Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1906-01-19
THE OPEN WINDOW.
The Modern Idea In Medical Practice
Pure Air and Ample Ventilation.

|
In such maladies as phthlsis have almost
laid one under criminal charge of con-
niVing at death.
Fortunately, great change has come
| about in medical opinion on these mat
ters, and nowadays efficient ventilation
| is insured with quite mathematical pre-
cision, and fresh air is considered the first
factor in all varieties Of treatment. We
know now not only from practical ex-
perience, but from meteorological research
as well, that by far the most powerful
germicides-and so the greatest factors in
combating and preventing germ diseases
are sunlight and fresh air.
1t is, however, the wish of the writer To
point out that the principles which un-
derlie this treatment may yet perhaps
play more important role than as a
cure for consumption, and that is I'm its
prevention. The open-air principles of
treatment in their essence are simply
these; That instead of using artificial
methods as drugs to stimulate and
strengthen the tissue vitality of the body
in its never-ceasing war against malevo-
lent germs, we should make use to the
fullest extent of natural force to achieve
this purpose, with a far more lasting re-
suit II, then, these measures are eff
caclous when disease has got a hold
the question that occurs to ones mind is,
why not adopt them as methods of pre-
Vention in health? That prevention is
better than cure is perhaps a time-worn
maxim, but in no instance could II point
better moral than in this In fact, to
borrow in part a political phrase, our
policy should be one of "the open
window"
To illustrate the fact how even nova
days, when so much stress is laid on the
Importance of constant fresh air, people
yet seem to prefer to breathe over and
over again the self polluted atmosphere.
one has but to walk not only in the slums,
where ignorance might be some excuse
but in the suburbs as well, of any large
city. and note closely shut windows, or
even when holder spirits do have couple
of inches down at the top. to note the
blinds checking any free outlet or inlet
In order readily to appreciate the foulness
of any bedroom under these conditions one
has only to go out into the fresh air for
a few minutes, and then return to the
room where seven or eight hours have
been passed. and the almost unbearable
closeness to which the long hours have
made us accustomed will then be readily
appreciated.
1t is one Of the Inconsistencies in life
which cannot at first sight be explained
that people who seem to find long con-
flnement in one room during the day al
most unbearable. are yet content to
spend eight or nine hours at night
under similar conditions without demur
This liberation is due perhaps mainly to
two factors-frstly, that vitiated at
mosphere seldom gives rise to actual dis
comfort. and even when 1t does, such dis
comforts as headache and languor are at
tributed to other causes; secondly. to the
idea that around the cracks of the doors
and windows quite sufficient interchange
of air goes on. 1t is true that n certain
amount OF ventilation does go on through
these means, but as compared with the
pollution of the air in an average-sized
bedroom 1t Is negligible quantity.
The Importance of abundant fresh air at
night can be best brought home to one
by considering a few of the factors which
contribute to such malady as tubercular
disease of the lungs. AS regards its cause
and onset one may remark that here, as
elsewhere in nature. soil and seed are the
essential factors for termination and
growth. In disease these two factors are
always operating. They are called. in
medical parlance, "predisposing' and Tex
citing" causes. This explained in common
terms means that the first-named factor
prepares, so to speak, the soil and sur
roundings for the second, the seed or eX-
citing cause, to terminate and grow in
The seed which falls on stony ground
withers and dies, but that which alights
on suitable soil lives to produce its kind.
The human body is a workable growing
ground for microbes, some OF them benefi-
cent, some of them malign. To cope with
the latter, specialized cells scattered
throughout the tissues make never ceas-
ing war on them. These cells are the
guardians of our health, and in order for
them adequately to fulfil these functions,
they need an amount Of oxygen that only
free access to fresh air can give. Microbes
coming in contact with these special cells
or leucocytes share the fate of the seed
that fell on stony ground. Now, in order
70 gft,1lx r.sffl
warfare. and to check and keep down the
increase of microbes in the system, 1t is
plainly essential that the vitality of these
cells should be maintained and this can
only be achieved by a constant supply
of fresh oxygen through the lungs, and
sufficient nutrition through the alimentary
tract.
Our natural sense of taste is such that
we are. generally speaking, able to select
or reject that which is useful for food
nutrition. Not so with respiration, except
with those few who are able to detect inn
mediatey air that is not fresh or suitable
for respiring 1t is here in this instance,
then, the great damage is done, and the
persons who. through a nights rest of
eight or nine hours duration, or a third Of
day, breathe, through lack of ventilation,
the same air over and over again, could
not do themselves more harm II they took
unwholesome food.
The main objections raised to having
windows widely opened at night are four
viz a prejudice against night air, fear of
draughts, discomfort of feeling cold, and.
lastly, fear of damp. The prejudice against
night air has perhaps come down from an
age that understood little of hygiene.
Night air is not only harmless, but is, as
matter of fact purer than day air, because
the percentage Of dust, SCOT, and the pro-
ducts of fire combustion is less. AS re-
CARDS draughts, they can in the first place
be obviated either by screening or by hav-
ing the windows wider open. Most people
know that the rate at which fluids or
gases travel through any given opening
is inversely proportional to its area, so, by
having wider-open windows the rate of in
f1ux is diminished and often so much that
a draught will be no longer felt.
The discomfort of feeling cold can be
obviated by an extra blanket. Respiring
cold air in these circumstances is precise
ly the same as respiring it when out of
doors. and so must be equally healthy.
Lastly, as regards damp moisture from
the lungs will probably account for far
more damp than any influx of moisture
laden air through open windows Most of
us know the haze which covers the win
dows in our living rooms in winter. This
film of damp, a mere indication only of
the amount that is in the atmosphere of
the room derives it's source entirely from
our expired air, and II is computed that
over a half pint will be given off in this
way from the lungs of an adult during a
night of nine or ten hours.