The broad ax., 1908-02-01
HOW TO KEEP WELL
Some Helpful Hints from the Health
Department
VENTILATION.

There are public conveyances, not
ably street cars on certain lines in
Chicago, where the air, at times, is
more dangerous to breathe than would
be that of the average city sewer.
Some years ago a gentleman in
Boston made tests of the air in the
street cars of that city and found that
it contained 23.3 part of carbonic acid
to 10000 parts of air. Normal air
contains parts of carbonic acid in
10000. At the same time, tests made
of the air in the Berkeley street sewer
of that city showed only 10.4 parts of
carbonic acid per 10000.
According to these tests, man
crawling through the sewer named
would be no worse on, so far as his
fresh air supply was concerned, than
the fellow who paid his nickel and
patronized the street cars.
The only difference would be that
with the fellow in the sewer it is a
case of breathing sewer air or none;
while the street car passenger might
, have fresh air for the asking. In other
words, it is an easy matter to venti-
late street car.
Men who work in shafts and tun-
nels under the surface Of the ground
have fresh, pure air pumped down to
them. People who ride in street cars
are not compelled to use pumps in
order to obtain a supply Of fresh air.
All that is needed is to insist on hav-
ing the upper windows open a little
to let the foul air out and the doors
ajar enough to let good air in.
The singular fact is, however, that
many people who ride in public con
.veyances don't want fresh air and
won't have it. Worst of all, they
won't let other people have it.
Now, when you get down to the
actual conditions, is foul air in a tun
mel any worse or more to be dreaded
than the same kind of rotten, disease
laden atmosphere in a street car? Ger
tainly not. Then why not see to i
that the air you breathe in the stree
car is as good as that you would &c
If you were working in the new waite
tunnel now being built under LAX
Michigan?
The question of ill-ventilated stree
cars is one much discussed, and wit
% the result that the blame is usual
placed upon the companies instead o
where it belongs, on the passenger
There are instances, however, wher
conductors apparently acting unde
orders, from the companies, will refus
to ventilate their cars even whe
asked to do so. But as a rule tn
companies desire to have their car
ventilated.
In the first place, the people VIII
design and build street cars provid
means for ventilating them. These, &
rule, consist Of row Of small wi
dows on each side of the center don
In the roof and of the car. The
simple arrangements will do the VOL
perfectly If kept partly open; but tn,
are utterly worthless If kept close
The street car companies leave it
their patrons to say. And as Z
patrons cannot agree among the
selves as to what is best to do abe
the matter, it happens that we ha
street cars in which the air is abe
as deadly and dangerous to, breathe
would be that Of the average C.
sewer.
Did you ever go into street {
when it seemed to smell worse than
wet dog? Bad air, that's all 7
only trouble was a lot of people W
either did not know enough to op
up the transonfs and doors, or, II tn
did know, were afraid little cold (
would DO them harm
Now, all that is needed to purify
at least to greatly improve the q
taminated air in q street car Is
dilute IT with fresh air from the o.
side. Opening the doors and windol
win do this. And to keep the air
condition ct for breathing It must
constantly changed; that is. the e
air must be driven out and the 60
CIR be coming IN an the time.
Better SILVER little and have 50,
air 70 breathe than to suelter IN eOl