa-
tions Hence, the practice pursued by the
inhabitants OF Rome, of closing carefully
their houses before sunset, is one which, at
this season of the year, should be adopted
by those who reside in situations where
there is any danger of the air being i'm.
pure: even in those cities or locations
which are comparatively healthy, we arc
pursuaded, were it generally pursusd, much
| good would result. Ha
ExTRAoRDINARY TENACITv OF LTE.-The
Newburyport (Mass.l Herald Of the I'd inst,
states that Mr.. Solomon J. Felkner, of that
city, in cutting stick of white oak timber