BEAUTY SLEEP.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17230, 22 December 1923, Page 7 (Supplement)

BEAUTY SLEEP.

THE REALLY SCIENTIFIC WAY OF . GETTING IT. 1 There are few things so little under- 3 stood as the real meaning of “Beauty 1 Sleep.” In the middle ages it was 1 tlie prevalent idea that Hleep before midnight was essential to good looks—where and how one slept did not matter. In these days we know bettor; sconce has taught us it is sleep under the right conditions that keeps the body healthy, the mind alert, and what is so dear to womankind—tho complexion clear. It is of the greatest importance that bedrooms are thoroughly ventilated. No matter if they are tireless, or well heated, the air must be constantly changed. Since the coal has been more expensive there havo been far less open windows in bedrooms, which is quite illogical, as the air is all tho time becoming impure from the breath of the sleeper, who is breathing out impurities be the room hot or cold. If the good air gets impure this will then be breathed in by the sleeper, and how can a good complexion bo expected when instead of oxygen and nitrogen an impure gas forms far too Itigo a portion of what is inhaled? A SIMPLE EXPERIMENT. If all who sleep in ill-ventilated rooms would but try the following experiment it would make them crave for pure air. Get- a small lump of lime ftly.-nt the size of three or four marbles, break it up, pour on to it half a pint of distilled water. Let it stand twenty-four hours, when the lime will have sunk to tho bottom; decant off tho clear solution into a tumbler. If the solution is not absolutely clear let the tumbler stand for twelve hours and decant again. Take a glass tube ; place the end under the solution {the lime water), and blow down the centre of the tube. In a few seconds the solution will become cloudy, and if the blowing is continued ic. will become like milk. This show's the presenco of carbonic acid gas (a deadly poison) in the breath : the milky solution is its action on the lime?-.water. Have the window open at night, hub sr- a? range the furniture that the sleejier is not in a draught. In a small room this is often difficult, but a screen between the window and bed will help Avoid shutters and draw- ■«-. heavy curtains. In foggy weather a r ef.ium curtain, of. material such as casement cloth, drawn across the window will help, to filter the air before entering the room The ideal ventilation is to open the window top and bottom. The wellknown plan of nailing a board to the j bottom part, so that there is a good ■ opening in the centre, is useful. When a bedroom is quite small, the j door as well as tho window should be | left open during the day, and if there ! is a handy window on the landing, all j the better, because then a good current : ol air can pass througn. THE BED. In these days of rush frequently the ' bed itself does not get sufficient airing. ' 'The bed must stand out so that there , is plenty of air all round: it should not, • as is so often the case, be placed one side against the wall. At least one i foot should be between the head of the bed and the wall. Nothing must be l kept underneath, and any form of cur- 1 ta:n around the bed must be avoided. Heavy bed clothes must be avoided 1 also, and while u bed may be as com- i fort-able as it is possible, too soft a 1 one must not be used, nor tho very i soft pillow- that the face gets buried j For sleep to be real “ beauty sleep. ’ ! must depends on the sleeper. On no account should the face lie covered up the clothing must never be above the nostrils. If this rule is not faithfully carried out both health and beauty will suffer, and yet it is a habit so many people have, to partly smother themselves when setting off to sleep.