146 THE COACHING ERA 



worst forebodings: "Travellers never can be sure that 

 those who have slept in the Beds before them were not 

 afflidted with some contagious disease." 



An awful thought this to spring upon the mind of a 

 hitherto trusting and unsuspicious man. As a remedy 

 travellers were told "they should carry their own sheets 

 with them, i.e. a light eider down Quilt, and two dressed 

 Hart Skins should be put upon the Mattresses to hinder 

 the disagreeable contadt." If unprovided with these 

 necessities, he was advised not to undress but to sleep in 

 his clothes. 



But what of the situation of the unhappy traveller 

 who had neglecSled to bring his own bedding, had already 

 undressed and stepped between the contaminated 

 sheets? Sorry indeed was his plight, for Dr. Kitchiner, 

 after making him a prey to nervous fears, gave no further 

 counsel, and at such a crisis of his life he was left without 

 moral or precept, and cast entirely on his own inadequate 

 resources. 



Dr. Kitchiner was evidently determined that his 

 readers' sleep should be broken and uneasy, for if the 

 traveller was proof against the beds he had another fear 

 to insinuate and spoil his night's rest: "In Lonesome 

 places, where an accident may oblige you to rest, if 

 you carry Fire-Arms it may be well to let the Land- 

 lord see (as it were accidentally) that you are well 

 Armed." 



He then cited the meritorious example of a gentleman, 

 who advised all who did not wish to be robbed to carry a 

 brace of blunderbusses, and to put the muzzle of one out 



