The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-02-14
IL It
New York.
PROPER VENTILATION
IN STREET CARS.

THE other day | went into "A
crowded street car, and the OBJ
servations / made while riding a
dozen blocks convinced me that
good many of the diseases peculiar To
winter may be traceable TO the condi-
tions OF the public conveyances. In
the car i'm which l travelled all the
transoms were closed and the fire in
the heater was blazing. The torrid
temperature that prevailed caused
the passengers a great deal of dis
comfort. for all OF them wore heavy
wraps which they could not conven-
iently take off. They mopped their
foreheads, on which light perspira-
tion had gathered. showing that the
heat had opened the pores of the
body. | wondered how many or
them, stepping out into the zero at
mosphere in that condition, would be
victims OF pneumonia, bronchitis.
grip, diphtheria and similar dis
eases: IL seemed impossible that they
would all escape The brisk fire was
an execution on a very cold day, for
I'm such weather you will usually find
that the conductors have difficulty In
making IL burn. for the simple rea-
son that a fire draws better I'm mild
than in severe weather.
Those who ride I'm overheated. un-
derventilated cars should politely
call the conductors attention 10 the
temperature. The man will generally
be found perfectly willing TO do the
best ne can when he learns the better
way. but he is a busy, oNerworked
and often underpaid individual who
cannot be expected to have the wis
dom of a college graduate in matters
relating TO hygiene. He should be re-
auested To open the ventilators and
regulate the heat The overheating
of the cars is dangerous from another
standpoint. All sorts Of disease germs
are carried into the car on the shoes
OF the passengers. and in the tropical
atmosphere these develop and multi
ply in an amazing degree. Contagion
is thus spread abroad, and many cpl
denies might be traced TO the use OF
overheated public conveyances.
on entering a car always loosen the
Jacket. The sensible woman modifies
her dress 10 suit the temperature OF
the day. Should she Ivy mistake start
ont on a comparatively mild day
wearing her sealskin Jacket, IL is the
part of wisdom to turn back and
change IL for a fall coat.
The stores in which women shop
are always kept at a comfortable
temperature for the salespeople,
which is not what Is suitable for
shoppers wearing heavy wraps. OF
course. no one would wish the mer-
chants 10 modify the temperature at
the expense of their hardworking
employees. Consequently the sensible
woman who goes into store expect
ing TO remain for any length of time
will slip of her coat. Some day enter
prisipg- merchants will arrange to
have coats checked at the door just
a. thcy do umbrellas i'm stormy
weather. The woman who goes about
from counter 20 counter, spending
considerable time i'm this way, Will
soon be annoyed To- find that she is
perspiring. Going out into the cold
in this condition. the chances are 90
out of 100 that she will take cold. II
she goes into the shop hut for ten
minutes. il is wise 60 remove the coat
In travelling in sleeping car In
winter always call FOR an extra
blanket, Tor III VIII ne Itunpl Wncu
YOU enter the car, but polar temper
ature by the middle of the night. In
travelling nothing Is worse for the
throat than the night air. one is
more likely To take cold asleep than
awake. 80 fresh air iends should eN-
ercisc discretion i'm insisting that the
window be raised even "A few inches.
In moderate weather it rs a good
thing To have the window open on "A
screen Just very little bit. but when
the train Is TO cross the mountains
even In warm weather night viii find
the car travelling through quite an
icy atmosphere Before retiring al
ways insist that the porter leave the
ventilators open.
All public places OF amusement are
hard To ventilate. A perfect system
~ ventilating is difficult TO obtain.
In going into a concert room. lecture
hall or theater u Is always best To
take off the wrap.
MARY SCOTT ROWLAND.