The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1898-03-12
AIR OF MAMMOTH CAVE.
so Pure and Bracing that 1t Might r,
Used for n Sanctarium,

so Pure and Bracing that 1t Might Be
Used for n Sanctarlum.
IN tho March Century there Is an article
on The Mammoth Cave OF Kentucky. i"
oy 'ohn X. Proctor, formerly State gcoIo-
s'st OIL Kentucky. Mr.. Proctor In de-
sc.rTseb n,ns The tour of the cave. says:
s,ono ', co, Instance on we came upon two
walls of the avenue These are The i re-
mains OF number that were built in the
patients 1t was believed that tho mr. n,
Oh me cave would effect cure, and AZ
Teen ,en conslmptivcs took up their abode
heE., and remained for five months without
Soihs outside 1t Is said that when they
dld go out three died before they could
r risSi, the hotel. Something more than
purity is requ:ned-sunlight. II Is said
mat the saitpetre miners had rcmarka bile
nealih while working in the cave. and
flied by short walks in this atmosphere
believe n tine that these immense rcser-
' voirs OF dry. pure. antseptic air will be
asthma, not by sondng the patient into tn.
cave. put by bringing the air into sun
d iiSnteu san.tarihmS on the drywcll-
uralned elevated sandstone platealls abovc
the caves.
We know the air Is dry, because the TIM
iron hinges have hs'an here since 1913 and
show no signs Of rust. We know the mir
IS pure. because here animal matter does
not decay, but simply dries up The mum
mics found in the cave were not prepared
mummies but simply desicatcd bodies
me uniform temperature OF from SO de-
SrtcS 10 81 degrees the year round has been
demonstrated Consumptivcs take long
sea voyages and visit high attitudes to gel
INC benefit OF aceptic atmosphere, but they
from storms, and at high attitudes excr.
else can not be taken. while the cave air
predisposes one TO take exercise with lttlt
walk for nine hours in the cave, Chamber
ing UP steep ascents and over rocks, and
come out of tho cave feeling no sense Of
fatigue until they reached the warm i'm
pure air outside. charged with the Odors
OF decayed vegetation. when they would
almost faint, and require assistance IN
ascending the path to the hotel
We think the atmosphere in the glen n I
the entrance remarkable for purity hcfor,
we have become sensitive by hours in tho
pure atmosphere Of the cave. ! once went
with a friend and a guide to Roaring river
and several other remote places. which re-
Guired remaining in the cave over night
had become 30 sensitive Ivy our STAY of
thirty-six hours in the pure air of the cave
mat We were almost overcome by the sur
locating mephltic odors and oppressive
ness OF the outer air. We dreaded to in
hale II into our lungs and returned again
and again into the pure air flowing from
Air freed from bacteria Is orc of the
main reasons for success IL modern sur
gerry; and Il sanltarium INTO which this air
sorted to for difficult surgical operations.
Consumptivcs l., high attitudes are COM
PEELED to remain indoors In winter weather
and breathe the v.tiated air of closed
rooms. while In sanitariums supplied with
cave air, but letting the air In at the upper
paris OF tic rooms and cIlt at the lower
part, all cXhalatonS would pass out and
| pure air would be constantly rushin;; IN a;
q unifrom temperature, winter and sum-
| NOR Then, II would be a boon If we could
cSCapa the oppressive heat into hotels
kept cool and pure by the air from the; G
| great dry caves.