tinuous circulation of fresh air throughout the room with-
out causing a draught. Before considering this, a few
words on the position of the bed itself will possibly be ap-
propriate. It is always better to have it standing more in
the centre of the room with its head against the wall,
than to have it jammed alongside the latter. And it
certainly should be placed north and south if the shape of
the room admits of it. The wire-wove mattress is of
great advantage, both for comfort and for coolness ; and
here in Australia, during the summer months, proper mos-
quito nettings are as necessary as the bed itself. If the
bed is provided with a head-piece, as it should be, there
is no difficulty in fitting on the netting.
Every bedroom window should be made to open freely,
and what other defects exist — such as the smallness of the
apartment, or the absence of a fireplace — can be remedied
to a great extent by means of the window. In many in-
stances the bed is placed so near the latter that when it
is open there is a strong draught playing directly on the
bed, and this is an evil which must be avoided. In such
a case, to rectify matters, raise the bottom window a few
inches, and have a piece of board made to fit in under
it, so as to support the sash and fill in the space between
it and the sill. The air freely enters the room between
the two sashes, because the top of the lower sash is by
this contrivance raised above the lower part of the upper
one. Another great advantage is that the air is directed
upwards to the ceiling by having to come in over the
lower sash, and thus a gentle cuiTent of fi-esh air is con-
stantly being circulated throughout the room without
creating any draught. There are other devices to attain
the same end, such as having apertures cut in the glass
of the windows, but they are not so effective, so inexpen-
sive, nor so simple as the preceding. In many of the better
BEDROOM VEIfTlLATION. 49
bedrooms there are the long French windows leading on to
a balcony, and where such is the case the air current can
be regulated to a nicety by having only one of the win-
dow-doors open, and directing the ventilation away from
the bed. Many people prefer to sleep with the door itself
open, and by having a portiere or cui'tain suspended out-
side, privacy can be ensured, while an upright screen stand-
ing at the head of the bed will effectually ward off any
cold currents of air. In our summer weather there is but
little difficulty experienced in regulating the air supply, for
there is generally a desire to have as much fresh air as
possible. Far too many people, however, look upon the
bedroom in the light of an oven, where they are to be
baked during the hours of repose, and this is the case
even during the summer. In the cooler parts of the year
they are apt to forget there is just as much necessity for
fresh air as in the warm months.
Page 42
Presented as published in 1893. Historical recipes may not meet modern food-safety standards. Cook from the modern interpretation, not the original instructions.
AI-modernized reading of the original text
tinuous circulation of fresh air throughout the room without causing a draught. Before considering this, a few words on the position of the bed itself will possibly be appropriate. It is always better to have it standing more in the centre of the room with its head against the wall, than to have it jammed alongside the latter. And it certainly should be placed north and south if the shape of the room admits of it. The wire-wove mattress is of great advantage, both for comfort and for coolness ; and here in Australia, during the summer months, proper mosquito nettings are as necessary as the bed itself. If the bed is provided with a head-piece, as it should be, there is no difficulty in fitting on the netting.
Every bedroom window should be made to open freely, and what other defects exist — such as the smallness of the apartment, or the absence of a fireplace — can be remedied to a great extent by means of the window. In many instances the bed is placed so near the latter that when it is open there is a strong draught playing directly on the bed, and this is an evil which must be avoided. In such a case, to rectify matters, raise the bottom window a few inches, and have a piece of board made to fit in under it, so as to support the sash and fill in the space between it and the sill. The air freely enters the room between the two sashes, because the top of the lower sash is by this contrivance raised above the lower part of the upper one. Another great advantage is that the air is directed upwards to the ceiling by having to come in over the lower sash, and thus a gentle current of fresh air is constantly being circulated throughout the room without creating any draught. There are other devices to attain the same end, such as having apertures cut in the glass of the windows, but they are not so effective, so inexpensive, nor so simple as the preceding. In many of the better
BEDROOM VENTILATION. 49
bedrooms there are the long French windows leading on to a balcony, and where such is the case the air current can be regulated to a nicety by having only one of the window-doors open, and directing the ventilation away from the bed. Many people prefer to sleep with the door itself open, and by having a portiere or curtain suspended outside, privacy can be ensured, while an upright screen standing at the head of the bed will effectually ward off any cold currents of air. In our summer weather there is but little difficulty experienced in regulating the air supply, for there is generally a desire to have as much fresh air as possible. Far too many people, however, look upon the bedroom in the light of an oven, where they are to be baked during the hours of repose, and this is the case even during the summer. In the cooler parts of the year they are apt to forget there is just as much necessity for fresh air as in the warm months.