The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1894-04-04

If one stands outside room and holds
the flame of a candle TO the keyhole, and
the flame is blown inward, it shows that
the room is not sufficiently ventilated,
since the chief current of air comes from
the keyhole and cracks of the door. Ven
tilation through the door is one of the
worst methods Of ventilation, for it gen.
orally means that the air of the room
is changed only by the introduction of
impure air from the house; of air tainted
by dust, human breath, kitchen odors
and frequently by the exhalation from
decaying matter and drains. Every
room should have a direct opening into
the outer air. and in order to prevent
drafts this inlet should be so constructed
that the air entering from without takes
an upward direction, instead of falling
Immediately like cold shower, upon
the occupants of the room. for if the
outer air is colder than that of the ROOM
as it nearly always is, it is heavier, and
consequently sinks by its great weight
a simple plan of giving an upward di-
rection to the air as il enters the room
is to have an ornamental glass screen
fitted across the lower part of the win
dow and TO raise the lower sash. Air
then enters from two quarters, both in
an upward direction, since that which
enters at the bottom of the sash passes
upward till 1t reaches the top of the
screen, and that which enters between
the two sashes is directed upward by the
lower sash, which acts as a second
screen.
A similar plan is for the bottom edge
of the window frame to overlap by some
inches the bottom of the window which
can then be raised to within half an inch
of the edge of the frame, so that air is
admitted between the sashes only and
of course in an upward direction. In
many modern houses the windows are
so made as to permit of this, ard when
this construction does not exist at the
expense Of shilling or two piece of
ornamental board may be fixed for the
purpose.
Another plan of giving ventilation
through the middle rails of the sashes
is to have a. block Of wood to fit the
window frame at the bottom, on which
the lower sash, after being raised for a
couple OF inches, accurately rests.
This plan, first advocated by DR.
Hinckes Bird, is one Of the cheapest and
is suited to houses where economy is
necessary. as is also the still simpler
method of boring holes in the wooden
surface afforded by the meeting rails of
the upper and lower sash.
This is rather an effective means of
ventilation for cold and especially for
foggy weather. as by placing a light
layer Of cotton wool over these holes
the air is both filtered and warmed on it's
entrance. and IL is quite surprising TO
see how. in a short time, the wood be-
comes black and grimy. showing that it
saves our rooms and lungs from much
SCOT and dirt. Air as it enters may also
be filtered by muslin curtains across the
windows.
Double windows open below outside
and above inside give an effective VEN
tilation without draft, and a good plan
for large rooms, hospital wards or halls
IS for the top of the window to open
with a flap sloping inward. Such a
flap, however allows the air to fall into
the room like cold water unless the
sides are filed up by a leather or some
similar contrivance.
When one has venetian blinds, rooms
can be ventilated without draft by OPEN
ing the windows at the top and allow
ing the strips of wood in the blind to
slope upward and inward so as TO admit
the air in an upward direction. The
Louvre ventilator which is fixed in a
windOw-pane and opens with a cord. is
arranged on this plan.-Sanitary Re
port.