Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1868-11-24
For the Spectator.
Dangers from Burning Anthracite Coal.

We know that it is altogether too much to
ask us to give up burning hard coal since the
high price of wood, because it hurts us-as
we'll ask us to renounce Tobacco, or late sup
pels or our tcddies before dinner, when We
without them) eat too much.
There has long been a popular opinion that
the use Of anthracite coal affected injuriously
the health, and we believe it very probable
that the opinion is founded in facts The cause
Of this deleterious influence has never been
clearly understood.
Some have supposed that it arose from the
consumption of the Oxygen in the atmosphere,
by the heated iron, others, that the increased
dryness of the air was the Objectionable feature
We think that the presence of small amounts
Of that active blood poison carbonic oxide gas,
mingled no doubt with carbonic acid. gas, and
its poisonous qualities thus increased, is the
chief source and probably the only cause OF
the unpleasant sensations and the injurious in
huences so commonly associated with the com
bustion of anthracite COAL
We should therefore never allow our stoves
to attain an intense heat which will permit the
passage of gases through their substances. =
There should be as few joints as possible in
our stoves and church furnaces, and they should
be horizontal and never vertical.
Fresh air should be freely allowed by ingress,
combustion by hampers, valves, &C., and we
should so burn coal, that under all possible cir
cumstances pressure of air from without in
ward, may be fully and freely exerted upon the
stove, furnace and stove pipes. 1t is true these
precautions are observed In all first class stoves
and furnaces to a certain extent, but with a
very high temperature these precautions are
not sufficient unless free ingress of air is al
lowed from out doors, either by lowering at the
top window an inch or two, OR leaving door
slightly ajar. Whatever may be the cause, we
believe we have suggested the remedy. There
is no doubt that too high temperature has
much to do with the troubles arising from the
use Of anthracite COAL 1t matters not what
may be the cause, the effects upon the health
are real
| As practitioner of many years experience
we haye observed, that many persons are Sc
riously troubled with Vertigo, and derange
ment OF the nervous system in the winter sea
son, who are free from it in the summer, and
that some persons are affected in this way while
living or sojourning in our large cities in the
winter, when hard coal is burned, who are free
from it in the country where wood is used as
fuel ~
| The writer believes that it will be found that
the great increase IN the prevalence of neural
gla In our country or cities and towns, is al
most coincident with the burning of anthracite
coal as a fuel for warming dwelling houses We
have noticed that Ladies who are housed close
ly in winter, are more subject to neuralgia thar
men, or those of their sex who are out doors
to greater extent, or who use wood fires, be
cause they are more exposed to the gases from
the coal-it is also the experience of intei
gent medical men that neuralgia is more fire.
qucnt In those sections of rural districts, where
! hard coal is used. The topic is, at least, one
which merits the general attention and inves
tigation of scientific men,
The demand and use of anthracite coal vii
greatly increase from year to year, as oul
means Of transportation and access shall in
crease.
Let us then observe the precautions sug
gested by one'who has given the subject some
consideration, for it is now even an almost in
dspensable article Of great comfort and econ
omy. MEDICUS.
Staunton Va, Nov. 90 1868