The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1857-11-25
vrutiiation..its Neccssiiy-'iiow Best II
tectcd,

The approach of cold weather, when 81
much OF the time is spent within doors, ~.
minds us that the disregard of vcnuiia.
ton causes moro colds, consumptions and
disease generally, than anybody but n phys
iciau wou'd suppose.
The process of breathing, it is we'll
known. vniatcs the atmosphere OF confined
apartments y tight room. eight feet high,
aud twelve by fourteen feet square, will
have It's air poisoned IN tso hours by three
persons sitting in il. In n single hour, II
company of twelve persons, in parlor sin
teen feet Ivy twenty, and nine feet high,
will rendcr the atmosphere unhealthy. il
the Goors are closed Yet in the face of
these scientific facts, there are thousands
of households III Philadelphia where, every
winter, ii is the practice OF the family 10 sit
in heated apartments without any provision
for ventilation.
Nature, even when doors and windows
are all closed, makes an effort 10 ventilite
rooms, by forcing fresh air through tho
cracks, But it will no, do 10 trus, 10 these
especially in sleeping chambers, where ven.
tila,iou is peculiarly necessary The open.
ing ct window, both at top and a, bottom,
is one of the best methods of ventilation
hut i'll order 10 avoid draughts, it is recessa-
~ 10 discriminate between times when the
temperature out of doors is colder than
within. and when il is the reverse for the
III the first case, the cold air enters at the
bottom Of a window and passes on, at the
top, while in the other il enters at the top
and passes out al the bottom. Ventilating
room, by leaving door ajar, is governed
by the same rules. Sudden colds which
cannot be accounted for, often occur by
sleeping in draughts, which Nigh, have
been avoided by little practical knowl-
edge. .....
Ii is indispensable, however, that the hui
man system should be accustomed to cur
rents OF air. To remain habnually in warm,
close looms, carefully protected from
draughtS. is almost certain 10 cause cold
on going ont into the air. If the person is
heated, the liability TO take cold is very
great on entering current But where the
whole body is exposed, there is less danger
than where only portion is. A late writer
has estimated that any current of air moving
with velocity of more than two feet pei
second, is perious, This, therefore, may
be considered a rule by which TO de guided
in veuniating apartments. Where it is i'm
possible TO introduce fresh air, without a
violent current, a screen or other apparatus
should be used, by which 10 distribute the
air more equally and avoid unhealthy
! draughts. Bedrooms which have no fire
place, should invariably have an opening
into the fiue; for many persons fear catch
ing cold if they leave their windows down
and such, if there is neither fire place nor
opening into the fue, kill themselves b.
slow poison. b.. -.--. .
No system of ventilaiing room has ever
been devised equal TO the old fashioned
open fire place, But the expense of this
method will prevent It's returning into gen
eral use. AS open Ere-places are the bes
ventilators, so stoves are the worst anc
unfortunately, of all processes OF heating
the stove is the cheapest. Hot-air furnace:
combine, practically, economy and health
better than any other method but few fur
: naces are constructed rightly, and fewer still
are managed properly. The hot-air shoui'
be introduced pure, moist, and equally
and an opening or openings should be pro
vided for il 10 escape; and yet not one hot
D air furnace in ten is worked in this wa!
l Where expense is no consideration, com
binafion of an air-heating apparatus wit
open fire-places, gives the nearest sspProae
o which is possible, 10 perfect ventiiat ION =
j. There are hundreds of families IN Philad
n elphia able to afford this combination, wh
: nevertheless disregard it, and many CT ther
u in conseouence. paw the doctor more tha
+ thew would have 70 pay the coal dealer,
they adopt it.-LedgeT'