The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1886-03-20
HOW TO vENTILATE.
Solution of a Problem which Worries
Many Housewives. sss IS

Solution of a Problem which Worries
Many Housewives. - rs
This will be best understood by ref
srence to the great law of diffusion.
recognized everywhere in nature. 1t is
seen in the ease and readiness with
which solids combine with liquids, af-
fecting the whole mass, as salt in water,
always seeking an equalized state. On
this principle, when a pure current Of
air meets an impure one, the pure air,
by kind of intrusion, thrusts itself
upon the impure, reaching every part,
till the two become identical, partially
communicating the pure, but rendering
the impure far less n0xious.
Since the purity and health of the
body depends on the condition of the
blood, and since the blood is purified
by the air breathed, it is not only im-
portant to have a good supply of air to
breathe, but to have that of the purest
quality, free from the poisonous gas.
Now, three thousand cubic feet
Of pure air, that the gas pro-
duced by breathing may be so
reduced as to be perfectly harmless,
or that the greatest amount of ,purifca-
ton may result from breathing it, can
uot be obtained in our sleeping rooms
without the adoption of special means.
The doors and windows, or part Of
them, must be open, or the supply will
be constantly deficient. No consider
ate person will demand an opening of
these to an extent to produce discom-
tort, of course, only that q reasonable
! amount of air may be secured. without
which one can neither be comfortable
nor healthy. The most important con-
sideration is the escape of the bad air,
since the flowing ont of air necessitates
the flowing in of some to take its place,
rs it is difficult to sustain a vacuum.
A large amount will flow out if q
window is lowered little on the
leeward side, while the crevices will
admit similar quantity. / know Of
no safer way of allowing the foul air to
escape-if practicable-than to open
the door. leading to the attic, having
opposite windows open there, allowing
constant current of air to pass up and
out, which will necessitate corre-
spending flow down, more or less diff
fused through the whole accessible
parts of the house. Then, there can
be no drafts of cold air blowing
directly on the sleepers, while the sup
ply Of good air is increased by having
the doors of unoceupied rooms open,
| with windows slightly raised or low
cred, graduated according to the cir
| cumstances. While it is remembered
that this poisonous gas is heavier than
the air, it is plain that it first falls to
the floor, then down and out, if there is
sufficient egress. This being true, it
is plain that the sleepers in the
s.trundle-bed'' must have the worst air
of the room, while their tender age will
suggest the best for them. 1t is adj
| mitted, however, that, in consequence
of its diffusable nature, this same gas
gradually seeks every part of the room
and house, its most natural tendency
being downward. For this reason it is
necessary to open the cellar door, that
it may readily pass down, though, if
the door is not tight, this gas, like
| water, will flow down. When the cell
lar bottom is damp, portion of this
gas viii be absorbed by the earth, there
remaining, in cold weather, till the re-
turn of the warm weather. This is
also absorbed very readily by an open
vessel of lime In the absence of
these, it is very important to have the
cellar ventilated BY having swinging
windows, these to be often more or
less open, at least in tie milder days,
which will aid in the preservation Of
vegetables. keeping best if cool.-Dr.
Hanaford, in Golden Rule.