Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1868-07-10
Stoves a Cause Of Disease.


When the attention of the Academy
of Sciences, of Paris, was drawn, some
time since, by M. Carrot, one of the
physicians of the Hotel Dieu of Cham
berry, In several papers, to the possible
evil consequences of the use of cEst-iron
stoves, but little interest was excited in
the matter. Recently, Gen. NORM has
apain brought the subject forward with
better success. M. Carret does not hea-
itate to assert most positively, that
cast-iron stoves are sources of danger to
those who habitually employ them.
During an epidemic which recently
prevailed in Savoy, but upon which M.
Carrot does not furnish us with any de-
tailed information, he observed that all
the inhabitants who were affected with
it made use of east-iron stoves, which
had lately been imported into the coun-
try; whereas all who employed other
modes of firing, or other sorts OF stoves,
were left untouched by the disease.
An epidemic of typhoid fever, which
broke out some time after at the Lyce-
um of ChambeFy, was regarded by the
same author as being influenced by q
large cast-iron stove in the children's g
dormitory.
Gen. NORM speaks In the highest
terms of M. Carrots Memoirs, to which
the recent experiments of M. M. frost
g. DevilIe give additional Importance.
These able Investigations have estab-
lished that iron and casb-iron, when
heated to a certain degree, become per-
vious to the passage of gas. They have
been enabled to state the quantity OF
oxide of carbon which may, as they
suppose, trausude from given surface
of metal, and have shown that the air
which surrounds a 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 ac-
id. 9
Gen. NORM related some compare
tive experiments which had been per-
formed by M. Garrett, and which he
said, corroborated this theory. Thus,
after having remained one full hour in
a room heated to 40 degrees (centigrade)
by means of a sheet-irOn stove M. Car
ret perspired abuDdantIy, got good
appetite, but felt no sickness whatever.
lie had obtained the same result with
an earthern stove, but the experiment,
when performed during only one half
hour with a cast-iron stove, had
brought on intense headache and sick
ness.
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, be said, was enormous and tru-
4 ly formidable. In his lecture-room al
| the Sorhonne, he had placed two cleo
trio bells which were set in motion as
soon as hydrogen or oxide of carbon
was diffused in the room. Well, dur
ing his last lecture, the two cast-iron
/ stoves had scarcely been lit when the
bells began to ring. These facts are
certainly startling, If we consider the
reputation of comparative harmless
ness which these articles of domestic
use has hitherto enjoyed.
In France, particularly, the lodgings
of the poorer classes, the barrack-roomH
of the soldiery, the artists studios, the
class-rooms of large schools, &C., are
commonly heated by this means. OF
course, we are inclined to question M,
/ Carrots conclusions but the apparent
| Iy accurate character OF the facts recor-
| ded, Joined to the authority Of those
who brought them forward, demands
| for them a serious investigation.
We are glad to be able TO add that a
committee has been appointed by the
Academy, for the purpose of examining
thoroughly into the subject. This conn
mittee is composed of ri. M. Claude
Bernard, NORM, Freimy, Deville and
Busy and we shall not fail, when the
time comes, TO mention what shall have
been the result of their researches
London Lancet.