Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1872-05-09
Beware of Spare Beds.
From the Health Reformer.

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From the Health Reformer.
IN our Inherent life we have
suffered much by sleeping in
beds that were not daily used.
Beds that are not daily exposed
10 the air and sunlight will gath.
CT dampness. And there are
but few who understand the
necessity of having the sun and
air come frequently into their
sleeping rooms, that bed and
bedding may be kept perfectly
dry and free from Impurities.
Fl Beds that have been left un-
used for days, and even weeks,
in the damp season of the year
are dangerous to the health and
life OF those who sleepin them.
When visitors are expected, the
parlor stove may be for the first
time set up, and a fire kindled
in it, and the parlor bedroom
opened. And thisis considered
sufficient preparation to make
the friends comfortable. But
the bed and bedding, if not care
fully separated, and aired, are
not safe for any one to use.
! Ihave had very affecting ex-
peIience in sleeping in damp
beds. / slept with my infant
two months in a north bedroom.
The bed had not been used 1or
two weeks. A fire was kindled
in the room this was consiG-
cred all that was necessary
Next morning / felt that | had
taken cold. My babe seemed to
be in great pain when moved
His face began to swell, and he
was afflicted with erysipelas of
the most aggravating FORM
My dear babe was a great suf-
ferer for four weeks, and final
ly died martyrto the damp bed.
a few weeks later [ accom-
panied my husband to fill ap-
Pointments in several places.
In four Of these places we had
the misfortune to Ice assigned
the spare bed in rooms open
ing from the parlor. The stove
was set up in the parlor adjoin-
ing these bedrooms the very
day we were expected. Damp
ness had entered every part Of
these unheatod, unventilated
rooms. The windows had not
been raised, and were carefully
covered with paper curtains, and
outside OF these drapery, and
the blinds were carefully closed.
The air had not been permitted
to circulate freely through the
house, and the precious sun
light was excluded as though ii
was an enemy. Why was there
need of windows at all when
they were not used a? It would
have saved expense to have
made these houses without win
dows. Ourgool hearted friends
received us cordially, and we
should have enjoyed our visit,
had it not been for the dreaded
spare bed.
At the first two places we
visited, we took severe colds by
sleeping in their damp, unused
beds, and we suffered greatly
with the rheumatism but tried
to fill our appointments. In
the third damp bed, we lay near
~ two hours trying to get warm;
but the clothing was literally
wet. We were under the I'M
pleasant necessity Of calling
our friends; tor we felt that it
would be positively fatal to life
and health to remain in that
damp bed. Our friends cheer
fully renewed their fires, and
the bedding was removed from
the bed and thoroughly dried.
We returned home from that
journey and exposure to suffer
for months. l feared that /
should be a cripple for life
My husband was afflicted with
pain in the chest and lungs, and
he had a severe cough for months.
After three months Of almost
helpless suffering, and careful
teatment, by the mercy Of God,
| was able to walk.
We had been exposed in our
late journeys to "death in the
spare bed" We have taken
colds, which have settled upon
the lungs, causing soreness of
the flesh. Since our fears have
been aroused We have been care
full, and have been under the
necessity of close questioning
in regard to our beds. In some
cases we have removed the bed
clothing and have dried it by