Fresh Air | AdventAI

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jul 7, 1863

Fresh Air.

WhY wonder that people are sick? Go with me into yonder chamber. The windows have shutters, inside curtains, and outside curtains; the carpenter has stopped every crevice, that no outward air may be admitted. The bed has French curtains drawn over it, the furnace is brought to the chamber, and the fire-board is tightly fitted, so that no ventilation is permitted. But the inmates complain that they cannot sleep. They retire late, take an opiate, yet are restless! Toward spring nature rebels against such restrictions, and the frame becomes more enfeebled; a bilious stomach, or jaundice, or dyspepsia (and perhaps all are combined), prostrate our friends. A physician is sent for; he gives drugs, leaves orders how often "drops" shall be taken, and when the "blister" must be dressed, and how many "leeches" had better be applied. He speaks of his patient as of feeble constitution, who is debilitated, and needs change to recruit him or her. No inquiries are made as to what produced this disease; no intimation is given that willful transgressions of known laws have brought it on; no reflection is made about over-heated apartments and late hours; and the patient lies in bed, believing that sickness is brought on by the hand of Providence, and we have only to submit to the all-wise decree.

How preposterous thus to reason! How wicked to throw the disease upon our Maker! No, my friend, you brought it upon yourself. Do you remember those evening parties, when you exchanged the long sleeves for bare arms, the closed neck for a bare one, the worsted hose for the delicate silk, the India-rubber boot for the satin slipper? Do you remember the hoarseness and cough which followed, and your persistence in still keeping up this excitement? You gave particular orders that your chamber should be heated, it is true, on your return; but had you given orders that it should be ventilated, even by night air, it would have turned to better account, as far as your health was concerned. Air, air is heaven's gift to sustain us. Why are you so terrified to inhale it? Who sleeps so soundly as the robin, and who rises so early to carol his morning hymn of gratitude? Are you more feeble than the little unfledged birds? Look at the most helpless of creatures. See how they grow and thrive by obeying natural laws. This is all we need to become healthy and happy beings, viz., obedience to natural laws. Go out in the open air, walk with energetic movements, do not wrap yourselves up so much as to render it uncomfortable to go far, but let the elasticity of your steps supply the scantiness of your clothing.

How often we sigh over the fate of children in foreign countries who are so overtasked that the breath of heaven is denied them! Who ever wastes a tear over that friend who lives in luxury, and voluntarily shuts herself from the pure air? Who tells her she is daily committing suicide? No; the sallow, lily face seems actually preferred to the healthful, rosy hue of health! A lady, whose waist was about the size of a wheel-pin (such as our grandmothers used), recently met a friend of the first model as it respects form, and outward signs of health. "Why," said the wasp-waisted lady, "I might have mistaken her for an Irish girl, she looked so healthy!" Is there not a false idea, that a pale complexion and a small waist are considered recommendatory to the gentlemen?

O, nonsense! No man ever wanted a sickly wife. No husband ever desired an apothecary's shop for his wife's benefit, nor yet craved the pleasure of listening to a woman's complaints.

How many purses (poorly filled) have been taxed with physicians' bills, apothecaries' prescriptions, and long journeys, with the view of restoring decayed health!

Up, my friend, raise thy window, give a free current in thy bed-chamber, inhale a goodly portion in thy lungs, throw away the bed-curtains and the pill-boxes, and the quieting-powder; take fresh air and exercise, and you will find you have consulted with the best of physicians, for he will make you cheerful as you become vigorous: and no blessing can be compared to a healthy, cheerful companion.