The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-03-26
SCHOOL VENTILATION.

A PHYSICIANS COMPLAINT AGAINST THE FAULTY
AND UNSAFE METHOD OF WARMING A PUBLIC
SCHOOL.
Doctor Moreau Morris. well known to many of
our citizens from his long ana prominent connec-
ton with the CITY Health Bureau, in the following
communication to an officer in the Department Of
Education, makes grave assertions respecting the
total disregard OF the health OF pupils and teachers
IN the arrangements for airing ana warming one
OF the public schools. II all our city school build
ings justly open to such criticism there be
doubt aDout the duty OF the School Board to
take immediate steps to correct the evil The
letter Is as IOl0ws:-
NEW YORK March %, 1878.
D. BAKER, ESQ., Commissioner Department Of Public In
DEAR s1R-Permit call your attention to the ne.
cessty OF adopting some other means than ct present IN
situated in Fty-h rst street between Lexington and
ars has been cause Of frequent visits and obserya
tons, which have impressed my mind with the evils
they are and they should might be- that
iorced the conviction that have pubic duty
behalf my fellow citizens the welfare OF heir chill
dren to perform Hence nave taken the liberty OF ad
warming ard Ventilation '' '''' u WV
and Wool throughout ana rom the necessities
the i9as OF the class rooms
OF bon pupils and teachers The school building is ad
we oatcd ee
or ondhss an almost uni
SIDES During the warm months OF the year, when ires
advantage, aud my knowledge of it and It's admirable in
ierna gives me the assurance to say
occurs probably less sckness-ss direct etect-among
public schools less avoraby situated in oher parts OF
On the other hand this very condition of exposure
upon a sides initiates unav orably for the hea th
the colder months when Il es are needed In almost ali
OF the class rooms on Inspection Is found that some
stoves overheated while otuers remote OF
such low temperature caused by the necessity of
lug the windows ventilation TO direct
Of disease among the children resulting in catarrhal
Reprehensible as is the practice of opening windows
a heated condition. yet from the entire absence of any
SroPer mean Tor gsr 6 or genon or IN ohrr
crowded room and supplying an abundance OF pure
present other provided feasible by which
prevent absolute sunocauon in very many OF tue eisss
ont Of doors OF from eighteen TO twenty above
twenty feet square, with perhaps ten ieet from
n tbeir teaeher IN which Vas small wood stSve red
hot with children sing W thin two eet OF IT, on two
under NE windows slightly open at the Top were shiyer-
heads and vet this was unavoidable under the cir
OF air space is absolutely necessary TOR any of
hcre Sq are ey cubic ar to se' d
without ded 4cung that occupied by the bodies OF the
children, desks stoves and other appurenanoes always
IN the roou when you take this TACT into considera-
means mon u. now provided for heating thr9usbo9t III ba
cannot but be indeliby IMPRESSED upon
means this purpose shond be substituted,
In the suggestion OF heating by approved steam
provision Tor forced ventilation alb
sOlutey necessary tor proper hygienc condition should
be lost sight of, as 1t can De 20 easily applied
There has Deen much hue ana cry concerning the
great attending our system OF public school
strucion conducted tins city, but have
30 learn OF one taxpayer VINO has ever grrm1led Oh
ected 10 the Appropriation Of his mOdicum tor this
pose. A. we love our children, and hope to see
them to mems estate intelligent and
healthy. do begrudge the proper expe nditure
money in the Of their education. and have
hesitation In affirming mat the he9lt question Is
ovcrrdes all otherSwlth reference 60 pecunary
outlay. imperative necessity such this not
admit a moment of any argument against such
pendlturc
Your Board through its most intelligent committee
cOud not perform duty more acceptable to the cit
OF New YORK than By insttuting and periectlDg
such measures shall establish good sanitary cOnd
tions with the unrivallcd cNceilencies
our public scDoo system.
Feeling assured that chairman OF this most
committee will tail to urge the needed require
ments in this instance at an eariy day ! remain,
sDectiuly, your ubedlent servant