The Wilmingtonian. (Wilmington, Del.) 1882-188?, 1884-09-06

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The first and great popular tdttacy IN regard Y
10 oentttdttoa is that 1t needs no spec6t dttea-
tion,-This is more serious error among the C
well-to-do than among the poorer classes, 5
lnasmuch as the houses of the former are !
more nearly air tight. With solid brick
walls, double sashed windows, weather-strlp
ped doors, and base burning coal stove, tue
exclusion of pure air is carried to the utmost
extent. This condition is happily some
what relieved by the use OF open coal CRATES
But how many fine houses does the physi-
clan enter without noticing the close, foul
odor and the sitting air which come from
overwhelming and poor Ventilation In such
rooms he finds nervous, headachy women,
and pale, irritable children suffering from
colds the winter through. Such families
need judicious instruction that respired air
contains one of the most yirulent polsons
known, and that the dry and overheated air
is facilitating and irritating, leaving the
mucous membranes sensitive TO be infiamed
by every breath of the natural at mosphere.
| THE second popular fatlacy is that The poison
| Of respSred air Is cdrbonic dcid.-Ihis is an
example OF superstition, or the survival IN
science OF an idea long after it has been
proved to be false. 1t is perpetuated in
school textbooks and popular treatises |
innumerable. Indeed, correctness of state
ment upon the subject is the rare exception,
gross error the rule. Carbonic acid gas is no
more poisonous than water, and for the same
reason, viz, want of oxygen. Birds have
been made to live in an atmosphere contain
ing $40 per cent, of pure carbonic acid
and about an equal per cent. of oxygen.
Yet when the carbonie acid of respired air
rises to one per cent. that air is n very dan
perous poison.
The solution of this puzzle is that respired
, air contains a very small proportion OF poi
, sonous organic matter. which is constantly
exhaled from even the bealtbiest lungs. Its
= exact nature has not been determined. It
+ is the source of the foul odor so character
f istic of badly ventilated rooms. The air
f from the exit pipes of a crowded hall
0 darkens sulpburic acid. decolorizes potas
: stun permangapate, and causes water or n
t sponge saturated with it to purify. The
t poisonous matter is produced in quantities
n proportionate to the amount of carbonic
acid. hence the quantity of the latter is an
g indicator of the relative quantity of the
mower. and earbonic acid should never be
allowed to accumulate in oeeupied rooms
c to the extent of seven-tentbs of one per cent
IS The third Donular fal,aev il that The most
IT ;,nn,re mir occ,,,o,,lat.s near the Aoor of The
l. room-Tbis false idea has probably arisen
y from the fact that earbopic acid is more
't than half as heavy again as air. and can be
IN poured from one dish 10 another like water.
t. Although this is true when both gases are
* at the same temperature, very little differ
I'd ence of temperature is sufficient to reverse
III these conditions. Respired air issues from
ot the nostrils at temperature of nearly 1000
is F., and is lighter than the outer air at roe
j. or at 800. Again, the temperature of the
ty body is nearly 1909, usually much above
IS that of the surrounding air. This is suffi.
~ Gent to create an upward current rising
ic from the body of every person in the room
n lust as the heated air rises above hot stove
st If to these influences be added the more
he powerful action of a stove, register, or othel
heating apparatus, it will be understood
up how the impure air rises and accumulatel
very rapidly near the ceiling. This can b,
=. easily proved by experiment, such as plac
- ing candles at various heights.-The uppe
.n one will burn much, more dimly than tn
lower. At the same time the cooler air OF
the floor moves toward the stove to enter i
I'M OF 10 JON the curreh' rislng rom IT,
IN The fourth popular fallacy is that Tie quite