p. 318 | CHILDREN by Florence Nightingale

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Apr 28, 1868

CHILDREN

By Florence Nightingale

CHILDREN are much more susceptible than grown-up people to all noxious influences; they are affected by the same things, but much more quickly and seriously, namely: by want of fresh air, of proper warmth, want of cleanliness in house, clothes, bedding, or body, by startling noises, improper food, or want of punctuality; by dullness, and by want of light, by too much or too little covering in bed, or when up, by want of the spirit of management generally in those in charge of them. One can, therefore, only press the importance, as being yet greater in the case of children, greatest in the case of sick children, of attending to these things.

That which, however, above all, is known to injure children seriously is foul air, and the most seriously at night. Keeping rooms where they sleep tight shut up is destruction to them.

And, if the child's breathing be affected by disease, a few hours only of much foul air may endanger its life, even when no inconvenience is felt by grown-up persons in the same room.—Florence Nightingale.