Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1871-02-11
Ventilation Again,

! M Editor :-Wkile the Sooeet OF Hygiene
and Ventilation is elicitng attention, permit
me to add little to what has already been
said in your columns. II is subject of vital
importance, and cannot be too well under.
stood. ....
| The article Of mine which Appeared in your
paper some weeks ago, referred 10 some of the
evils of bad ventilation but for want of time,
tid not give the remedy. Indeed, no perfect
remedy las yet been discovered That article
however, did not even hint al some tf the ap-
proved remedies. Certain other practical ideas
might be presented. First let us inquire whnt
are The noXiOus gases, which require 10 be
removed from apartments? Many persons
entertain the idea that carbonic acid is the
! 9"s 5reHt poison to be driven out and that
'here arc no other worthy of notice This is
mistake 1t is, doubtless, one of the injurious
oqe"ts that are sent out Of the lungs, and one
that deserves attention. but not the only one
IT'S poisonous effects haze heen often attested
when it has accumulated in ord webs, and on
ll'e bottom Of caves &c We often read Ct
fatal cases, caused by immersion i'm this gas
which has settled doWn in unused wells The
individual who inlAaies ii, suddenly boses con-
scSsalsncss and falls down Ills blood becomes
filled with this material, and turns black and
becomes thick, like tar. 1t is astonishing how
quickly the blood becomes contaminated when
this gas alone is inhaled. or when respiration
is suspended.
One OF the physicians of this place, relates
case i'll p0int as follows lie was one day
taking blood from the arm of patient, TO re-
licve her OF conYulsions, and during the opc.
ration she suddenly bceame convulscd. and
respiration ceased for about IA minute: before
this, the blood flowed freely and OF its ordina.
ry color; but after the convulsion, il was al.
most as 6ktck as tn, for short time.
When person dies by slrangulation. the
blood is highly charged with this substance.
and its effects nrc seen in the dark and liyid
appearance of the face. All whs have ever
seen the corpse of one that was hung wsll full |
ly appreciate this livid appearance.
This gas Is about Onethird heavier than
counlan air, and of course settles to tue low
est places when left free. 1t can be kent i'm
open vessels, md poured from one to another.
a curious Illustration of its weight and its |
power to destroy combustion, is seen when
tumhler containing this gas, is empiied on q
burning candle ar lamp-it instantly extin.
guisles It. There is II cave near Naples. call.
ed the "Grotto del Caue," the floor of which
is covered with this gas. 1t is so shallow that
man can walk through ii and not receive in
Jury, but small child, or dog or other small
annual would he quickly dcsiroyed by it,
This gas possesses low, dittusiye properties.
lcinp caDable ne miyin,r with oo,,,,o, ,; -, |
the other gases if left free and unrestrained
yet in perfectly still apartment, whore there
Is no draft of air, either outward or inward, it
is found in larger quantities at the floor
1t differs very materially from the Carbouic
Oxide gas, although composed of the same
material in different propNr,ions. The latter
substance Is very poisonous, and has been the
means of causing death, l imagine, in many
instances, where IL was attributed TO Carbanic
Acid.
ln close rooms, for instance. where people
have been suffocated with the fumes of char.
coal, the really destructive agent has been
found to he Carhonic Oxide, instead OF Car.
bonic Acid This gas is capable 0f destroying
small birds in one minute, when It composes
only one hundredth part of the air they In
hale. IL Is this also, that gives the peculiar
unpleasant, properties to the air of apartments
in which Base burning owes are used,
1t Is foyMed when coal is burned with O. Glue
flame, IN consequence Of a lack Of oxygen. The
person who inhales the gases FROM tre-pot
that is burning blue, does itat the risk of his
life; and such frc-pot In any occupied roem
is always unhealthy.