The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1872-02-09
Beware OF the Spare Bed.

A correspondent Of the Health Re.
former says
In our Inherent life we have suf-
fered much by sleeping in beds that
were not daily used. Beds that are not
daily exposed to the air and sunlight
will gather dampness. And there are
but very few who understand the neces.
sity of having the sun and air come fire.
quently into their sleeping rooms, that
bed and bedding may be kept perfectly
dry and free from impurities.
Beds that have been left unused for
days, and even weeks, in the damp sea-
son of the year are dangerous to the
health and life of those who sleep in
them. When visitors are expected, the
parlor stove may be for the first time
set up, and fire kindled in il, and the
parlor bedroom opened. And this is
considered sufficient preparation to
make the friends comfortable. But the
bed and bedding, if not carefully sepa.
rated and aired, are not safe for any one
to use.
have had very affecting experience
in sleeping in damp beds. | slept with
my infant two months old in a north
bedroom. The bed had not been used
for two weeks. A fire was kindled in
the room, and this was considered all
that was necessary. Next morning, /
felt that l had taken cold. My babe
seemed to be in great pain when moved.
His face began to swell, and he was af-
flicted with erysipelas Of the most ag-
gravating form. My dear babe was a
great sufferer for four weeks, and finally
died, martyr to the damp bed.
A few weeks later, accompanied my
husband to fill appointments in several
places. In four of these places we had
the misfortune to be assigned the spare
bed in rooms opening from the parlor.
The stove was set up in the parlor adj
joining these bedrooms the very day we
were expected. Dampness had entered
every part of these unheated, unventi-
lated 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 sunlight was excluded
as though it was an enemy. Why was
were not used? 1t would have saved
expense to have made these houses
without windows. Our good-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 rheumatism; but tried to
ill our appointments. In the third
damp bed, we lay nearly two hours try
ing to get warm; but the clothing was
literally wet. We were under the un.
pleasant necessity of calling our friends
for we felt that it would be positively
fatal TO life and health to remain in that
damp bed. Our friends cheerfully re.
newed tn cir fires, and the bedding was
removed from the bed and thoroughly
dried
We returned home from that journey
and exposure to suffer for months.
feared that | should be cripple for
life. My husband was afflicted with pain
in the chest and lungs, and he had a
a severe cough for months. After three
months OF almost helpless suffering,
and careful treatment, by the mercy OF
God, / was able to walk.
We have been exposed in our late
journey to "death in the spare bed"
We have taken colds, which have set
tied upon the lungs, causing soreness of
the flesh. Since our fears have been
aroused we have been careful, and have
been under the necessity Of close ques-
tioning in regard to our beds. In some
cases, we have removed the bed cloth
ing and have dried it by the fire before
we ventured to sleep. This may have
given the impression that we were par
ticular, and perhaps notional. We own
that we are particular. We value life
which God has preserved, by miracle
of his mercy, from the death in the
spare, damp, and moldy beds.
In the case of all these beds, where
the air has not circlated through the
rooms daily, the bedding should be re-
moved and thoroughly dried by the fire,
before being slept in. Sleeping rooms
should have the windows raised every
day, and the air Should circulate freely
through the rooms. The curtains should
be Withdrawn from the windows. The
blinds should be fastened back. And the
blessed sunlight should thus be invited
in, to brighten and purify every bed.
room in the house.