Meigs County telegraph. [volume] (Pomeroy [Ohio]) 1848-1859, 1858-11-09
Dom nj nnltatr0. 10
lnn .2dIFor the MsIss County Telegraph.
n Chapter ON Ventilation.

| - NbAUIDuCG OM1 v huhAhAOunB I
Ma. EDIroR:- The season OF the year
is approaching, in which we are accus-
toned tosdbject ourselves TO every degree
and transition Of temperature. ,asi 79d-Vl
1t may therefore be well to bear in mind
few practical facts in regard to ventilla-
ton. We crowd our families into air-tight
sleeping rooms. and ourselves into lily
ventilated churches. Our children have
colds; We wonder at it, and say "'tliey have
not been much out Of doors.'' Our friends
cough-they were out to church last eve
ming. Let us investigate in regard to the
'.facts." In order to do this effectually,
we may premise a few simple Physiological
laws Of respiration. A healthy adult re-
spires about sixteen times per minute. in
haling At each inspiration about one quart
of atmospheric air. depriving it of it's
oxygen, and thereby rendering it irrespi-
rablc. Four gallons every minute. and
four hogsheads Of air every hour ie thus
destroyed by each individual. Now. by a
simple mathematical calculation, how long,
at twenty or twenty-five hogsheads' per
hour, will it require five or SIX persons to
exhaust the wholesome air Of small, un.
ventilated dormitory? Or, at the same
rate of consumption, suppose FIVE hundred
persons be crowded into an ordinary sized
church or lecture room, without yentilla-
ton, cheated as usual by q furnace or close
stoves) destroying 1000 hogsheads Of air
per hour, how much air, fit for healthy
respiration, will remain after the FIRST half
hour?
As to the consequences of such impru-
dence or ignorance, let Philosophy and
Physiology bear testimony. Atmospheric
air is composed of two elements, Oxygen
and Nitrogen, in definite proportions Of
about one-ffihI of the former, and four
fifths of the latter. Nitrogen, alone. will
not fora moment support either combus-
tior or animal life, not that its properties
are poisonous, but that 1t excludes Oxygen,
the great vitalizer. d ala .-je..om3U III,
In the act of respiration our lungs sepa-
rate these elements, setting the Nitrogen
free and appropriating the Oxygen, which
is constant essential for the purifcatien
of the blood. An imperfect supplytof
Oxygen, therefore ,impoverishes the blood,
this reacts upon the nerves, and the en-
tire system sympathiEes. The immediate
consequences are langor. inability to act or
think vigorously, headache. drowsiuess-
The Minister goes home desponding, that
his congregation. notwithstanding all his
efforts, absolutely sleep under his preach
ing. andrI go away descanting upon my
neighbours want of reverence for the sane
tuary,i because--the church is air+tight,
the stoves too hot and fortunately his
nerves more sensitive and delicately strung
than mine! b5; 9ih,ap sH .eri. f.sn7i I
Now, "reproving in Kindness" and
rendering honor to whom honor is due, -
/ affirm that the Sexton is responsible (if
indeed he has philosophy enough to be ac-
coun table,) for most Of the sins of sleep.
ing in churc h. -aii ns5s-l saw q hs1asn
The ultimate consequences Of inhaling
impure air, are constitutional arrangement,
and permanently i'll health. Hence the
perceptible difference in favor Of those who
are much in the open air. over those whose
occupations. OF preferences, confne them
to inn-door and sedentary habits =! ''.
In my next, Mr.. Editor, l propose Civ
ing come practical rules for ventillating;
also for constructing public buildings and
private residences, with view to thorough
ventilation. FRIEND OF PRoGRTss.
Hints for the ScnsOn