As we advance in Age—the force of the circulation being lessened, the warmth of our Clothes and our coverings at night should be gradually increased. “After the age of 35, it may be better to exceed, rather than be deficient in clothing.”—Adair’s Cautions, p. 390.

Cold often kills the infirm and the aged, and is the proximate cause of most Palsies;—it is extremely desirable that Bed and Sitting Rooms for Winter occupation, should have a Southern aspect—when the Thermometer is below 30, the proper place for people beyond 60, is their own Fire-side:—many of the disorders and Deaths of persons at this period of Life—originate from irregularity in Diet, Temperature, &c. by Dining out, and frisking about, joining in Christmas Gambols, &c. in Cold weather.

The Art of making a room comfortably warm, does not consist merely in making a very large Fire in it—but depends as much on the keeping of cold air out—this is best done by Double Windows, see page 91, and double Doors,—at least take care that your Sashes fit close,—that the beads of the window frames are tight—stop the aperture between the skirting boards and the floor with putty—and list the Doors.

We suppose it almost needless to say that every room in the house should be thoroughly ventilated47 by a current of fresh Air—at least once every day, when the weather is not very damp—or cold. By making a Fire accordingly—this may be done almost every Day in the Year.

If You leave the Door open for Five minutes—it will let in more cold air than your Fire can make warm in Fifteen—therefore, initiate your Domestics in these first principles of the Economy of Caloric,—and when the Weather is cold, caution them to keep Doors shut.

A regular Temperature may be preserved by a simple contrivance attached to a Thermometer, which will open an aperture to admit the external air—when the apartment is heated above the degree desired (i. e. about 60 for common constitutions,) and exclude it when it falls below it.

A Room, which is in constant occupation all day—may be occasionally pumped by moving the door backward and forward for several minutes.

We do not advise Invalids to indulge themselves in heating their rooms to a higher temperature48 than from 60 to 65.—Those who have resided the best part of their Life in warm climates—will like the latter best. While we recommend the Aged and Infirm to be kept comfortably warm—they must at the same time cautiously avoid excess of heat.

When the Thermometer tells them that the external air is under 60,—whether it be in July, or in January,—those who are susceptible of Cold, must tell their Servants to keep a small fire—especially if the Weather be at the same time damp. Those who, from caprice, or parsimony,—instead of obeying this comfortable and salutary precept, sit shivering and murmuring, and refuse to employ the Coal-merchant, as a substitute for the Sun—may soon spend in Physic, more than they have saved in Fuel.

By raising the temperature of my Room to about 65, taking a full dose of Epsom Salts, and a Broth Diet, and retiring to rest an hour sooner than usual, I have often very speedily got rid of Colds, &c.

The following Plan of Lighting and managing a Fire, has been attended with great comfort and convenience to myself, (particularly at the beginning and the end of winter, when a very small fire is sufficient), and I think considerable saving of coals.

Fill your Grate with fresh coals quite up to the upper bar but one, then lay in your faggot of wood in the usual manner, rather collected in a mass, than scattered, that a body of concentrated heat may be produced as soon as possible; over the faggot place the cinders of the preceding day—piled up as high as the grate will admit, and placed loosely in rather large fragments—in order that the draft may be free—a bit or two of fresh coal may be added to the cinders when once they are lighted, but no small coal must be thrown on at first, for the reason above stated:—when all is prepared, light the wood, when the cinders becoming in a short time thoroughly ignited—the gas rising from the coals below, which will now be effected by the heat, will take fire as it passes through them, leaving a very small portion of smoke to go up the Chimney.

The advantage of this mode of lighting a fire is, that small coal is better suited to the purpose than large—except a few pieces in front to keep the small from falling out of the Grate—it may be kept in reserve, to be put on afterwards if wanted. I have frequently known my fire lighted at 8 o’clock in the morning, continue burning till 11 at night, without any thing being done to it: when apparently quite out, on being stirred, you have in a few minutes a glowing fire: it will sometimes be necessary to loosen, or stir slightly the upper part of the fire if it begins to cake—but the lower part must not be touched, otherwise it will burn away too soon.