Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1892-02-19
ABOUT VENTILATION.
Various Methods of Providing the House
with Fresh Air.

Various Methods of Providing the House
With Fresh Air.
1t has frequently been noticed that
there is more danger in winter from
diphtheria and various other diseases
that depend on noxious vapors for their
existence than there is in summer. In
fact the presence of these diseases in
dicates the presence of bacillae that
must have been bred from some foul
source. 1t would seem natural that
summer, when there is so much decay
ing matter about, would be the time
for such diseases, but we are told that
the close atmosphere of the house, and
especially the presence OF defective
sewerage, are the most fruitful sources
of many of these dreaded diseases;
that, contrary to the generally con-
ceived idea, the palace of the rich man,
with its elaborate system of water
pipes and plum bng, is even more likely
than the hovel of the very poor To
suffer from some of these diseases.
The cracks in the poor mans dwelling
and the cold drahghts from which he
suffers are blessings, though in dis
guise, as compared with the super
heated and vitiated air and the imper-
ceptible poison of sewer gas to be
found in the dwelling-hous of the
rich, fitted up with all the modern i'm
provements 1t may be that later
generation may see the folly of living
in houses which are heated SO far be-
yond wholesome temperature, and
learn truly that simple system of
plumbing is the only one that we have
right to introduce into our everyday
life. There are many elegant mansions
coiled around with deadly lead pipe in
the vicinity of all the living and sleep
ing apartments, bringing a sure
poison into these homes. With this
state of things there is little or
no attempt at sufficient ventila
ton. The luxurious occupants OF
such houses shiver at draught and
live in a temperature of from IS to 50
degrees 1t is not strange to those who
appreciate such a state of things that
diseases of the bronchial tubes and
lungs are so frequent in cold weather.
These are not the result of contact
with the cold air, as they are the result
of want of ventilation. The bodily sys-
tenn becomes completely enervated
like plant which is put into an over.
heated room and is unable to resist the
reactionary effect of cold air. One OF
the simplest methods OF ventilating
room is to have a lower window slight
ly raised, piece of wood firmly Cited
in beneath it, and the space opened at
where the lower and upper sash lap
over each other, is sufficient TO give an
upward current of air and ventilate
a room without any direct draught.
Where there is a stove in the room at
night, some method of ventilation is
most positively necessary to health.
Abundance of pure fresh air should be
supplied even on the coldest nights, and
the youngest child may become accus-
toned to this, providing it has abund-
ance of bed covering and warm night
clothes. There is no danger from colds
so great as the danger from unventi-
lated rooms. An open fire is one of the
best means of ventilation, though an
open window is necessary in connection
with il at night. The hall is quite
likely to contain half the bad air of the
house. For this reason it is well to
have ventilating pipe extending from
the ceiling of the main hall in the top
of the house we'll above the roof 1t
should be covered with a cap to keep
out the rainfall and with register to
shut it off, if desired, in very cold
weather.-N. Y. Tribune.