Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1881-06-10
WHOLE NO. 1869.
Heat and Light.

The best temperature at which to
keep room, for health's sake, is about
% or 20 deg, above the mantel-piece.
Less than this is far more agreeable to
many, and greater degree of heat is
unwholesome, to say nothing of the
danger of catching chill on going out
from q room so heated. Elderly people
should never put on cold and unaired
overcoat before going out-of-doors in
winter; it takes but o few moments to
warm, go there is no need to run any
risk. 1t does no harm, either, to warm
both fingers and toes before going out: /:
then if brisk walk be taken, there is
little fear of any sudden or dangerous
lowering of the animal heat. Walking
can be done with greater case and com.
fort II the clothes be light. and it is .
very easy thing to have them made of
materials that are both light and warm.
The chest in people advanced in years
needs all the protection you can give j.;
and here I tell you something worth
remembering: the back requires pro.
lection from the cold as much II not
more than the breast, and yet protectors
are nearly always worn on the chest
only-a mistake that is fatal to thou
sands. The custom of taking cordisls,
generally Of Q vinous nature, to keep
up the animal heat, is q very bad one.
Never take o cordial of any kind il You
can really do without it. II ono be
very weakly in constitution, he should
consult q medical man on the subject,
and do exactly as he advises.
There is no light like the Ighi Of
day; the lover animals seem to know
this, and make il their maxim to 10
early to bed. and be astir with the dawn.
We human beings, however, must have
artificial light of some kind, though We
should never forget that candles, lamps,
and gas all consume our precious oxy-
gen, and produce poisonous carbonic
acid gas; and the larger the burner. the
greater the amount OF oxygen con-
sumed, and the more the need for per-
fect ventilation. Even four Per cent
of carbonic acid gas in bedroom 10 in.
furious to health and dangerous b life !;
therefore warn my readers against the
too common habit Of burning lights all
night. For many reasons, too numerous
here to specify, sleeping in the dark 10
more refreshing than in glare Of light,
whether natural or artificial.
Everybody should wear some kind OF
flannel under-clothing all the year
round; though, il + must make an ex-
ception, let me advise them that flannel
be worn in winter and silk in summer;
and this I mean to refer also to . change,
in hot weather, from stockings or socks
of wool to those made OF the softer and
thinner but none the less comfortable
material, silk. Those who suffer from
cold feet should wear two pairs Of light
soft socks. Old people should always
have their feet thus clothed. for their
hearts are not so strong % they were in
by-gone days, and cannet pump the
warm blood to the extremities with the
force they we're wont TO do. Few things
are more destructive to, or rather
1i1uutu u-y, row tariD6u- te.S1
waste, the animal heat than cold fest
and cold hands. The old among ~
should protect both, not foreeeting
that the spring aod winter months arc
particularly fatal to those advanced In
life.
The aged ought to wear . flannel
rather than q cotton night dress; il
should be of sufficient length to cover
the limbs, and bed socks should also b
worn; these should be Of the lightest,
softest wool that can be procured. They
should have sufficient quantity Of
bedclothes. aud no more, each blanket
being light and soft; but heavy oouE-
terpanes should never be slept under.
for the weight OF them makes sleep f.
tiguing. instead of refreshiug, - il
ought to be- -lHarper's Weekly.