Of the Salubrity of Warm Rooms. 571 



rooms where there is a great fire, or where there is a 

 great heat, occasioned by a great number of burning 

 candles, or by a great number of persons crowded 

 together; for it is very seldom indeed that a room is 

 much heated in this country, and their being cold 

 is the principal cause which renders partial heats 

 that occasionally exist in them so very injurious to 

 health. 



The air of the room that comes into contact with 

 the cold walls, and with the enormous windows which, 

 in open defiance of every principle of good taste, have 

 lately come into fashion, is suddenly cooled ; and being 

 condensed, and made specifically heavier than it was 

 before, in consequence of this loss of heat it descends 

 and forms cold streams, that are so much the more 

 rapid and more dangerous as the partial heats in the 

 room are more intense. Consequently, they are the 

 more dangerous, as they are less liable to be observed 

 or felt. 



If to these cold currents which are generated in the 

 room, we add those which come into it from without 

 to supply the enormous quantity of air that is continu- 

 ally going off by the chimney, when there is a great 

 quantity of coals burning in an open grate, we shall 

 not be surprised that those who venture to go in such 

 rooms without being well wrapped up in furs, or other 

 warm clothing, should be liable to take colds. 



I never see a delicate young lady dressed in thin 

 muslins or gauzes, in the midst of winter, expose her- 

 self in such a perilous situation, without shuddering 

 for the consequences. But how many young persons 

 of both sexes do we find of delicate habits, and par- 

 ticularly among the higher ranks of society.? And 



