Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1892-12-29
HOME TALK ON HOME TOPICS,

WAVING discussed with our friends
the matter of the sleeping apart
~ ment and its thorough ventila-
ton, it may not be inappropriate
to mention few things concern
ing bedding and the closet ar
rangements. Every sleeping room above
stairs ought to have a closet adjoining;
if such is the case, it should be unre-
mittingly looked after and ventilated.
On pleasant days leave the closet door
open, of course after the sweeping is
through with and dust has been re-
moved. Often a closet, especially if
used as wardrobe, or for linen press,
containing large supplies of bed-cover,
has musty odor. as if mildew had at
tackled walls and contents, and some
times such is the fact. Nothing damp
should ever be placed in a closed closet;
and all articles should be, several times
each season, removed and brought to the
air and sunshine. IF your locality is
frosty one, tack up papers of good thick.
ness over the walls and be careful that
steam does not penetrate to the closet.
Never on any account, place any
blankets Or quilts used about bed where
person has lain sick of disease with
other bedding, or wearing apparel, until
thoroughly aired and. if cont gious, dis
infected. The writer has Known one
instance of contagion ccnveved nearly
two years after family had been affect
ed with scarlet fever, from feather bed
that had been for days in the air, but
not disinfected or fumigated, having
been stored in small chamber, kept
closed for the most part. Three persons
taking scarlet fever from the bed being
used at time when the house was filled
with guests.
Spare pillows should be placed in
large cotton or linen sack that has
large amount of room in it and frequent
ly hung in the open air and sunlight.
Cotton pillows, to be used in sickness,
are far preferable to those of feathers as
they can be so easily cleansed, scalded
and dried rapidly by taking out the cot
ton which can be picked apart and made
as light as new and replaced in fresh
cover. Young children, especially if
not strong, are subject to ''sweating of
the head" the perspiration being so pro-
fuse as to drench the hair, causing chill
when coming to the air, making the ten
a blister. Wash with clear warm water,
if this occurs, dry with an old piece of
linen, not rub, but just place the linen
around the neck to absorb the moisture,
then from a muslin bag dust on pure
powdered starch and blow off all that
does not adhere to the skin and discard
your feather pillows, using cotton one
with linen cover or tick and thin soft
cotton for outside covers or eases.
If you have scarlet fever patients, re-
member the danger of contagion is
usually after the thin outer skin, the
sscarf skim begins to peel off in little
fakes; I'll en- the writer believes in the old
grandmother's usage of rubbing the pa
tient with bacon rind not only does it
alay the intense itching but it holds the
little scales when the skin peels so that
they do not disseminate rapidly; sweet
oil would doubtless DO as well. We can
greatly aid our physicians and nurses in
trifiing ways and with little trouble. For
the same reasons those wearing fur, OF
plush garments should be very careful
especially in any season of epidemic, OF
if having come from call in the sick
room not to hang the garments in a
wardrobe or closet until well shaken,
brushed and aired, as disease germs OF
whatever nature cling to rough goods,
or those of warm fabrics as fur, plush OF
wooden material. We say these thing:
possibly at the risk of being called
1sfussy,' yet every one knows proven
ton is better than cure, whether by the
ounce or grain and pounds as well a:
pence saved thereby.
Make your bed-covers as comfort
ables'' to be taken apart easily anC
washed. instead of quilted coverings.
nice way is to make comfortable o.
puff the size of the bed or two yards Ions
and two and one-half breadths of calic'
wide. Put in the cotton batting required
and tie, not very closely. Do not bint
the edges but run them together; the!
can be easily taken apart and eleansed
then remade and they can be tied on al
extension table or even on the floor with
out the use of frames.
PRUDENCE WORK.