New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-08-16

It's ylVifyng eNectS 10 ozone Is sanctioned nv
! science. for. although certain amount OF that
much vaunted gas is generally present in the air OF
frame is more tnan doubtful on the whole TOO
much has been made by writer's on hygiene OF the
deleterious effects OF carbonc acid for long as
this gas remains pure and is unassociated with
the deadly carbOnic oxide or choke damp" II
effects which were at one time supposed TO follow
from breathing IL. Only when II Is present in such
large quantities as to displace the Indispensable
Such evidence as We have would seem 10 indicate
that the character OF the air IN most localities Is
affected IN some subtle way by carnations from the
soil. from vegetation. and from other animate and
ceases when the aerial molecules are waited away
from the spot where II originated What the ma
yet In a position 10 say, put IN most cases II Is
probably organic. our delicate sense OF smell tells
us how full the atmosphere Is OF extremely attsn-
each district, has its distinctive odor which W
are continually recognizing again after months or
sible to account. How infinitely minute such door.
ferrous particles may be has been shown by the
familiar experiment with piece OF musk A small
portion OF this substance has been known 10 scent
the air of room for many months without IN.
derroing any appreciate dminution In weight
Nothing seems more likely than that there may 10
great number Of substances which thus gradu.
ally evaporate and impregnate the air without our
olfactory apparatus becoming in any way cogni.
zant of them. considering the well-Enown depress.
ing or celebrating effect OF many substances
Chiefly carbon compounds which are introduced
into the lungs in vaporized or finely divided
borne matters which may affect Us for good or
the reverse are chiefly organic in their origin.
But If these hypothesis were proved
rect. We should yet have 10 explain the physioog.
cal side of the question. The reasons Why mere
change has such stimulating effect on the vital
forces must be sought within the body Itself
Where the rel ative purity OF the atmosphere IN
two localities is same the effect Of change Of
air may be Of the nature Of a stimulus 10 the pui.
monary excretory apparatus so that the system Is
freed from enete and poisonous material which
would otherwise remain and prove detrimental TO
he@ AIR, b sS would 6s f re chang.
lions Of the alimentary canal. or 10 one Of the nu
merous drugs wherewith We aid such operations
in various parts of the system. And Just as ona
agent OF the latter kind is liable to lose its e9ct
II long continued, so the air to which we have be-
come accustomed may to provoke efficient
function in the lungs In fact. when the effect Of
a change Of air is compared with the action Of
certain medicines. many points OF resemblance be-
come apparent IN the case Of both the god re.
certain amount of discomfort and constitutional
disturbance.
BIOLOGICAL EXPLANATION
There are certain biological laws which may help
US to understand. TO some extent why change Of
air Is conducive to the maintenance the resoy.
cry Of health; We have learned. since Darwin.
widely distributed vital phenomena in the distant
past rather than in the present.
evidence we shall think, find some suggestive
facts in the condition OF existence of our primitive
ancestors; The discoveries Of archaeologists have
abundantly proved that civilization. and all the
toms and traditions which have followed in It,
train. are mere modern innovations and occupy but
very small portion OF the long history OF the hu.
race. The epoch during which man was
savage hunter with no fixed place Of abode. 80
incidentally longer than the most extended esti-
mate of historic time that II is impossible ignore
the influence of such "A state OF existence upon
human nature we find II to-day That early
man was wanderer on the face of the earth. Ike
all modern savages who get precarous livelihood
by hunting. Is abundanty proved With the change
or the seasons, or as game became scarce In the
vicinity of his cave dwelling he was compelled 10
migrate from place 10 place In search. not Of
change Of air. but OF bare sustenance That such
habits. prevalent through so long period would he
likely TO leave lasting impress every cell and
fibre Of the human frame is more than probable.
And II these were the prevailing conditions Of
vronment during the manufacture. TO speak OF
our physical constitution. II reasonable 10
infer that somewhat similar conditions would be
those most favorable to the smooth working OF the
bodily machinery In modern times. II found
that the unfortunate natives of Tasmania. bred
among the hills and woods persisted rapidly when
removed 10 a totally different environment on
Flinders Island and the dwarfs which Stanley dis
covered in the dense and gloomy forests Of the Ari
whmi only lived n short time II forced 10 dwell In
a more open and sunny region. II. therefore, Q
race of nomads 10 whom vagrant habits had be-
come n second nature. were compelled 10 live per-
manently In one spot. one would expect that some
evil consequences would ensue, and that these would
be especially liable show themselves when the
general vitality had been lowered by disease And.
conversely. II seems reasonable 10 conclude that
renewal of the conditions TO which the constitution
of man was originally adapted would contribute 10
the recovery of n normal state OF health.