The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1889-06-13
THEVALUEOF PURE AIR.
Some Results of Breathing I'M
pure Air.

The atm osphere We breathe
has in its natural stat a nearly
uniform composition of oxygen,
nitrogen, carbonic acid and wa
terry vapor. 1t is conceded that
in each inspiration four cubic
inches are taken into the lungs,
one half of which disappears in
the act of inspiration. This
consumption OF oxygen is great
er when the temperature is low
than when it is high, and dur
ing digestion it is greater than
when the stomach is empty.
Riding in the steam and horse
cars we are compelled to breathe
not only the air from peoples
lungs, but the exhalations from
their skins and clothing, Fan
cy riding in the steam cars for
a long distance in winter time,
with two large stoves heated
almost red hot with antricite
coal, in a space say of fifteen
feet wide and ten feet high.
This space will contain about
eighty people; and is closely
shut up. All know the stove
uses up oxygen with great ra-
didity, and what is left is
breathed over and oyer again by
the people, who are giving out
from their lungs constantly a
gas utterly unfit to be breathed.
Is it any wonder headache
and nausea steal over them :?
They must either sit in a draugh t
or endure the poison, as the ven
tilators are not enough to carry
off the foul air.
Visit some school houses af-
ter walk in the fresh air and
the odor is something disgust
ing. These unpleasant sensa-
tions come from want of greater
ventilation. Here again the air
is vitiated by breaths and cloth
ing; many of the pupils scarce
ly know the luxury Of a good
bath and plenty of clean under
clothing. Now, can the air be
anything but bad under such
circumstances? If the windows
are open long the teacher and
children take cold, and some
are afraid and think they cannot
stand the smallest bre 18th of
fresh air.
A school-room thirty feet
square and eight feet high con-
tains seven thousand two hun
dred cubic feet Of air. This
room will seat sixty pupils. AL
1owicg ten cubic feet of air to
each pupil per minute, all the
air in the room will be vltiated
in twelve minutes. Now, grant
ing that every means is used
regarding ventilation, and a
goodly supply of soap and water
to scrub the floors instead of
5 weeping. A recess Of five min
utes ought to be given every
hour, so that the children could
move about, have the windows
and doors wide open and let
them breathe in freely the pure
air of nature, to repair their
mental and physical condition.
Effects are proportioned to
causes. and if an atmosphere fill
ed with five per cent. Of carbon
ic acid will produce death in a
few minutes, what must be the
effect of breathing for ten. TWEEN
ty or forty years the much small
er proportion which must be
he present in every Inhabited
/ room when there is not con-
slant incoming and outgoing of
air? 1t does and must lowe,
the standard of health and
shorten our lives. Let pc: son
who is in good health, with
sound nasal organ, take a brisk
walk in the open air, then come
at once into an inhabited room,
and if there is any unpleasant
odor the air of that room is
hurtful.
How many dwelling. sitting
rooms; or bedrooms would pass
sucll an ordeal in the early
morning after being occupied a
night.
Bad air, being heavy, Away
sinks to the floor. and to be go
rid of must be drawn from th'
floor, either by open fireplsce'
or some means of ventilation
| A room ten by twelve by twelv'
,faiue fonrtoen hundred anf