CHAPTER III. VENTILATION.General ignorance of the constitution of the atmosphere. The subject brieflyexplained. Oxygen gas. Nitrogen. Carbonic acid. Fires, candles, and breathingdependent on oxygen. Danger from carbonic acid. How it destroys people.Impurity of the air arising from lamps and candles. Other sources of impurity.Experiment of putting the candle under the bed-clothes. Covering the heads ofinfants while sleeping—its dangers. Proportions of oxygen and nitrogen in pureand impure air. No wonder children become sickly. Particular means ofventilating rooms. Caution in regard to lamps. Washing, ironing, cooking, &c.,in a nursery. Their evil tendency. Fumigation—camphor, vinegar.CHAPTER IV. THE CHILD'S DRESS.General principles—1. To cover us; 2. To defend us from cold; 3. from injury.SEC. 1. Swathing the Body.Buffon's remarks. Transforming children into mummies. Use of a belly-band.Evils produced by having it too tight. Cripples sometimes made. Absurdity ofconfining the arms. Infants should be made happy.SEC. 2. Form of the Dress.Curious suggestion of a London writer. Advantages of his plan. Killing withkindness. Dr. Buchan's opinion. Conformity to fashion. Tight-lacing the chest.Its effects—dangerous. Physiology of the chest. Its motions. An attempt tomake the subject intelligible. Serious mistakes of some writers. Appeal tofacts. Color of females. Their breathing. Their diseases. Customs of Tunis.Our own customs little less ridiculous.SEC. 3. Material.Flannel in cold weather. Its use—1. As a kind of flesh brush; 2. As aprotection against taking cold; 3. As means of equalizing the temperature.Clothing should be kept clean—often changed—color—lightness—softness. Cottonapt to take fire. Silk expensive. Linen not warm enough. Flannelunder-clothes.SEC. 4. Quantity.The power of habit, in this respect. Opinion that no clothing is necessary.Anecdote of Alexander and the Scythian. Argument from analogy. Begin right, inearly life. We generally use too much clothing. Should clothing be oftenvaried?—objections to it. Avoid dampness.SEC. 5. Caps.How caps produce disease. Nature's head-dress. Miserable apology for caps.What diseases are avoided by going with the head bare. Judicious remarks of aforeign writer. Covering the "open of the head." Wetting the head withspirits.SEC. 6. Hats and Bonnets.Hats usually too warm. No covering needed in the house; and but little in thesun or rain. Is it dangerous to go with the head always bare?SEC. 7. Covering for the Feet.The feet should be well covered. Why. Rule of medical men. No garters.Objections to covering the feet considered. Shoes useful. Not too thick. Thicksoles. Mr. Locke's opinion.SEC. 8. Pins.These ought not to be used. Why. Substitutes. Practice of Dr. Dewees.Needles—their danger. Shocking anecdote.SEC. 9. Remaining Wet.Changing wet clothing. Monstrous error—its evils. Clean as well as dry. A lameexcuse for negligence. No excuse sufficient but poverty.SEC. 10. Remarks on the Dress of Boys.Every restraint of body or limb injurious. Tight jackets. Stiff stocks andthick cravats. Boots. Evils of having them too tight. A painful sight.
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