The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1883-05-19
Air that Is too Dry.


What is to be done when parched lips
md flushed faces, to say nothing of the
xet-bulb thermometer in the sitting
room, indicate that the indoor air is
TOO dry?
1t is a frequent fault of the air during
our winters to be too dry, and for most
people air that is too dry is more or less
injurious, though in different ways from
damp air; and while we can not always
make damp air dry, we can always do
the converse--we can dissolve water
at will in dry air.
Most of the stoves in use have some
little attachment that is supposed to
answer this purpose--an iron urn on q
very slender stem, or small projection
on which to place a smaller kettle OF
water, wni~a. IN its utmost fury Of ebul-
lition may possibly reach blood heat.
The only trouble to be found with
these ornamental arrangements for the
evaporation of water is that they do
not actually evaporate water-not
enough. at least, to make any appreci-
able difference in the state of the air.
One can easily decide this by noting the
time required for the evaporation OF the
small quantity OF water that the urn
may hold, first removing, however, the
ends of matches, to the reception Of
which that container is often devoted.
You will find that quart of water will
last a week or more in that situation;
but for a room of ordinary size a quart
of water is none too much to evaporate
in single day If it be cold and dry.
These aesthetic urns are of little use, be-
cause they seldom receive heat enough
to make the water boil; and boil the
water must if moisture is promptly re-
quired to make overdry air comfortable.
In rooms where thereis an open CRATE
fire the best plan is to have an evapora-
tor made on purpose of tin or copper;
the latter is, of course, the best, because
it will last the longest. 1t should be
covered, should hold two or three
quarts, according to the size of the
apartment, and should have hollow
handle, through which the vapor may
escape directly into the room. Place
it on wire hob at the edge of the fire,
and the air will soon feel more COM
Portable.
In the case of stove 1t is best to re-
move the terminal urn Of which we have
spoken; or if that object of art is firmly
secured by pivot, then turn it aside,
and set in its place pan which will
cover the top Of the stove at least as
tightly as the urn covered it. A pail
hung by the side of the stove, II the
water in it can be made to eyaporate
fast enough. will serve the same pur-
pose, but it must be put out of the reach
of accidental overturning. Watch the
hygrometer, or the moisture on the win
| dow-panes, and check the evaporation
or stop it the moment that comfort
able state of the air is produced
| The same method may be used with
| furnace; a larger amount of water should,
of course, be provided il several rooms
are heated by it. The practical points
are, first, to be sure that sufficient
quantity of water is actually and visibly
evaporated, and second, to evaporate
no more of it and no more frequently
than is needed.
Who are the more benefited in gen.
eral by moister air, and who by a
drier?
Warm air may easily be made too
moist, its capacity to dissolve water
being very great. This should be guard
ed against, for air that is over-moist re-
lakes the system, and makes the vital
actions sluggish. But for nervous and
delicate persons, and especially for those
who need to gain flesh, an amount of
moisture within the limits that l have
indicated is very beneficial; it soothes
the nerves, and promotes assimilation
of the food, and it tends to brighten pale
and pasty compilations. The flower Of
beauty needs moist air, like any other
blossom. A drier air, on the other hand,
is better for persons Of sedentary habits,
and for those who already have flesh
enough and to spare. 1t makes the
blood tend toward the skin, and favors
perspiration, while the appetite and the
rapidly of assimilation are slightly
! checked. A desirable indoor tempera-
ture for sedentary persons in about &c
F.; the delicate will require it little
warmer, but heat of over 700 is gen.
| orally too much for the winter.
Two other services of moisture in the
air may be mentioned. The first thing
to do when symptoms of Group appear
in the nursery is to provide moist at
mosphere at about TOO +. The evap-
orator that have described is most SER
viceable in the case of such an exigency.
And if there chance to be any escape OF
carbonic oxide into the air from the
stove, the moisture present will 90 fal
to neutralize the effects of that active
poison-Tttus Manson CoGn, in Har.
per's Weekly.
A