Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1857-02-28
THE VALUE OF FRESH AIR.

The human lungs possess upwards of one
hundred and sixty-six square yards of respira-
tory surface, every single point of which vast
surface is in constant and immediate contact
with the atmosphere inspired, Let us, then,
consider the quantity of air which is daily pre-
seuted TO this surface 1t will, of course, vary
according TO age, constitution, and mode Of liv-
ing. The quantity of air received at an ordi-
nary inspiration, without any effort at all, is,
according to DR.. Smith, about one pint. Con-
siderng eighteen respiration to take place in
one minute, about eighteen pinls of pure air
are necessary for sustaining heahhful life dur
ing that short period. One little minute Of
healhlul life cannot be enjoyed wilhou, about
eighteen pinls Of pure air being diluscd over
that wonderful extent of delicate capillary net
work connected with the lungs. The quantity
requisite for an hour Of health will thus be one
thousand and eighty pnts And, to continue
the calculation, during uiie days hedlthful eX-
islence, twenty-five thousand nine hundred aud
twenty pinis, or no less than sixty hoeshcads of
pure atmosphere must enter the lungs; and
this is allowing but one pint for each inspira.
ton, and bot eighteen inspirations for each
minute, though it must be clear TO all that dur
ing active exercise it frequently happens that
in one minute of time more than ice eighteen
inspirations take place, and considerably more
than pint Of air enters the lungs at a single
inspiration.
Now, this immense volume Of air is on pur-
pose 10 give life to the liquid essence of our
iood-lilc TO the dead blood. Until acted up-
on by the atmosphere, the fluid which is trav-
erslng the lungs is, TO all inienis and purposes.
dead and, consequently, totally incapable of
repairing worn structures, of carrying on func-
'lons, or maintaining any vitality in the svs.
TEN; nay, it even contains in its elements
considerable quantity of pcrnicious poison,
brought to the lungs TO be given out in act of
breathing, lest il should kill the human fabric.
The poison alluded TO is carbonic acid To
breathe in an atmosphere Of carbonic acid is
death, as rapid as it is certain.
Allow me to remind you that in the human
body the blood circulaies once in two and half
contained ii the system ,raverses the nc pcspra.
tory surface. Every one, then, who brcathes
an impure atmosphere two and a half minutes
has every part of his blood acted on by the vi
tialine air. Every particle has become less vi
tai, less capable of repairing structures, or of
carrying on functions and the longer such air
is inspired the more impure it becomes, and
the more corrupt grows the blood Permit me
TO repeat that, after breathing two and half
minutes an atmosphere incapable of properly
oxygenatng the fluids which are traversnr the
lungs, every drop of blood in the human being
is more or less poisoned; and in two and a half
minutes more even the minuiest part of all mans
line wrought organs has been visited and acted
upon by this poisoned nuid-the tender, deli
cate eye; the wakeful ear the sensitive nerves;
the heart, the brain together with the skin,
the muscles, the bones throughout their s,ruc-
ture-in short, the entire being There is not
a point in the human frame but has been tray
ersed by vilated blood-not point bu, must
have suffered injury.