Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-02-16
PURE AIR ESSENTIAL.
Windows Should Be Opened at Bottom
and Top to Give Proper Ventilation.

ana Top TO Tive PROPER VenCllaIlou'
Most persons spend time enough in sleep.
or trying to sleep. to presuppose that they
understand the best way to get the most
rest but as matter of fact, comparatively
few do. The first great mistake and one
cause Of bad complexion and heavy. dull
eyes. is that the sleeping rooms are rarely
sufficiently ventilated through the night,
especially in winter, and equally seldom Is
the bed room given a thorough sweeping
through of air in the morning, to freshen it
for the day.
Sleeping in a room that is cold with fresh
air will do much toward making a person
well. but that the room Is cold does not
necessarily mean good ventilation. Here,
again. Is a common mistake among persons
who have given the matter little thought,
for they fancy that opening window gives
ventilation. 1t may give cold, but none OF
improper ventilation.
How can this be? Because unless the
old air escapes and fresh air comes in the
latter will cease to enter. You can't make
a vessel. for instance, hold more than its
capacity. When you have filled it full 1t
will hold no more. Stale or impure air
rises If you open a window only at the
bottom fresh air at first pours In, driving
the old or impure air to the ceiling. AS
fast as the fresh air continues to enter 1t
drives up the old, and there is no outlet
for this impure air the top OF the window
being closed, the room after a time becomes
filled with foul air, and more fresh air
can find place to enter. The old air will
be cold, because it will be affected by the
outside temperature, but 1t will still be
stale.
1t is. 1 think, more healthful to sleep
in room with the window open only at
the bottom than with the window entirely
closed, because cold is stimulating, and
a person will not wake with the heavy,
stupid feeling that comes from sleeping in
Ruf this ventilation does
not refresh the body.
To get air a window should be open both
top and bottom even If only a crack at
each 1t Is impossible to say how far it
should be opened, for the windows Of a
room heated may be opened wider than
those in which there is no artificial heat.
A draught is not desirable and is to be
avoided. This is easily managed If there
are two windows but should the room have
only one it will be necessary to have
screen or something that can be put before
the bed.
In the morning the windows should be
opened wide. top and bottom. and the room
literally swept with fresh air.
This one precaution of proper ventilation
will do so much good to persons entire
system that each should see to it. Unless
one is positively i'll a well-ventilated room
will induce sleep, and one will wake in the
morning refreshed and with spring" not
feeling heavy as lead. This applies espe-
cially to business women whose occupation
keeps them all day In offices or rooms,
more or less close. If they will arrange
their sleeping rooms so that their lungs
will have fresh air all night they will do
much toward keeping health and spirits.
One who is troubled with insomnia, or
who sleeps restlessly, will find this the
first step toward getting better. Some light
food taken on going to bed will sometimes
cure insomnia, especially in the case Of
women. who are too likely to go to bed
with empty stomachs.
The process of digestion goes on In sleep
with as much regularity as when one is
taking violent exercise to aid it, and 80
something in the stomach is very desirable
for the nights rest. Some physicians have
declared. indeed. that good deal of the
prevalent insomnia is the result Of an un-
conscious craving of the stomach for food
in persons who have been unduly frightened
by the opinion that they must not eat be-
fore going to bed. or who have, like many
nervous women. been keeping themselves
in state of semi-starvation Nothing Is
more agreeable on retiring for the night
than to take a bowl of hot broth, oatmeal
gruel or some good, nourishing soup. 1t
Is positive aid to nervous people and in
duces peaceful slumbers. This is especially
the case during cold winter nights, when
the stomach Graves warmth as much as
any other part Of the body. Even a glass
of hot milk is grateful to the palate on
such occasions. but a bowl Of light, we'll
cooked Cruel Is better.