Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1881-02-11
Ventilation in public Schools.

Er. Editor There is a malady known to
the medical profession rs ''Writer' S Cramp, l
am sure you have met with Il kindred aiment
known to the editorial fraternity as Cdeoethes
Scribendi. feel certain that have not con-
tractea this last evil either by contsgion or
idiopathially, for have endeavored for months
to sum up energy 10 commit to writing the
ideas herein expressed, but until now | have
failed to do So But, impressed with the int
portance of the subject, and reminded OF my de-
inquency by your remarks in a late issue upon
the subject of,he reopening ofour public schools
| have concluded to defer no longer.
Some time since WAS requested by our cour-
teOus school examiner 10 draught the proper
tons and specifications for school building.
| asked if he wished any mode Of ventilation
TO be included in the plan, and Al the same time
inquired if there was any arrangement for
ventilation in the school buildings of the coun-
ty? He replied there was not; st the same
time adding if could include such plan ii
would be better. asked him if in visiting the
schools he had not seen the necessity OF ventla-
ton. He replied that in visi ing some of the
schools he had observed the 'close smell of the
air in the rooms, in other words, mephitio.-I
Upon farther inquiry learned that the teach
ers were in the habit Of raising or lowering a
sash when they wished to let air in the room.
In drawing up the plan for the school includ-
ed an arrangement which was well aware was
far short Of what was requisite, but did carly
off the foul air of the room and admit pure air
without exposing the pupils to a draught. At
the Same time it did not enhance the cost OF
erection more than ten dollars. When the
plan was submitted to the honorable board Of
school commissioners it was effectually elim-
mated, as a matter of no importance suppose,
and probably regarded as refinement OF pro-
fessionsl ideas.
Now in what have to say I intend no re-
Election upoa our honorable board, but they
should remember thrt there are some things
they are not expected TO know, and this is pro-
badly one Of them. Possibly if they could see
the analysis of the atmosphere of one of our
school rooms wherein there are dozen or more
children confined for six or eight hours a day
heated by large stove; their bodies in active
Development the atmosphere consequently
loaded with dead epithelium respiration more
frequent dependent upon their youth, carboniC
gas therefore more abundant, vet mud brought
in on their fest 10 be dried adding its quota,
then am sure they would appreciate the neces-
sitv of ventilation. Who can say how many
children, who were the idol Of their parents,
are now sleeping in their untimely graves con-
sequent upon being exposed TO such a ventiat-
ed atmosphere in early life Surely il does not
require q medical mind 10 determine the hsne-
fnl results TO q child who inheri,s week lusgs
who is exposed to such surrou ndings in Infancy.
But TO show thot | am not Quixotical IN my
ideas upon this subject mark this extract from
the last report Of the State board Of health OF
Maryland.
Notwithstanding the fac, that great ad
vance has been made within a few years past.
both in public opinion and sction respecting
the sanitary condition of school houses, the
disastrou. consequences Of neglect in this par
ticulsr are not:yet sufficiently and general,
appreciated. No subject connected with the
interests of the community affords greater
source of mor,ihcatien and humiliation than
the condition of some OF our pubic school houses
A sanitary survey of all public school buIldin Is
in the State should be made from time TO time.
and authority given TO require the necessary
alterations in order TO sdsp; them 10 proper san
itary principles
Here foIow,s resolution Of the second branch
Of the city couacil OF Baltimore requesting the
Sec Of the State board o. health 10 examine
and report upon the condition Of Public school
No OF the city. Observe his report and CON-
ments: Il have visited snd carefully examined
the said school and instituted = variety Of ex-
perimsnts for the purpose OF determining Its
sanitary condition. A very Cu-sory sIsmiua-
ton Of the school served TO satisfy me Of - IA
men table condition in regard 20 ventilation -
At n. time Of my visit the air sas,o bad that
il conld be perceived before reaching The school
rooms and the children they passed up add
down the stairs had their clothing and barr per
ceptibly impregnsted with the tsud poison -
4 nd th.se circumstances existed in sptit ef As
open riadovs" Thi. In our own State Of
Maryland and the great city OF Baltimore. II
We could but penetrate The veil Of the future
and follow each irdiyidusl child OF 'hss school
and psresirt the sad consequences OF tais factor
as the equation of their life is worked out, we
would be appalled, al the result. Fit IS true
as high authority has said ''foE every case OF
typhoid fever somebody osghi TO be hung
What hanging there should ec here The
school onse ~as abandoned
Raising or lowering a sssh 10 the only mode
Of ventilation adopted bv the teachers VI our
public schools, as learn frCm the eIsniser -
Here We have 40 ILLUSTRATE, OF What little Avail
n purifying the air OF rooms this primitive
mode is But we have not az Illustration Of
its bad results. A teacher perceiVes by his
sense Of smell that the air Of the room IS Close.
he raises or lowers q sash, = child seated nssr
is exposed TO q drAughi ofs.r, he returns home
TO his parents with high fever and severe cold
which may probably sEentuate IN Paeumoais
or possibly death. Alan, rate The child suf-
f,rs, loses time from school. the rareuD ma,
have an unnecessary medical bill 10 pay. WIS,
q mercy il 10 to them tina, ihsy DO aoi know 10
what source they are indebted for this care or
probable sorrow. You know the fable story
Of the mother who s,raugIed her Offspring and
probably have seen ,be painting Of Saturn do
ing likewise here the State 10 that cruel paren
asd tie painting 10 hucdwlih the life blood
o. our children. The temptation 10 amplit,
upon this subject 10 hard TO resist, but having
,respsssed already too far upon your countery
I will conclude aud shall .aClose q copy ofsons
rules of school hygiene taken from late mum
Der Of the Medical News aud Abstract. which
you may publish at your option. lfyou and
succeed in adding one year TO the lite OF
single individual ours will not be loves
labor lost