The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-03-15
SCIENCE AGiINST NdTURE.
congressman being Slowly Murdered b,
scIenIilic Ventilation.

COngr8ssmen being Slowly murdered Nv
Scientific Ventilation.
WASHINGTON, March li.-In the House
to-day Mr. Kasson OF Iowa said that IN view Of
the increasing Illness among members OF the
House, and OF the extraordinarily bad vsntila-
ton which every one felt IN the hal this morn
ing, he asked leave to offer resolution instruct
Ing the Committee on Public Buildings to ex-
anime into the causes Of the bad ventilation,
and to direct such Improvements therein as
may be found expedient to increase the purity
OF the atmosphere
MIR. Keller Of Pennsylvania said that his OBJ
ject in coming TO the House this morning was
to bring to the attention OF members what he
regarded as the numerous atmosphere Of the
hall 1t was n close box, eminently dangerous
TO human health and he. Certain currents Of
air, now hot and now cold, were forced In at the
back OF each member by an artificial process.
He bad always been taught that draught Of
cold air was an enemy TO health, aud was often
fatal. His experience in the nall within the
past week has brought him twice TO full real-
cation OF his mortality. On last Thursday he
had sat for n few minutes feeling, as the hot
blood gurgled In his throat, that AZ last he was
confronting the dread summons. lie had at
tributed IL to what he had already called the
murderous ventilation OF the hall. lie alluded
TO the dangerous illness Of his colleague. MIR.
Ketchunl, Mr. Wilson Of West Virginia, and
Others. lie understood that no less than thir-
teen members Of the House were detained from
II by Illness, which might be fairly ascrbed TO
Tue general pau htHOrDntTo OF lne nhll. III lhcl
they were being murdered by scientific ventila-
ton.
Mr. Harrison ~ Illinois, a member Of the
Committee on Public Buildings and Grounds,
balu mat a subcommittee was considering tine
subject, aided by certain scientific gentlemen,
VINO proposed 10 make a written statement OF
the delects and Of the remedy. he ventilation
was utterly defective, ana something must be
done TO remedy II. ana done Immediately.
Mr.. Banks Of Massachusetts said that the
great dlnlculty was That not one particle of
natural light or natural air was ever admitted
into the chamber. II was a contest Of science
against nature, and there never could DO "A good
atmosphere in the hall until such a radical
change was made A. would bring the chamber
Into communication with the air and Hight Of
heaven.
Mr.. Young Of Tennessee. member Of the sub.
committee Of the Committee on Public Build
ings and Grounds, said the subject had been
under consideration for several days, and thai
the surreon-General OF the army and seYera
other scientific gentlemen had been called Il
tho AID OF the committee, and that the TepOr
would be made In a day or two.
Mr. Kelley suggested, as n temporary expe
gallery--not the diplomatic gallery, nor the re
porters gallery, nor the ladies' Rallery-hut o.
tho main gallery (Which was at the time crowd
ed, principally with cOored people,. AS he un
derstood 1t, the poisoned air Dropped from
.hose TO the moor, and was inhaled by the ulem
bers.
Alter. some further discussion, MIR. Kasson'
sesoiutlon was agreed to.