Delaware State journal and statesman., 1867-11-05
BE THOU CLEAN.

For-every breath of air inhaled by the
lungs there is returned another, not only de-
prived OF, great portion of the vital princi-
pie, oxygen, but in addition thereto it is
heavily laden with carbon in the form ol
carbopic acid gas, and "a large amount oil
moisture, either of which alone would rem
der it unwholesome, but, together, render
the exhaled air a certain provocaiion oi
disease, or rapid and fatal poison, accord
ing to the amount re-inhaled.
Under ordinary circumstances these two
products of respiration are Invisible, Iut
their existence can be proved at any time by
the following simple experiments. 10 show
the moisture in the inhaled air, we have but
to breathe gently on cold glass or iron and
Instantly 1t is condensed in the form of dew,
which in short time will collect in large
drops and run down IN little streams. Every
breathing animal shows it in dry frosty
weather by the colored vapor which issues
from the mouth or nostrils at every breath.
In cold weather the windows OF every crowd
ed church or school-room give ample token
OF its existence within by its condensation
upon them, giving them the appearance OF
ground glass, and let it not be forgotten that
it is not only the layer OF atmosphere mex
the window which is thus imbued with the
moisture, but that it is equally prevalent
throughout the whole apartment, that
every head within is immersed in it, and
every pair of lungs is re.inhaliug it,
The quantity OF lodter thusinhaled with the
breath amounts to an average of pint and
quarter every twenty hours for each person
Every ruan's body is distillery, and every
pair of lungs au alembic from which the sur
plus of water Of the blood Is distilled int
the atmosphere, and when concentrated, al
in crowde and unvennlated rooms, is scarce
" less baneful than the products Of certain
artificial stills which men ''put into thei
mouths to steal away their bra;ns."
The formation of carbonic acid gas is ais
easy of demonstration. Take white glas
vial, about three-quarters full OF common
: lime water, perfectly clear, and with smal
tube "a pipes stem or straw pass the breat
slowly through the lime water for fey
minutes The fluid will gradually becom
opaque and of milky whiteness. If tn
vial is then set at rest, the liquid will 500
become perfectly clear again by the subsit
ence of a white powder to the bottom, SHOW
ing ii was the powder which gave the milk
hue to the liquid. This powder, by chem
!. cal examination may be proved to be ca
Donate of lime, which was formed by II
union of the pure lime of the water with Il
carbonic acid of the breath.
Besides these two inhalations from Il
lungs, the latter being especially poisouou
a considerable amount of both is also throw
rk of from the skin, adding to the deleteriou
70 ness of the surrounding atmosphere, al
. this result is also aggravated by the exud
Al ton of portion of animal matter which
Z found floating in the air, the decompositi
s' of which is the principal cause OF the pee
m. liarly offensive odor given by confined a
I'M oft.breatbed air. and lends additional streng
to its poisonous character. ThIs pecul
nd sickenlng odor is perceptible to any one c
ng' tering from the open air into crowd
room, or close chamber which has be
|. occupied few hours by one or more persol