Northern Ohio journal. [volume] (Painesville, Ohio) 1872-1896, 1873-08-16
PLANTS In 4sLEEPuxs ROOMS.
BY r. C. KEDZIE.

A great deal of nonsense originated
with people, who think, but do not OBJ
serve. They take hold of what is really
true, and insagiDn q great deal more,
by nle;lns of which they build up a toll
cradle 's bugaboo," at which people who
to the learning of the builders get very
muclf frightened. Thus it is known
that plants give off carbonic acid gas at
night, and straightway arises a commo-
Lion as to the danger of having then in
sleeping rooms at that time.
The quantity which tlsey give out is
SO small that it does not compare in a
slight degree with what human beings
give out. We venture to say that a
sleeping infant Woull inhale more car
bonic aeid in one night than a hundred
pot plants, yet whoever suggested that
tue health of a mother was seriously aff
fected by the baby resting i'll her arms
As TO the injury from vegetation, those
OF us who have had to sleep at various
times in woods, with but green branches
for u pillow, and the sweet wild green
grass instead of a feather bed, know well
after few days of such experience, That
it is the most health-giving of all lax
uries, Notwithstanding the lawful !"
amount of carbanie acid so much xege-
tation must give out every night. Sure
ly if this is so injurious it ought to af-
feet the lungs more especially than any
other part of the system, yet the ex7
perience of army life is abundant chat
many person, who, with lung disease,
supposed he might as well Idle for hls
country y in the woods and fields as ION
feather bed," }" and went into the war of
the rebellion. was, IL not wholly cured,
much ameliorated by thus sleeping ont
adlnidst the carbouic acid OF open-air
vegetation, ..-i.5y l..- Il
Still facts and figures please most peo-
pie. Gov. Holt addressed letter to
Prof. kedzie, of the Michigan Agrienl-
tural College, recently on the subject.
The professor replies at length. We
make the following extract: ..s..,r
. Not to leave this matter in the con-
dition of mere conjecture, have gath
cred and analyzed specimens of air from
| room where the i1flnence of growing
plants would be exhibited in a greatly
exaggerated form. Thus, instead Of
| taking the air from a room containing a
few plants, gather it from the College
| greenhouse, where more than 6,00O
| plants are growing. 1 gathered the air
| before sunrise on the mornings of April
10th and l7th the room had been closed
| for more than twelve hours. and if the
| plants exhaled carbonic acid to an in
| furious extent, the analysis of air from
such room would certainly disclose
| this fact. The two specimens of all
| gathered on the morning of April 10th
| from different parts of the room, gave
All, 400 parts of carbonic acid in 0,00(
of air, or an average of 4 .e3 in 10000
The two specimens of fa,ir gathered Apri
nth gave $50 and $50 of earboalic- aciG
in 10000. or an average on the whole o.
1 . a 50 1.lx<. 10 nj "a
air; while the outdoor air contains :
parts in 10000. 1t will thus be sect
that the. air in the green house was bet
ter than "pure country air." This de
ficiency of carbonic acid was doubles
due to the absorption OF carbonic acit
and consequent accumulation OF oxygei
during daylight. since the windows O
the greenhouse were closed day am.
night on account of the cool weather.
4 "Io ascertain whether the air of tn
greenhouse had more carbonic acid b.,
night than by day, gathered two speci
mems of air in different parts of tn
house, at 2 O'Clock p, M, April 18th
These gave LAO and ! SO parts of car
bonic acid in 10000, or an average o
l.39 parts, showing that the night al
the mir of day"
1
more than 5000 plants, while contain
ing more carbonic acid by night thai
by day, contains less carbonic acid thai
|, any sleening room OFT this continent, w
: may safely conelade that oneoor tw
, dozen plants in room will nos iHhal
: enough earbotiic acid In night to in
!, jure' the slecpefs.'' ~" ~"
: "It is so easy to be deceived by
! name! lately saw an article sitoMin
. the benfieial and curative influence q
flowers IN Il sick-foom. instances wei
related where persens were cured b
: the sight and smell OF flowers, an
without question their is4 fi,,ence is geo,
Yet flowers inhale this same carhuni
, acid boti, by day and by night! Til
. flowers, by their agreeahle odor an
delicate perfume, impart an air OF cheer
;, fulness to the sick-chanaher which wi
= u assist in the recovery from lingerin
!, disease, Notwithstanding the sIml
u amount of carbonie acid which they col
), stantly inhale."
"The presence or absence of carbon
y acid is not the only question In regar
e to the healthfulness of plants In II room
The state of moisture in the air of tt
!, !, room may become an important que
tion, especially in the case of persoi
. afflicted with rheumatic or pulmanal
: complaints. But will not take up Tia
subject