St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-11-02

year-old should be. Still, every MORN
ng he awakeS in this unsatisfactory
condition. What can be the cause?
Ventilation, to be sure. or rather the
want of it. Yet every convenience
which ingenuity can contrive is to be
found Ill the house, even to the most
minute arrangements and details.
Whether we belong to the moderately
rich or the wealthy class, those luxuries
which the richest could not formerly
procure at any price are now at the
command of every man or woman with
moderate income. Amongst other i'm
prOvementS, windows are now hung
with pulleyS and weights, so that they
can be opened or shut with the greatest
ease. Yet, is it not surprising that we,
who pride ourselves on living in the
latter part of the enlightened nine
teenth century, do not avail ourselves
more OF this contrivance, perhaps one
OF the most important hygenic devices
of the time? How rarely the upper
sasheS of windows in most houses, even
when inhabited by those who pretend
to some knowledge in these matters, are
lowered!
This means that no part Of the foul
air above the level of the lower sash's
greatest rise can escape by the window :;
and so it escapes, though only partly,
by the doors, after which. for want of
vent III the highest part of the roof, it
merely accumulateS in the upper story
OF the house, and adds to the danger of
Infection arising from the great quanti-
ties of ancient rubbish, disused furni-
ture, and old clothes usually stored up
there. These are of themselves but too
apt to create an unwhOlesome state of
affairs when care is not taken to open
the windows frequently.
Thus the chief benefit to be expected
from lofty rooms is in great measure
lost; whereas, If the upper sashes were
always kept lowered, if only a couple
OF inches, all the foul air would easily
escape, and the invasion of fresh air
would be so gradual and insensible that
the most delicate person or infant would
not feel the slightest chill. Indeed, the
upper sash might be often let entirely
down with less danger or Inconvenience
from cold than would be caused if the
lower one should be thrown up the
tenth part of an inch, and it would be
attended with Infinitely more advantage
to health. 1t is, perhaps, on this prin-
clple that we may account for the COM
paratively good health enjoyed by the
poor who In some large towns live
crowded i'll damp cellars, often with
about them.
These cellars are open to the street.
with doors reaching from the floor to the
very ceiling, but never so close at the
bottom or top as to prevent circulation
of air. in consequence Of which that all
vivifylng fluid, as fast as it vitiated by
the denlZenS of the place, is driven out
and replaced by the fresh air. There is
vulgar belief that fire purifies contain
mated air by destroying the noxious
particles it contains. For this reason a
fire IS often kept blazing in a sick or
sitting room with the Intention of free
ing the air from all manner of faint,
and rendering it fit for breathing.
This belief in the virtue of fire is not
altogether incorrect, Inasmuch az 1t
purlfeS by reason of influence on the
air, heat causing the latter to circulate
freely. and thereby carry away many
obnoxious things that may be lingering
in the atmosphere. But it .must not
be supposed that fire has the power of
DISCRIMINATING outright the germs of dis
ease. 1t is needless to point out the
good that fire will do in keeping q
room free from damp and all unWhOie-
some moistures, and in many climates,
foremost amongStiwhich ranks our own.
frequently saving valuable furniture
pianos in particular-from decay, nay,
often ruin. But it must be clearly un-
derstood that it is not the air which is
purified, but that a new, fresh and
wholesome atmosphere has replaced the
one that has been used up.
In short, the infected air has been
rarefied by the heat, and proper ven
tilation being provided, it expels itself
from the apartment. Fire, and com
bustion in general. SO far from purify
ing polluted air. actually deterlorates a
prodigious quantity of it in short time.
Therefore not only common fire, but
even lighted candle Ito say nothing of
lamps or gas). when kept in a we'll
closed Tor, more perfectly speaking. an
lll-cfoSed) room, wherein the external
air has not a free access, renders the
air of that room noxious in an incredi-
bic short space of time. The remedy
is in our own hands. 1t is for US moth
ers and housewives not only to give in
structionS, but to personally see that
the upper sash OF at least one window
in each living room is opened all day
long; and then gradually to accustom
ourselves, our children and all over
whom we have control, to sleep with
them in that position. We should quick
ly find our own restless nights become
peaceful, whilst our little ones would
have the proper proportion Of oxygen so
essential to their young lives.