Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-05-08
miscellaneous.
Open Fires VS.. Stoves and Furnaces.

Among health topics. this is one of the
most important. In this latitude perhaps
no other is so vital.
In fitting up a house for my family,
should begin with, IAN open fire is mum
Der one among house blessings" 1t
should be of wood, in one of those gener-
Gus, old fashioned tire-places. How 1t
fills the family group with comfortable,
social spirit To supply the draught the
air of the room is momentarily changed.
The carbonic acid and other excretions OF
the animal body cannot accumulate; the
room cannot smell close, even when
crowded.
Strange the people will not have this
delightful sun in their homes at any cost
or sacrifice. And. pray. now, why not
have it all back again If small part OF
the money we spend in various foolish
fashions were given to the re-introductlon
of this good ld-fashloned blessing, how
much healthier and happier we should be !
Next to an open wood fire, the open
coal crate is the best means OF warming
and ventiating And if, with good
draught, the coal used be btuminous, it is
a very excellent fire.
There has been fearful increase Of
consumption, bronchitis, headache, and
some other affections, since the general
introduction Of stoves and furnaces. Ii,
with the higher degree of heat, the doors
and windows are kept open during the en-
tire season. "a NAV be easily and comfort
ably done. the evil would not be so great
but, as generally managed, it is the gray
est mistake in our physical life.
If in the window shutter of dark room
YOU open a small aperture, and look in the
let of light as it streams through the room
YOU will discover that the air is full of
floating notes. The air Of our houses is
always crowded with these. in their
ordinary condition they are not mischlev-
Gus, but after they have been exposed to
contact with heated surface, they do
poison u.s. Millions of these carboniz ID
particles come from the stove or furnace
to poison our lungs end blood.
If you would have good throat. lungs
and nerves, sit by an open fire and keep
as far as possible from stoves and fur
naces. If you cannot escape those evils,
wear more clothing, especially upon the
feet and legs, and keep the doors and
windows open.
Most people. even manv intelligent re-
formers, have the idea that to sleep in a
cold room is good-essenial to health.
1t is an error. 1t is better to have an
open fire in your bed room. The atmos-
phere is not only by this means constantly
changed. but you will keep the window
open. which will add greatly to the need
ed ventilation But more than this, with
the fire you will have fewer bed clothes
over you, which is gain, as large num-
Der of blankets not only interferes with
the circulation and respiration, but pre-
vents the escape of those gases which the
skin is constantly emitting Even fur
mace or stove heat with an open window is
better than "a close, cold room. Inter
change with the external atmosphere de-
ponds upon the difference between the
temperature of the air within and that
without
But let Us have the open hre; Let us
90 without silks, broadclolncS, carpets
and finery of all kinds, II necessa..v'
that we NAV have this excellent purifier
and diffuser of JOY in all our houses. In
nv own house | have three open CRATES and
find the expense very large, and if it
were in any other department of house
keeping, should feel could not afford
it; but in this | do not finch, so inn
portant do deem the open fre.-Dto
LelriS