, as the red hot iron will spoil the air of the
room, by absorbing the oxygen, as you can easily see by noticing the
sparks, which form themselves outside the stove in very hot places.

53. TEMPERATURE OF THE SICK-ROOM.

The _temperature of the sick-room_ should not be much above 65 deg.
Fahrenheit; in no case should it rise above 70, whilst I do not see the
necessity of keeping it below 60, as some hydriatic physicians
advise.[31] The patient, in the heat of fever, will think 60 deg. high
enough, and rather pleasant; and if others do not like a temperature as
low as that, they may retire. The person necessary for nursing the
patient may dress warmly and sit near the fire. Let the sick-room be as
large as possible; or open the door and windows of a room connected with
it. Towards the close of the disease, after desquamation has begun, the
temperature of the room may be kept at 70 deg., as then the fever and heat
have subsided and the delicate skin of the patient requires a
comfortable temperature.

54. WATER-DRINKING.

As the patient should have a constant supply of pure air for his lungs,
so he should also have _plenty of pure cold water_ for his stomach, to
allay his thirst and assist in diminishing the heat of fever, and in
eliminating the morbid poison from his blood. Though cold, the water for
drinking should not be less than 48 or 50 deg. Fahrenheit. Whenever there is
ice used for cooling the water, the nurses should be very careful not to
let it become colder, than the temperature just indicated, except in
typhoid cases, when the stimulating effects of icy cold water and ice
may prove beneficial.

55. DIET

I have little to say with regard to _diet_, at least to physicians.
During great heat and high fever, the patient should eat little or
nothing; but he should drink a good deal. Substantial food must be
avoided entirely. When the fever abates, he can take more nourishment,
but it should be light. Meat and soup should only be given, when
desquamation has fairly begun. Stewed fruit (especially dried apples)
will be very agreeable to the patient. In great heat, a glass of
lemonade may be given occasionally; however, great care must be taken
not to spoil the patient's taste by sweets, or to allow him all sorts of
dainties, such as candies, preserves, &c., as it is the habit of weak
parents, who like to gratify their darlings' momentary desires at the
expense of their future welfare. In torpid cases, so