Much may and should be done in preserving the child in a proper temperature by means of its clothing.  On this point I shall speak at length, in another part of this work.  My present purpose is simply to treat of the temperature of the nursery.

The best way of warming a nursery—­or indeed any other room, where MERE warmth is demanded—­is by means of air heated in other apartments, and admitted through openings in the floor or fire-place.  The air is not only thus made more pure, but every possibility of accidents, such as having the clothes take fire, is precluded.  This last consideration is one of very great importance, and I hope will not be much longer overlooked in infantile education.

Next to that, in point of usefulness and safety, is a stove, placed near or IN the fire-place, and defended by an iron railing.  Most people prefer an open stove; and on some accounts it is indeed preferable, especially where it is desirable to burn coal.  Still I think that the direct rays of the heat, and the glare of light from open stoves and fire-places, particularly for the young, form a very serious objection to their use.

One of the strongest objections to open stoves and fire-places in the nursery is, the increased exposure to accidents.  I know it is said that this evil may be avoided by laying aside the use of cotton, and wearing nothing but worsted or flannel.  This is indeed true; but I do not like the idea of being compelled to dress children in flannel or worsted, at all times when the least particle of fire is demanded; for this would be to wear this stimulating kind of clothing, in our climate, the greater part of the year.

Besides, I write for many mothers who are compelled to use cotton, on account of the expense of flannel.  And if the stove be a close one, and well defended by a railing, cotton will seldom expose to danger.  Still, as has been already said, the introduction of heated air from another apartment, whenever it can possibly be afforded, is incomparably better than either stoves or fire-places.

Dr. Dewees is fully persuaded that the excessive heat of nurseries has occasioned a great mortality among very young children.  “In the first place,” he says, “it over-stimulates them; and in the second, it renders them so susceptible of cold, that any draught of cold air endangers their lives.  They are in a constant perspiration, which is frequently checked by an exposure to even an atmosphere of moderate temperature.”  If this is but to repeat what has been already said, the importance of the subject seems to be a sufficient apology.

CHAPTER III.

VENTILATION.