The Athena press. [volume] (Athena, Umatilla County, Or.) 18??-1942, 1908-06-12

cesses. Like other poisons, however.
it can te rendered harmless by the pro-
cess of dilution. The small proper
tion existing in the atmosphere is en-
tlrely innocuous and may be some
what increased without sensible re-
suit. But Notwithstanding this, it is
positively prejudioial to breathe, for
any considerable time, air containing
one measure to one hundred of car
bonio acid; and it is considered, by the
best authorities, that tho proportion
ought not to exceed one in five hun
dred. We may assume there. what is
not very far from the truth. that
twenty cutie feet of air pass through
the lungs of man in one hour. To
reduce the poison of this to one per
cent, at which it is barely respirable.
it requires to mingle with as much fresh
air as will make a mixture of nearly
one hundred cubic feet; and to make
the dilution entirely safe it must be
carried five times as far. 1t is seen,
then, in other words, that the respira-
tion of one human being vitiates,
every hour, not far from FIVE hundred
cubic feet of air.
In addition to oarbonic acid, expired
air contains seemingly an undue pro-
portion of wateIy vapor. Minute quan-
titles of animal matter is also exhaled
with the breath. which in close ill
ventilated apartments form a kind of
clammy deposit on furniture and
walls. which by purifying become or
ganio poisons. And for one accus-
toned to plenty of pure air 10 enter
suoh rooms is siokening absolutely be-
yond endurance.
A further necessity for constant re-
newal of fresh air arises whenever
lights, of almost any kind, are burn
ing. The deteriorated air of fireS in
a stove or fireplace largely goes off by
the fue, lest the products of lights
are always minRling with the atmos-
phere of the room aud so must of
course be taken into the lungs. Odors,
especially from lamps, or lanterns
turned down. become very offensive.
Lamps should never be turned down
and left burning all night. as is often
done by many we'll meaning people,
not only because they help poison the
air. but because they sometimes ex-
plode and destroy muoh property and
sometimes many lives. Now, one
pound of oil in burning consumes the
oxygen of thirteen feet Of air, and pro-
dues large amount of water in vapor,
and also of carbonio acid. Every cubic
foot of gas consumes the oxygen of ten
feet of air, and forms. at least, one
foot of carbonic acid, besides these
watery vapors, often mixed with sui.
phurous fumes. And to oounteract
these various sources of pollution and
keep the air sufficiently pure and
wholesome, in rooms where many per-
sons are breathing, it is ascertained
by painstaking investigation and actual
demonstration in practice, that. on an
average, about twenty cubic feet of
fresh air per minute for each individ-
ual, must be supplied.
There are various processes by which
this is accomplished. viz. the fire.
draught, fans, pumps, transference
of heat from used air to the fresh,
and others; but no doubt the quickest
cheapest and most effective is to open
the outside windows, or doors or both,
and let God g pure, invigorating health.
giving life-sustaining air circulate
freely and frequently through every
room in the house, especially when
cooking, washing, mopping ironing etc
are in progress, in order that the foul
smoke, steam etc., may at once es-
uape SO that it will not remain to
poison the air that is to be received
into the lungs.
When rooms have been for long
time with no, or little, ventilation a
few minutes, or even hours of airing
out will not right the wrongs, but two
or three days is required to remove the
foul odor of unaired beds (aDd even
then it caunot be done without wash
ing) and other things and cleanse ont
the nauseating smell that always exists
in improperly ventilated rooms. There
should never be entire absence of pure
air from the lungs and never can be
without injury to the system. So
many outings, by business men. would
NOT be necessary if stores, banks,
offices, hotels etc., were properly aired.
School rooms should never be closed
tightly while school is in progress.
Preachers. teachers, lawyers, doctors
and all public men. .and women shonld
faithfully warn the people against the
dangers arising from unclean breath
ing. Churches should always be wall
aired for about two hours, at least just
previous to using, and the longer the
better, for it is impossible to have toe
much fresh air.
Probably at least two thirds of the
coincidence, and other forms of slow
ness and sluggishness. prevailing in
the pew, is due to too much heat an6
too little pure air, also the sermon ii
often below par from the same cause.
Opening of doors. for the ordinary
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