The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-02-19

The Lime Burnen.-Asteundlng Facts for the
CurioDs-Ss,OOO Barrels Of Carbonic Acid

The Lime Burners.-Astsundlng Facts Tor the
Curions-SS,O 600 Barrels or Carbonic Acid
Gas Daily Thrown Out Into the Air.
The question Of preserving the public health BY
vigorous execution OF the laws 10 prevent the eyo-
cation Of noxlous vapors and poisonous gases that
produce diseases Is one that should interest OF
every citizen. Thousands OF people daily pass foul
smelling stables, slaughter houses and manufac-
tories, nhale for few moments the foul efiuvia
that IL thrown INTO the air, pass on to purer ar.
where they lose the odors, and think no more OF me
matter; few stop 10 enquire into the extent ul the
nul5alccs that are presented on every sue, OF
consider the injurious effects UPON the gener.l
health OF the city. In crowded city ike New YORK
the public health should be carefully guarded, not
only BY the Board OF Health, but every 'ctizen
should make II his duty TO aid that boiy IN securing
cleanliness and purity OF the atmosphere. bad as
are the results Of negligence IN the cleansing u tue
streets and yards OF the city, where unheuthy
vapors are created, the officials OF thu Board have
discovered nuisance OF much more alarming
character
1t Is the limekilns in the densey populated Sec
out into the air to undermine, with its subtle infiu-
ences the public health and bree disease.
Il Men d o. the e NJ s
ments the following very startling statistics were
eicitcd-
The specific gravity OF carbonc acid Is and half
The qusny produced BY setting fire to one tons Of oyster
snel Is - from COO TO go poun
The quantity volume, nud measure loo TO LILO bar.
res
The percentage Of carbon in pure country air s ten 70 M
teen parts In l0U,0N parts. IL
Tho greatest In crowded manufacturing cities
thirty TO fortynine parts In 100 100 parts
Incompatible he continued health Of ia twenty-five
Il poisonous and kills at 200 parts in 100000 parts
reduces a ~ a e Ing y o
when above 100 parts the dying rendered sure although
may be gradual.
limekin that burns nineteen tons OF shells daily WIN
out Into the surrounding grounds and hc atmosphere
Si,UuU barrels OF carbonic poison.
There are in the city four large limekilns. con-
suming over 10000 tons OF oyster shells per day.
Each ton gives or about 100 barrels OF carbonc
acid gas. This Will make the total OF $1,000 barrels
OF carbon poured out daiy anu spread over the city
to be inhaled by the people.
The exact percentage Of carbonic acid gas In
the curious, who wish to make Investigations on the
basis OF the figures given above The publication OF
complete statistics and the pernicous effects OF this
poison upon health would, indeed, alarm the unini
tiated, and DR.. Harris would serve good purpose
In preparing letter upon the subject.
But 1t is not alone the carbOnc acid Gas created
by these deadly klns that Is to be feared The gases
evolved from the animal matter that adheres to the
sEes phosphorus and suphurets) are very injurious.
Indeed, everybody knows that phosph0ric acid pro-
duced from decomposed matter, whether from oys-
ter shells or slaughter houses, Is deadly poison.
Yet in the face OF these alarming facts suhstantlated
by chemical science the manufacture OF lime is
sought to be permitted against the protest OF the
Board OF Health, that material may be furnished the
wealthy gas companies 10 manufacture q Light that
polsons the community anew With its foul smells
and deadly sedatives.