The Heating of Our Houses.
Entering the door of one of our ‘comfortable’ modern houses, what meets us? A puff of scorched air from a register, redolent of burning iron, or of boiled air from a steam heater. The thermometer is standing at about 74°. We advance to the parlor. There matters are even worse; for no outside cold has entered with momentary freshness. The plants in the window look yellow and forlorn. Ominous cracks are visible here and there in the furniture—nay, a strip of ornamental veneer has actually split off from the piano and lies on the carpet. Our hostess, coming forward to greet us, is wrapped in a little shawl, and remarks that its an awful day; but she hasn't been out of course, but even in the warm house she felt the cold. In fact, she looked blue and pinched. Whereat we wonder; for the room feels insufferably hot; but we place ourselves beside her where she sits cowering over the register, and conversation goes on with what spirit it may under these circumstances. At the end of an hour we are surprised to find ourselves a little chilly. That is, our head is hot enough—a little too hot, perhaps—but both hands and feet are cold, and we are inclined to agree with our friend when she opines that ‘the girl’ must have let the fire go down. But glancing at the thermometer, we stare to see the mercury has risen instead of falling. It is now at 80. And after all, why should we wonder? Nature is inevitably in her retribution, and we, no less, than the poor geranium in the window, must suffer the penalty of a deranged circulation when we violate her laws of temperature. The mistake of overheating rooms is one which is often made, even by those who profess to be hygienists. Its results are exceeding disastrous to health, causing almost constant congestion of the head, with general disturbance of the circulation. The proper remedy is to dress warmly, and then secure plenty of good fresh air, not allowing the temperature to run much above 60°. Careful attention to this subject will obviate a vast amount of suffering. —Sel.