Fresh Air a Necessity by MARY ALICE HARE LOPER, M.S.

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Feb 10, 1914

Fresh Air a Necessity

By MARY ALICE HARE LOPER, M.S.

Work and Sleep Outdoors as Far as Possible — Value of Deep Breathing and Pure Air — Health and Stuffy Rooms Are Antagonistic

By MARY ALICE HARE LOPER, M.S.

MORE 'tand outdoors!' was the urgent plea of a tiny tot who was a dear lover of nature. Every child enjoys outdoor life if the surroundings are pleasant; for the loving Creator made His great outdoors to be the home of the human race, and implanted in the heart of man a love for the beautiful in nature. The Garden of Eden, planted by God Himself, was the ideal home given to man in the beginning; and one of our poets has beautifully said, "The groves were God's first temples."

God created the invigorating atmosphere surrounding our earth, for the purpose of perpetuating life. It is one of those distinctively free blessings bestowed by a loving heavenly Father, which should be rightly appreciated by all who would possess the priceless boon of health.

THE LOVING CREATOR MADE HIS GREAT OUTDOORS TO BE THE HOME OF THE HUMAN RACE.

We can not imagine Adam sitting down in a stuffy office in a sky-scraper while seeking to accomplish the great task of giving appropriate names to all the numerous representatives of the animal creation. Adam did his "office work" outdoors, and breathed the life-perpetuating air of heaven while doing it.

SLEEP IN THE OPEN

Much has been said and written, during the present century, concerning the importance and necessity of outdoor life; but the world seems slow to heed the advice. It is quite generally admitted that outdoor air is necessary to health while one is asleep. Surely it is high time that the world realize the fact that outdoor air is necessary to health during one's waking hours also. Very many have been laid to rest in untimely graves, whose epitaph might truthfully read, "Died for want of pure air."

WILL NOT GROW IN A CELLAR

Any one who has ever made a success of gardening, knows that it can not be done in a cellar. Plant life requires sunshine and fresh air; and the human plant is no exception. I once knew a mother who was bereaved of a number of her children while they were yet in their infancy. It would seem that the poor little things slowly smothered to death. They were kept so closely covered, with so little fresh air, that it is highly probable they died of mistaken kindness. Babies, as well as grown people, require pure air; and fortunate is that baby who is permitted to receive his full share of this tonic. The child who early becomes accustomed to plenty of fresh air and sunshine, may overcome hereditary tendencies which otherwise might prove disastrous.

Horticulture and agriculture constituted the regular employment of the first family of the human race — occupations which consist wholly of exercise in the open air. The more man has departed from God's great plan, the less has become his resistance against disease. But while the human race has deteriorated physically, God's laws remain unchanged. It is just as important now

that man should exercise properly in the open air, as it was when the first representatives of the human race lived an outdoor life amid the beauties of nature. By coming into harmony with nature's laws, it is possible for many to find the highway to health who are now treading the dangerous pathway of disease. It is possible for many who have a tendency to tuberculosis to escape that calamity by taking the precaution found in proper exercise in the open air, without which the disease may be easily contracted. Pure air — how much we need it! Multitudes persist in living apart from the fulness of this great blessing of Heaven, who are becoming puny and sickly as the result, while pulmonary and bronchial troubles are wide-spread.

THE LOG CABIN AND THE FIREPLACE

During the log cabin days, the huge old-fashioned fireplace served as a sort of life-preserver, as it afforded a means of exit for contaminated air in many an ill-ventilated home. That primitive form of dwelling-house, with its one or two rooms, in time gave place to the spacious mansion, with its dark and parlors and ghost-like spare bedrooms. How many deaths were due to committing guests to these unfrequented haunts of disease germs, no one can tell. But the proverbial spare bed in time came to be looked upon as a sort of whited sepulcher by those who were aware of the danger lurking in it.

Sweet memories cling round the days of long ago; but the damp, germ-infested spare bed has no place in the list of tender recollections. As a student boarder in a private home, I for some time occupied a precious (?) apartment of this kind myself years ago, and I am still grateful that the experience did not terminate my earthly career.

Blessed thought — the world is evolving from death-dealing rooms to “living-rooms” in the modern dwelling. The sentiment of the guardians of home to-day is, “Let the blessed sunshine in,” and along with it plenty of life-giving air. The architecture of the home of to-day is fashioned with a view to preserving health rather than for mere beauty of outline, and since the blessed dawn of the era of wire screens, windows have come to be considered more for use than for ornament.

THE SLEEPING-PORCH

The sleeping-porch is surely to be encouraged, for the screened room is the up-to-date sleeping-apartment of the twentieth century. It has come to stay, although some who are still afraid of fresh air, may look upon it with grave apprehensions, imagining that increased bronchial and pulmonary disorders will be the result. But the most thoroughly scientific physicians are prescribing outdoor sleeping for just such patients, and are meeting with gratifying results. Sleeping in the fresh air will tend to cure a fresh cold, rather than increase it. An excellent exercise for one who has weak lung power, is to stand in the fresh air and inhale until the lungs are well filled, then gently percuss them for a few seconds, and then exhale. This simple exercise, if followed for a few minutes twice every day, will be found of great benefit. Pure air in abundance, with habitual deep breathing, is a great barrier against tuberculosis, and should be rightly appreciated by every one who prizes longevity. To one who is accustomed to sleeping where there is nothing to prevent the free circulation of pure air, a night spent in a close sleeping-room is torture.

MODIFIED IN RIGOROUS CLIMATES

There are climates too severe for outdoor sleeping in midwinter. Good judgment should be exercised upon this point.

It is well to have the screened sleeping-room supplied with adjustable canvas covers for the screens, which can be brought into service when necessary to prevent the influx of too great drafts of cold air. Each individual should be “a law unto himself” in this matter, as some possess much greater resistance against cold than others. Those who are especially sensitive to cold, may find a sleeping-cap of valuable service during the midwinter season.

The all-wise Creator never intended that human beings should be penned up in skyscrapers all day, and in stuffy, ill-ventilated flats all night. Pure air is nature’s great life promoter in both the animal and the vegetable world; and intelligent human beings should recognize this fact in regard to themselves, and, if possible, cease to work and sleep where plants would surely die.

SLOW SUICIDES

Thousands of people employed in office work are slowly committing suicide because they are out of harmony with nature’s laws. Since outdoor exercise was Adam’s daily program, it would be but folly to seek to improve upon God’s original plan for the human race. Every one who is employed in office work is under obligations to take outdoor exercise sufficient to meet the demands of health. A crusade in this direction in our cities is surely greatly needed.