The first requisite is an airy room, capable of constant ventilation, either by the windows, doors, or flues, or by all.  Next, a comfortable bed, of almost any material, except cotton and feathers, though the latter might be indulged in during the severest season; but it is better to dispense with them in toto, and use instead a mattress of hair, husk, moss, or straw.  These even should be frequently aired, but only upon bright sunny days, and occasionally changed altogether for new material.  In place of heavy cotton counterpanes use woollen blankets at all seasons.

Consumptives, and invalids generally, should never sleep under the former, as they are unhealthful.  All bed-clothing should be carefully dried before a fire ere it is used.  Many a one can date their final cold and fatal cough from this neglect of otherwise thoughtful housewives.  Never put your friend in the northwest bedroom if it has not been duly aired in summer, or warmed in winter.  If this is not done, it is almost manslaughter.  That corner in our houses should be used for parlors, store-rooms, or anything, rather than for sleeping people in.  We have had some experience in this matter and know how utterly defenseless people are when assigned one of these rooms where death dwells.  An open attack with a bludgeon is preferable.  Cold, fresh air is beneficial, but a cold, fresh bed isn’t.

No one thing, perhaps, serves more to drive away sleep than cold feet.  People ought not to go to bed with cold feet.  Dry them by the fire, or rub them till warmth comes.  To avoid cold feet wash them frequently in cold salt water, rub them thoroughly, and wear loose, thick boots or shoes.  Brisk walking, or chafing them on a rough mat will tend to restore warmth.  Stockings should be changed often, and when possible, in winter, placed by the fire to dry.  There should always be some extra covering upon the bed over the lower extremities in cold weather; it gives, in various ways, additional comfort to the sleeper, and there is less need of covering for the body.  An extra blanket over the footboard, in our changeful climate, is a wise measure.  All have at some time been awakened in the night by the increasing cold, which would prevent further sleeping if there were no remedy of this sort at hand.  No more covering should be used, however, than seems judicious.  Pernicious habits may be formed in this respect, which should be corrected, though we are aware some natures are more delicate and sensitive to cold than others.

Many there are, who sleep with their heads covered; this is highly destructive to health, and cases of scrofula may be directly traced to this custom.  The poisonous exhalations from the body, together with the constant exhaustion of the oxygen from breathing, renders this confined air foul to the last degree.  “The custom of covering the faces of children with the bed-clothes,” says the celebrated Florence Nightingale, “produces a large share of the cases of scrofula found among them.”