New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1853-05-03
Comsuuption and Architecture

believe tha. an irnranse amount Of disease has bean
produced and is still being pro uced in our country Oy@
very and fragrant nsgl Z Of the laws ot beAh 10
the construction OF dwellings need not a''emp'to
prove that human health depends largely upOa the ENJOY
ment Of fresh uncontam mated atmosphere II Is not su
cen that the atmosphere should be merely free from any
offensive substances which the chemist detect for the
atmospheric causes Of Cholera Yellow Fever, and eru
tive diseases have not yet been satisfactorily detected
and every knows that atmosphere may be charged
with most offensive and deleerious eHhaatons which he
can recognize by the sense Of smell when they alto
geiher inapprecsbe by chemical analysis.
In building houses desire TO place them rs remote
a. possible from filthy e1haations and all decaying sub
stances But too little attention is given to the fact that
the unwholesome exhalaons which affect the atmosphere
and become source Of endemic and epidemic diseases
concentrated the surface OF the EARTH and that
if wish escape their influence should occupy the
most elevated apartments possible Houses Of but single
story hight in which the inhabitants sleep buttwo three
four feet above the surface Of the surrounding country
must necessarily expose their occupants the terrestrial
exhasOns Of whatever character they may be Sleeping
apartments the ground floor are highly Objectionable
anywhere but especially in cities. Yet fthese bad
underground apartments far worse ami should never be
tolerated in human habitatons Those who driven by
poverty occupy such localities had fr better occupy the
poorest garnet they find above the vapor Of the street
If our population could be impressed with the importance
Of approprang the highest apartments in their houses TO
sleeping chambers it would have material effect in rs-
tardng the spread of epidemics.
Dr. Rush informs that during the prevalence Of the
yellow fever in Philadelphia those who occupied apart
nents in the third story were far less liable attacks than
those who resided lower Any who will pass frequent
" from ground floor apartment a street alley to
the third or fourth story will satisfy himself of the great
difference in the purity mpurty OF the atmosphere in
the higher and lower localities.
But while would insist upon the importance of lofty
location for residences and lofty place Of sleeping there
is matter of much importance to which would call
the attention of those who building houses Air 20 BE-
pure and healthy requires continual circulation When
ever confined upon any spot the surface Of the EARTH it
becomes saturated with the exhaaons Of the substances
with which is in contact and much of these usually
of vegetable or organic structure their gradual decompO
son and the decomposition Of their exhaatiOns produces
state Of the air which is injurious to health The surface
OF the earth is full Of organic materials and remnants Of
vegetation and even where we do not at once recognize
vegetable growth minute plants producing some species Of
mould are often present 1t IS therefore, certain that con-
fined air unless be confined by dry vitreous or minera
surfaces is impure air Not only is il noxous in conse
ouepce of the exhaaons and purections contains but
also in consequence of Is being deprived OF the benefcen
influence of the sun. That it is colder and somewhat de-
fctiye in positive electricity, not the only defects
There are peculiar qualities impaired by the solar light
which are neither calorc electricity, but which have
nowerl influence vegetation and upon sensitive human
constitutions Reicbenbachs experiments the at force
and nv own experiments in the relations ofthe human
tution light prove that the most refr mgbe rays
Of great Importance to animal and vegetable life OF this
influence confined air is deprived hence, whenever dwell
nrs are so constructed provide places whore the air
shall be confined in dark, cold, unclaany situations the
best made for the gradual production of
disease Even the effects Of shade alone where ventilation
IS not excluded are known to be injurious.
The effects Of small portion Of such air upon the human
constitution not prompt and alarming those Of
marsh masma and therefore seldom noticed referred
10 their proper sources The noxous air generated in Gel
lars Easements and under floor spaces reaches the nhab
ants of upper apartments in small quantities that instead
oproucing any marked and sudden process of disease it
operates rather steady upon their income OF health
so uniform in It's depressing effects not to be appreciated
Yet many an invalid who iances himself improved by
change Of air in go to another residence is really re-
Heved by escaping the mouldy atmosphere which comes
from beneath his groundhO0r.
Perhaps the majority of American houses constructed
in this respect in defiance of the laws Of health Either
cellar is dug, the house is built one or three feet
above the surface ofthe earth The cellar even if Il be
walled and paved is damp dark, moudy place, which has
scarcely any ventilation and sunshine. Even the best
cellars which walled and plned and kept free from de-
caync vegetables rotten timber and other moudy lumber
are often places which enter without perceyng
that he is in the midst of damp unwoes0me and Cypress
i've atmosphere the influence Of which depressing
mon the lungs and upon the general vitality from which
one energies into the sunlight and open air if escaping
from purgatory How often in passing along the streets of
a crowded city do receive from mOuldy cellars blast
of air inexpressbly offensive and how they who live
above such cellars daily inhang small portions Of such
atmosphere, escape its deleterious effects
That the human degencraes in damp subterraneln
apartmens no one viii doubt who observes the population
of large cities and they who live Immediately cellars
must suffer the same deleteOus effects Just in proportion
as they nhale the cellar sphere That such an atmo
phere IS calculated TO produce Scrofua and Consumption
was shown by the experiments of French physician NJ
Coster In several series OF parallel eXperim ns made up
on dogs rabbits and chickens fed upon exactly the
diet-one set exposed to the open air and sunshine the
other confined in dark, damp and cold paceshe found
that while the former set maintained perfect health, the
latter with exactly the same diet, uniformly became con
sumptive tubercles being developed in their lungs The
laws of the human constitution being the same we are au
thorzed to affirm that the impure atmosphere which be-
longs TO dark damp subteranean habat0ns, where
tlation negecedis directly productive Of consumption.
The common sense Of mankind has condemned cellars
place Of human residence, but in mgated form, the
evil still exists to immense extent Basement stories
depressed from five feet below the surface OF the
earth imperfecy lighted and ventilated and having walls
ALWAYS more or less damp, if not mouldy, still
monty occupied apartments and Offices notwithstanding
the strong testimony Of experience against their In
Louisville where Easements were formerly much in fash
;on they are now seldom constructed Ia Cincinnati also
basement stories have generally given away to cellars
NV own experience as well that Of my friends is very
decided against their The late Prof NJ, who
pied IN Office in a basement story about two feet below
tho surface # the earth with paved area around upon