The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1858-08-10
THE DOG DAYS.
Precautions for Town and Country.


The popular notion, which regards the ght air
of the dog days as unhealthy, is that has been
derded, but is nevertheless substantially correct
The Philadelphia Ledger speaking about the sub
ject, gives some facts and hints worth remember
ing. 1t says:
At that season of the year, the atmosphere is
full of poisonous exhaations from decayed matter.
These exhalations, though generated most freely
in the day time, under the influence of fervid
sun, arc borne upward into the higher regions of
the air. by the current which the suns rarefaction
creates, and are, therefore, comparatively innox-
ious But the night exhalations, though less
dense, are from the absence of such current, left
on the surface of the earth, where being inhaled,
they produce fevers, which are frequently of the
most dangerous type. Persons accustomed to our
comparatively well drained city, where these OK
halations less perlous than in the country fire.
quently bring on themselves serious illness, by
walking in the night air, out of town, or by sleep
ing, with open windows, in localities where these
exhalations abound. Many fair young girl,
tempted by beautiful moonlight, has at this sea-
fingered out, unbonnetted, till late at nj ght,
and SO imbibed the seeds of disease, which in a
few weeks, sometimes in a few days. has carried
her to the grave.
To persons living in the city, but few cautions
are necessary. AS a rule however, third story
Chambers are healthier than second story ones;
and either healthier than rooms on level with the
street. The reason for this is that the noxious
vapors, being heavier than the atmosphere, settle
down along the ground. When the yellow fever
prevailed in Philadelphia, at the close of the last
century, DR. Rush observed that those who occu-
pied apartments in the third story were far less
liable to attack than those who slept the ground
floor. We know person, who, during the latter
part of the summer, some years ago, slept on the
first floor of a cottage in the country, and in con-
sequence, as his physician says, caught an inter-
mittent fever to which he is still periodically sub
ject. 1t is always safest therefore, to sleep up
stairs; and children old people, and invalids should
sleep in third stories. These precautions are the
necessary, if the dwelling house is the out
skirts of the city, or in the country; for in proper
ton to the want of drainage is the danger from
nOxious inhalations. Many persons, in order to
escape from these exhalations, sleep with windows
and doors closed, and without any ventilation.
But this is counting greater danger in hopes to
escape less. 1t is avoiding Scya to be wrecked
at Charybdis.
In the country, great caution is required Here
the salubrity of the air is greatly influenced by
elevation, trees and soil. The ground about and
below the dwelling should be dry. Sand or gravel
is best to build on, unless it is enclosed in clay
basin, whence there is no outlet for rain and
where the earth is moist, it should be thoroughly
drained Dense foliage around the house is an
other Of disease, for it dampness and
foulness and stasnation of air Exposed hill tops
are at this season, the most salubrous locations
The neghborhood of marshes is always to be
avoided, unless the dwelling is some high knoll,
with thorough drainage about it. A screen of
trees not around the house, but the lee side of
marsh, is often protection. As additional pre-
caution, fires ought to be made night and morning,
in the common sitting room, as soon as the air be-
fof oo1 tho1 ooS OH TO ho lol ~
the fall exhalations A little attention to these
facts ight arrest much disease, and even prolong
lfe especially in the case of citizens lately remov-
ed to the country, and who foolishly think they
can locate their cottage anywhere or live as
carelessly as they did in town.-BaAinaore Sun.