Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1858-09-17
NIGHT AIR-sEAsoNABLE HINTS.


During the months Of September and Octo-
Der throughout the United States wherever
there are chills, and fever and ague, inter-
mittants, or the more deadly forms Of fever,
il is pernicous and even dangerous prac-
tice, TO sleep with the outer doors or win
dows open because miasma, marsh emana-
tions-the product of decaying vegetation
all Of which are different terms expressing
the same thing-is made so light by heat,
that 1t aseends at once towards the upper
portion of atmospheric space, and is not
breathed during the heat Of the day, but the
cool nights of the Fall Of the year condense
it. make it heavy, and 1t settles on the ground,
is breathcd into the lungs, incorporated into
the blood and if in its concentrated form, as
in certain localities near Rome, it causes
sickness and death within a few hours.
The plaques which devasted Eastern coun-
tries in earlier ages, were caused by the con-
centrated emanatons from marshy localities,
or districts Of decaying vegetation and the
common observation of the higher class of
people was, that those who occupied the up
per stories, not even coming down for mar
kot supplies, had entire immunity from dis
ease, for two reasons, the higher tho abode,
I the less compact is the deadly atmosphere
/ besides, the higher rooms in a house, in sum-
mer, are the warmer ones, and the miasma
less concentrated. The lower rooms are
colder making the air moro dense. SO, by
keeping all outer doors and windows closed,
especially the lower ones, the building is less
cool aud comfortable, but it excludes the in
fictitious air, while its warmth sends what en-
tcrs through the creviccs immediately to the
ceilings of the rooms, where it congregates,
and is not breathed hence it is that men
who entered the bar-rooms aud dining-sa-
looms of the National Hotel, remaining but
] few brief hours, were attacked with the Ho-
tel Disease, while ladies who occupied upper
rooms. where constant fires were burning,
escaped attack, although remaining in the
house for weeks at a time.
1t was for the same reason that DR.. Rush
was accustomed TO advise families in the
summertime, not being able to leave the
city, to cause their younger children espe-
cially, to spend their time above stairs
We have spent life-tim ourselves in the
West and extreme South. and know in our
own person, and as to those who had the
! hrmness to follow our recommendation, that
whole families will escape all the forms of
| Fall fevers who will have bright fires kindled
at sunrise and sunset in the family ROOM
But 1t is too plain prescription to secure
observance in more than one family in ten
thousand After the third frost. and until
the fall CT the next year. it is an important
means of health for persons to sleep with an
outer door or window partly open, having the
bed in such a position as to be protected
from a draught of air. We advise that no
person should go to work take exercise
in the morning on an empty stomach but if
it is stimulated to action by cup of coffee,
or crust of bread, or apple, or orange, exer-
else can be taken, not only with impunity, but
to high advantage in all chill and fever To-
calites.--HaPs Journal of Health