Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1850-03-13
AGRIOULTURAL-SCIENT
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS..
raoM TIE SCIENTIFIC AMERIcAE.

Having been unfortunate enough, short time
ago. to experience the most disagreeable sensation,
in densely-crowded, iIl-venlilaed room, We think
that few practical remarks on the subject will not
be out Of place at this time, as we perceive that,
for all we and Others have said and written, it hss
been. to some people, like "waier split upon flisiy
rock"
II cannot now be denied, that the heat Of the hn-
man body is kept up by process of slow combus-
tion, like that of fire in our stoves the body is
supplied with carbon in the shape of food, and the
slow combustion oft producing heat consists in iD
combination with oxygen, supplied by respiration.
The heat of the human body, by the law Of tbs
great Creator, is the same 10 all counties, viz go
degrees and whether man be a dweller on The
snow-capped cliffs of the Andes, or basks under The
red brazen sky of the tropics, the heat Of his body,
if tested by thermometer, is the same 10 degree
The combustion of our carbon, then, being the
means of animal heat, every man requires supply
of oxygen for the lungs, in proportion to the carbon
(faD consumed in food. In warm countries less
carbon is required, because internal combustion need
not be SO rapid. This is the reason why vegetable
and lean food is most healthy in warm climates, and
why The people at the Northern and Southern poles
can devour, without hurt, taow and oil. In tbs
combustion Of our food, or act Of respiration, OFF
lungs absorb oxygen and give Out carbonc acid gaa,
and wafer. 1t is therefore positively necessary 70
inhale pure oxygen, and drive away the carbouia
acid as fast as possible, out of the room in which
people are assembled for any purpose-eilher in
public or private dwellings, Each grown up per-
son takes about twenty respiratioGs in one minute,
or $500 in twenty-four hours. Sir Humphrey
Davy estimated the emission Of carbonic acid gas
from the lungs every minute TO be about 26i cubic
inches We can, therefore, very easily Judge how
tbo rdod hoTo yi-
taied and this accounts for the aintings and sick
headaches, so common to many people in such ca
ses. When the same air is breathed over and over
again, about ten times, respiration becomes oppres
sve, and iDsensibty takes place. Such air, when
submitted TO chemical tests, is found to contain ~
parts of nitrogen, 10 Of carbonic acid, of oxygeo,
and of a peculiar oxide of carbon. How necessa-
ry, them to health. is good and plentiful supply
Of fresh air for ventilation. In crowded meetings.
where the apartment is lily ventilated, no person
can find enjoyment, for the lungs soon become OPP
pressed, and the unoxygenized blood knocks with
terrific blows upon the brain, as warning Of dan
ger. Carbonic acid gas produces suiocailon, hencs
the oppression On the chest, and pressure on The
occasion of death, by producing deletesous effects
upon the blood. Surely, then il is essentially me-
cessary that every house and hall, where there are
living beings, should bewell supplied with fresh air.
Yet 10 this nineteenth century, in this enlightened
land, and in the grea. city of New York-the more
than London of the New World-lhe laws Of ven
tation seem 10 be less understood by many than By
the wild Indian that roams with bow and spear oa
our Western wilds.
It is well known that one individual, consti'r
tonay as well as by the nature Of his occupation,
requires more atmospheric air than nanother. Thoss
who labor hard require more than those engaged in
sedentary occupations. Those employers who neg.
ect good ventilaiion are ignorant Of that philosophy
which leads 10 the greatest amount Of product. Du.
ring our winter seasons, it would greatly promote
the health OF our women folks, if they depended more
for heat on warm clothes and exercise than closs
apartments and red hot stoves. We commend this
subject to their attention, with the positive assn.
rance (f they obey its teachings) Of perfect pre-.
veniive for many headaches and other maladies-@
mind as well as body.