Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1859-04-30
NO. 1902.
MISCELLANEOUS READING.
SLEEPING TOGETHER.
From MWs Journal Of Health.

FROM 1INi y JuHINtt ~ IIcutH.
II a man were to see quarter Of an inch
of worm put in his cup of coffee, he could NOT
drink it. because he knows that the whole
cup would be impregnated. If very small
amount of some yirulent poison be introduced
into glass of water, the drinking of might
not produce instant death, but that would
not prove that it was not hurtful. only that
there was rot enough Of il to cause dis.
tructive result Immediately.
We sicken at the thought Of taking the
breath Of another the moment it leaves the
mouth, but that breath mingles with the air
about the bed in which two persons lie; and
il is rebreathed, but not the less offensive j.
it in reality on account Of the dilution, except
that it j. not taken in its concentrated form.
but each breath makes it more concentrated.
One sleeper corrupts the atmosphere OF the
room by his own breathing, but when two
persons arc breathing at the same time, twelve
or fourteen times in each minute. each min
ute extracting all thenutriment from, gallon
of air. the deterioration must be rapid indeed
especially in small and close room. A bird
cannot live withouta large supply ofpure air.
A canary bird hung up in curtained bed
stead where two persons slept, died before the
morning.
Many infants are found dead in bed. and
it is attributed to having been overlaid by
the parents; but the idea that any person
could lay still for a moment on baby. or
ANYTHING else of the same size, is absurd
Death was caused by the want Of pure air.
Besides, emanations, aerial and more or
less solid, are thrown out from siery person
thrown out by proc,"se" nature because
no longer fit for life purposes, because they
are dead and corrupt-but if breathed into
another living body, it is just as abhorrent as
of we took into our mouths the matter oi
sore or any other excretion.
Tho most destructive typhoid and putrId
feyers are known to arise directly from
number of persons living in the same small
room.
Those who can afford it should, therefore.
arrange to have each member of the family
sleep in separate beds. Ifpersons must sleep
in the same bed, they should be about the
some age. and in good health. lfthe health
be much unequal, both will suffer, but the
healthier one the most-the invalid suffering
for want of entirely pure air.
So many cases are mentioned in standard
medical works where healthy, robust infants
and larger children have dwindled away.
and die in few months from sleeping with
grandparents OF other old persons that il IL
useless to cite special instances in proof.
1t would be u constitutional, moral good.
for married persons to sleep in adjoining
rooms, as general habit. 1t would be .
certain means of physical inrigoration. and
of advantages in other directions. which Will
readily occur to the reflective reader. Kings
and Queens and tie highest personages
of courts have separate apartments. 1t Is
the bodily emanations collecting and con
centrating under the same cover which are
the most destructive Of health--more dis
tructive than the simple contamination Of an
atmosphere breathed in common. .r..