The New York herald., 1879-03-06
STIFLING THE YOUNG.
Absence of Ventilation in the
Public Schools.
TABULATED FACTS.
A Deadly Alternative-Pois
Air or Cold Draughts.

DR.. II. Endermans report to the Board of Health
on the subject of the ventilation of the public
schools contains statements or statistics which
more startling than those which were given by
him about seven years ago. nor, on the other hand.
is the evil which no complained of then any the less
glaring 1t may be inferred, therefore, how lit
tie susceptible to enlightenment the legislators Of
this great city.
reporter OF the HERALD called yesterday upon
Dr. Enderman at his laboratory No. 1928 Worth street.
and espied him in very wilderness Of chemical
scenery. after emerging from which no politely well
coined the reporter.
'What opinion have you formed. Doctor" said the
latter. from your recent inspection of the public
school buildings, of their present condition with
gard to ventilation"
.'The air in the school rooms seemed to me about
tho half dozen years ago. when visited
them"
NO IMPROVEMENT.
"Could you observe any Improvement whatever in
the ventilation?"
..None whatever. There is in fact. no actual ven-
tilation except that which is obtained through the
windows"
els there no local exception to this state of
thngs?"
''Well, In the West Fifty-eghth street school
house there ventilators. but they have been
placed in such positions that when they are open
the cold air blows right into the rooms against the
seats occupied by children. Consequently they are
very rarely used. Instead of that the upper win
dow sashes kept lowered"
'This is also the custom in the other school build
ings. is it not?"
Eyes. Since 1873 the teachers, I think, have
paid attention to the regulation of the atmos-
phcre in the class than they did before that
time. Tho result of having the windows open varies
depends good deal upon the direction from which
the wind is blowing and the proximity Of adjoining
buildings. In two rooms in which there were about
the same number.of children, the same quantity of
difference of twcnty-eght cubic feet Of air to each
child. In the one in which the most air given
gas. The wind struck the window in such manner
that it prevented the gas from escaping"
METHOD OF VENTILATION.
"This illustrates, then. the great Importance of
having the ventiators placed in the right positions
"They should be in the right position and mechan-
ical means might be employed to force the air to
enter. In some of the hospitals this is effected by
keeping the temperature within the ventilating
sa shafts higher than that that Of the air without:
and theatres they have fap blowers. At DR.. Halls
church. for instance. there is tower, into which
the air is sucked and through which it passes into
space beneath the auditorium, where 1t is
pressed. Along the aiscs there apertures the
and through which the fresh air pours into the body
Of the church. The Union Square and Booths
theatres, 1 think, have similar appliances.
(Which method would you recommend for adop-
ton in the public school buldings?"
Ventilation by mechanical means is decidedly the
surest method"
''wouid it's adoption involve much expense?"
Every school building would require stationary
engine"
DREADFUL ATMOSPHERE.
'On entering each of the class rooms and before
making any scientific observations. how did the air
seem to your
Every close. indeed; and especially so on damp
days. when the exhalations from the clothing rather
than from the lungs of the pupils filled the air with
oppressive and offensive fumes. Where the chill
dren belonged to the poor classes this partcu-,
larly the The girls clothing being principally
composed Of lighter fabrics, not so bad in this
respect that Of the boys. which is generally of
wool and is worn by them almost until 1t falls to
pieces"
After you made your former report on THIS SUBJ
ject any action taken to remedy the evils which
were therein pointed out p
81 understood that the Board of Education en-
ployed an engineer of ventilation, but whether he is
still connected with that department don't know.
In OF the rooms in the East Seventeenth street
school building caps have been placed over the
windows 20 prevent the sunlight from falling upon
the desks OF the teachers who have to sit facing
them. These caps prevent the carbonic acid gas
from passing out IN such quantity it otherwise
would. By very simple change the fault might be
obviated and yet without breaking the shade"
DIR. Enderman. in conclusion, drew attention to
the following table. which is appended to his Official
report