KIDD’S OWN JOURNAL. 
lungs; a fact which demonstrates itself by 
the vapor being condensed in cold weather, 
and in winter sometimes frozen on the bed- 
room window ; a fact which shows itself in 
the dampness of the clothes, particularly 
woollen clothes, which have lain all night in 
a closely shut-up bed-room. Nor is this all: 
the skin is actively at work, evolving its 
secretions ; among the rest, a highly volatile, 
and, in some persons, most offensively 
smelling substance, which, mixing with the 
air, taints it more and more—renders it more 
and more impure; moreand more unfit for 
respiration. 
The effect of a burning candle or lamp in 
increasing these evils, is precisely that which 
a second person in the room would cause; 
seeing that, during its combustion, it takes 
the oxygen from the air, and replaces it by 
carbonic acid. 
The effect of a fire, if it is-a very small one, 
and the room large, is rather favorable to 
ventilation than otherwise. But this is a 
nice question, one with difficulty adjusted, 
and one which, unless the bed-room is 
particularly large, should not be tried. For 
if the room is heated the air is rarefied, is 
expanded, occupies a larger space in pro- 
portion to its weight, and therefore at each 
aspiration less air is really breathed ; the 
blood is consequently not so freely and 
completely aerated. But there is likewise 
another effect. If the air is heated the body 
is heated, the vessels of the skin excited ; and 
the result is either an excessive secretion 
of its fluids, and consequent and unnecessary 
and injurious exhaustion, or, failing this, a 
hot, and dry, and feverish skin. But even 
this is notall. Blood, when heated, occupies 
more bulk, more space ; and the consequence 
is fulness of the vessels, undue pressure on 
the brain and nerves, and therefore torpify- 
ing, lethargic, unrefreshing sleep, or other- 
wise a restless excitability of system. Both 
these effects must have often been felt by 
the man who has indulged himself with a 
heated bed-room. These effects must have 
been frequently felt by most men in a hot 
sitting-room. The first effect of the heat is, 
usually some sense of oppression in the 
breathing; this is succeeded by a feeling of 
drowsiness and torpor, and if this be not 
relieved, it is followed either by a deep and 
heavy sleep, or by restlessness and nervous 
irritability ; and, if this state of things be 
allowed to continue, it is succeeded by 
languor and exhaustion ; the state of system, 
in fact, in which cold is most sensibly felt, 
or in which it is most apt to be followed by 
local determinations of blood, by inflam- 
mations, ete. 
The bed-room ought not then to be heated ; 
but, on the contrary, to be kept as cool as is 
consistent with the feelings and the health; 





263 
and means ought always to be taken to 
secure a constant change of air in it. For 
these purposes, either the door ought to be 
left partially oper, or the windows opened a 
little at the top. No fire ought to be 
allowed, unless under very particular circum- 
stances, if the room is not unusually large, 
and even then the fire ought tobe a small 
one. ‘The curtains of the bed ought to be of 
as light a texture, and they ought to be as 
little drawn, as possible; the floor only in 
part carpeted ; and there ought to be only 
necessary chairs, tables, etc. Furniture toa 
remarkable degree prevents free ventilation ; 
and all woollens, as carpets, absorb the 
moisture, whether from the breath or in 
damp weather, and so render the air less 
pure and more relaxing. 
A light ought not tobe allowed in a bed- 
room, if it can be avoided; if it is necessary. 
let it be put in the fireplace. Gas ought 
never to be burned ina bed-room. Of the 
importance and value of gas it is not for us 
to speak here. We are not about to decry 
it as a street-light, or as a shop, or warehouse, 
or passage-light ; but as a mode of lighting 
dwelling-houses, and especially bed- rooms, 
we do think that it cannot be sufficiently 
decried. In itself a poison, carburetted 
hydrogen, or coal-gas, cannot be burned in 
any hitherto contrived way without allowing 
some portion to escape unconsumed, and 
this diffusing itself, is, it is true, diluted, but 
still it is noxious; and we have repeatedly 
known it to produce, indeed, we have 
repeatedly experienced, its bad effects. 
Even iv the theatre and the ball room, many 
persons must have felt the headache, and 
giddiness, and sense of faintness, which this 
unconsumed gas produces. The effect which 
breathing it, night after night, during sleep, 
produces, is more insidious; but it is at all 
events not less considerable. Until gas is 
rendered still purer than it yet is, and untila 
burner can be found which will enable every 
particle to be consumed, it should be banished 
from the bed-room, the sitting-room; and, 
unless there is free ventilation, even from 
the public room or the theatre. People 
will, we know, offend against this rule—ergo 
they must pay the penalty due to their 
folly. But now for the bed-room :— 
A bed-room ought not to be on the ground 
floor, but on the first or the second. Yet it 
is well that it should not be in the upper 
storey of the house, at least if the house is 
much exposed to the sun’s rays, and the 
upper rooms are heated by them. For the 
same reason, it is generally well that the 
bed-room should not be on the sunny side 
of the house. 
Many persons are in the habit of indulging 
themselves by having their bed warmed with 
heated coals every night; and they would, 
