The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1868-05-27
CastIron Stoves a Cause of Disease.

When the attention of the Academy
of Sciences Of Paris was drawn, some
time since, by M. Garrett, one of the
physicians of the Hotel Dieu of Cham
berry, in several papers, to the possible
evil consequences of the use of cast-iron
stoves, but little interest was excited in
the matter. Recently, General NORM
has again brought the subject forward,
with better success. M. Garrett does not
hesitate to assert most positively that
cast iron stoves are sources of danger to
those who habitually employ them. Dur
ing an epidemic which recently prevailed
in Savoy, but upon which M. Garrett does
not furnish us with any detailed informa-
ton, he observed that all the inhabitants
who were affected with it made use of
cast-iron stoves which had lately been
imported into the country, whereas all
those who employed other modes of firing,
or other sorts of stoves, were left un-
touched of the disease. An epidemic of
typhoid fever, which broke out some time
after at the Lyceum of Chambery, was
regarded by the same author as being
Influenced by large cast-iron stove in
the children's dormitory. General NORM
speaks in the highest terms of M. Car
ret's memoirs, to which the recent exper-
iments of NM. Trorst and Deville give
additional Importance. These able in
vestigations have established that iron and
cast-iron when heated to a certain degree
become pervious to the passage of gas
They have been enabled to state the
,Aoot;ty af ovido of oarhor which may
as they .sapPsse, slraasude- from a. given
surface of metal, and have shown that
the air which surrounds stove of cast
iron is saturated with hydrogen and oxide
of carbon. They conclude that cast-iron
stoves when sufficiently heated absorb
oxygen, and give issue to carbonic acid.
General Norm related some comparative
experiments which had been performed
by M. Garrett, and which, he said, corrob-
crate this theory. Thus after having re-
manned during one full hour in room
heated to 400 centigrade) by means of a
sheet-iron stove, M. Garrett perspired
abundantly, got good appetite, but felt
no sickness whatever; he had obtained
the same result with an earthenware
stove; but the experiment when performed
during only one half hour with cast-iron
stove had brought an intense headache
and sickness. M. Deville, at the same
sitting of the Academy, supported these
views with considerable warmth. The
danger which attended the use of cast
iron stoves, he said, was enormous and
truly formidable. In his lecture-room
at the Sorbonne he had placed two cleo
trio bells, which were set in motion as
soon as hydrogen or oxide of carbon was
difused in the room. Well, during his
lecture the two cast-iron stoves had scarce
ly been lit when the bells began to ring.
These facts are certainly startling, if we
consider the reputation of comparative
harmlessness which these articles of do
nestle use had hitherto enjoyed. ., Of
course, we are inclined to question M.
Carrots conclusions; but the apparently
accurate character of the facts recorded,
Joined to the authority of those who have
brought them forward, demand for them
serious investigation.-We Lancet,
London.