Evening journal., 1898-07-15
AIR on MAMMOTH CAVE.
So Pure and BracIng That II Might
He utilized for a SanitnrIum.


So Pure aud BracIng That II Might
lie Utnized for a SanttnrIum.
Some distance on we came upon two
stone cottages built against one Of the
walls of the avenue. These are the re-
mains of number thatwere builtin the
cave in 1s43 for the abode of consump-
tive patients. 1t was believed that the
pure air of the cave would effect
eure, and 10 consumptives took up their
abode here, and remained for five
months without going outside. II is
said that when they did go out three
died before they could reach the hotel.
Something more than purity is required
sunlight II is said that the salt
peter miners had remarkable health
while working in the cave, and persons
with weak lungs are certainly benefited
by short walks in this atmosphere. /
believe. in time, that these immense
reservoirs of dry, pure antisepuc air
will be utilized for the cure of consump-
tion and asthma, not by sending the
patient into the cave, but by bringing
the air into sunlighted sonitariums on
the dry, well-drained elevated sand
stone plateaus above the caves.
We know the air is dry, because the
timber carried in in 1912 has not de-
cayed. and iron hinges have been here
since 1913, and show no sign of rust.
We know the air is pure, because here
animal matter does not decay, but sim
ply dries up. The mummies found in
the caves were not prepared mummies,
but simply desiccated bodies. The uni
form temperature of from 81 20 81 de-
grees the year round has been dem
onstrated. Consumptives take long sea
voyages and visit high attitudes TO get
the benefit of aceptic atmosphere; but
they suffer from variations of tempera'
ture, from storm and at high attitudes
exercise cannot be taken, while the cave
air predisposes one TO take exercise
with little fatigue. have lmown deli
cate women , walk for nine hours in
the cave, clambering up steep ascents
and over rocks, and come out of the
cave feeling no sense of fatigue until
they reached the warm, impure air out
side, charged with the odors of decayed
vegetation, when they would almost
faint, and would require assistance in
ascending the path TO the hotel.
We think the atmosphere in the gler
at the entrance remarkable for purity
before we have become sensitive 10y
hours in the pure atmosphere of The
cave. I once went with a friend and {
guide to Roaring river and several othel
remote places, which required remain
ing in the cave over night. TWAS nigh
when we came out, and we had becom'
so sensitive by our stay OF 90 hours II
the pure air Of the cave that we wer
almost overcome by the suifocatinl
mephitic odors and oppressiveness o
the outer air. We dreaded TO inhale
into our lungs, and returned again an
- again into the pure air flowing from tn
/ cave.
T. Air freed from bacteria is one Of th
r main reasons for success IN modern SUI
gerry, and sanitarium into which thi
a air could be pumped would doubtles
; be resorted to for difficult surgical opel
l. ations. Consumptives in high altitude
e are compelled TO remain indoors in VIII
> ter weather and breathe the vitintcd al
d Of closed rooms; while In sanitnrium
IS supplied with cave air, by letting th
% air in at the upper part of the room
j. and out at the lower part, all exhal'
= tions would pass out, and pure al
d would be constantly rushing in at
}. uniform temperature, winter and sun
i mer Then, Il would be n boon II W
: could escape the oppressive heat OF sun
> mer into hotels kept cool and pure b
II the air from these great dry caves
!, John r. Proctor, in Century.