The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1858-10-12
NIGHT-AIR.
Halls Journal of Health says:

Halls Journal OF Health says:
During the months of September and October,
throughout the United States, wherever there are
chills, and fever and ague, intermittents, or the
more deadly forms of fever, it is prenicious and
even dangerous practice to sleep with the outer
doors or windows open because miasma, marsh en-
anations, the product of decaying vegetation--all
of which are different terms, expressing the same
thing-is made Sc light by heat, that it ascends at
once towards the upper portion OF atmospheric
space, and is not breathed during the heat OF the
day, but the cool ights of the Fall Of the year con-
dense it, make it heavy and it settles on the ground,
is breathed into the lungs, Incorporated into the
blood and if in its concentrated form, as In certain
localities near Rome, it sickness and death
within few hours. The plaques which devastated
Eastern countries in earlier ages, were caused by
the concentrated emanatons from marshy localities,
or districts of decayng ycgetation and the common
observation of the higher class of people was, that
those who occupied the upper stories, not even
coming down stairs for market supplies, but drew
them up by ropes attached to baskets; had entire
immunity from disease for two reasons, the higher
the abode, the less compact is the deadly atnlos
phere, besides, the higher rooms in house, in
| Summer, are the warmer ones, and the nasma less
concentrated The lower rooms are colder, making
the air moro dense. So by keeping all outer doors
and windows closed, cspccially the lower ones, the
building is less cool and comfortable but 1t excludes
the infectious air, Wnllc HS warmth SenuS WIab ell
tiers through the creyices Immediately to the cell
inss of the rooms where it congregatcs and is not
breathed hence is it that men who entered the bar
room and diniDgsaoons Of the National Hotel,
remaining but a few brief hours, were attacked
with the National Hotel Disease, while ladies who
occupied upper rooms, where constant fires were
burning, escaped attack, although remaining in the
house for weeks at time. 1t was for the same
reason that Dr. Rush was accustomed to advise
families in Summer time, not being able to leave
the city, to cause their younger children especial
| ". to spend their time above stairs. We have
spent lifetime ourselves in the West and extreme
/ South, and know in our own person. and as to
those who had frmness to follow recommends
ton, that whole families will escape all forms Of
Fall fevers who will have bright fires kindled at
sunrise and sunset in the family room But it is
too plain a prescription to secure observance IN
/ more than one family in ten thousand. After the
third Frost and until the Fa OF the next year. 1T is
an imIsrtant means Of health for persons to sleep
with an outer door or window partly open, having
the bed in such position, to be protected from
! draueht of air. We advise that no person should
| 90 to work or take exercise in the morning on an
empty stomach but If it is stimulated to action by
/ a cup of coffee, or crust of bread, or apple,
! orange exercise can be taken, not only with i'm
punty but to hig advantage in all chill and fever
localities +.4-e a@ ~