CHAPTER XIII.PURE AIR, CLOTHING, ETC.
There can be no good health without pure air. Always have it if possible. Before you lie down to sleep at night, make sure your windows are lowered at the top and slightly raised at the bottom, so that the room is well ventilated. If the bed has enough covering, you will sleep much better if the air is fresh and cool.
(a)Trachea, (bande)Bronchial Tubes, (d)Right Lung, (c)Lobes of Lung.
(a)Trachea, (bande)Bronchial Tubes, (d)Right Lung, (c)Lobes of Lung.
(a)Trachea, (bande)Bronchial Tubes, (d)Right Lung, (c)Lobes of Lung.
It is a good practice to spend a few minutes early in the morning, in drawing into the lungs all the air they can possibly hold. Then breathe out slowly, by keeping the lips almost closed. While doing so, rapidly thump the chest and ribs with the flat sides of your fists. This will expand your lungs and preventthe congestion or settling of blood among many of the organs, besides strengthening and toning up the system.
Your parents furnish you with warm, comfortable clothing, but much depends on you whether it shall help preserve your health. Children often catch cold and more serious diseases by carelessness about their dress. Be careful that all your garments sit well and are not loose enough to annoy you, nor tight enough to cause discomfort.
Boys should lay off their overcoats and overshoes, girls their wraps and overshoes when they enter a warm room. Always put them on before going out in thecold or wet. Neglect in following this rule has often caused pneumonia and death.
If the clothing, shoes or stockings become wet, they should be changed at the earliest moment. If there is no chance to make such change, keep in motion until the garments can be replaced by others. If the moisture has reached the skin, it should be rubbed with a rough towel until dry and warm.
Before summer sets in, children are often tempted to sit or lie on the dampearth. This is hurtful and never should be done, even in warm weather.
When heated from exercise, boys love to throw aside their outer clothing, so as to “cool off.” This is dangerous; better to feel uncomfortable for a little while until your body resumes its natural temperature.
Never sit in a cold room or a draft. It is sure to injure you and may cause death. If you feel chilly, warm yourself by vigorous exercise.
Always obey the promptings of nature. Failure to do so poisons the blood, causes serious disease, and frequently destroys life itself.
Show the necessity of pure air. What precaution should be taken before lying down to sleep? What of drafts? What are necessary to sleep well?
What is a good practice for each morning? What will this do?
What depends upon you? What results from carelessness in these respects? Of what ought you to be careful?
What use should be made of overcoats, wraps, and overshoes? What has resulted from neglect to follow this rule?
What is the proper course, when the clothing, shoes or stockings become wet?
What are children often tempted to do in the spring of the year? Is it a safe thing to do at any time?
What is said about “cooling off?”
What about sitting in a cold room or draft?
What other advice is given?