Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1910-10-29
Course In Health Culture

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bon dioxide, while the air of crowd
| ed schoolroom may contain twenty
times that amount and be correspond
microbes and what has been well
named the Sewage" of the lungs and
skin.
Renewing Air In Rooms.
Even where liberal air space is
allotted to each individual 1t is neces-
sary that the air Of a room be com
! pletely changed at least once every
hour. In schools and factories where
there Is limited air space per capita
arrangements are often made for
changing the air from five to seven
times per hour.
One gas burner consumes as much
oxygen as four and one half men.
l have considered thus far the air
poisons and deleterious matters de-
rived from the human body. Other
sources Of contamination also exist
and are menace to health. l have
mentioned vapor Of water as an ingre-
dent Of pure air. This vapor is quite
necessary to health, and its absence
occasions a peculiar dryness Of the
skin and stuffiness in the head which
is often the first stage Of common
cold. The cold Is directly caused by
microbes. but the system Is laid open
to their attacks by the conditions
above described
The absence of vapor of water Is
usually the result of faulty heating
methods. A hot air furnace or stove
will supply unduly dry air unless
some device Is used for supplying
moisture. Such devices are ordinarily
attached to furnaces In the form of a
small reservoir opening into the air
supply. Neglect to keep this reservoir
filed with water Is serious mistake
and may be responsible for much dis
comfort and illness. Where no such
device Is a part Of the heating appara
tus a vessel Of water should be placed
upon the stove or at some point where
the hot air will pass over 1t and take
up the moisture; otherwise 1t will take
the moisture from the body.
The temperature in the house should
not be allowed to rise above 6S de-
grees. Neglect Of this precaution Is
frequently responsible for undue sus-
ceptibility to colds.
Some Ventilation Points.
In considering the practical problem
Of ventilation the following items are
Of most Importance:
The most efficient means of ventilat-
ing. especially in the winter time, Is
the heating system. The hot air fur
mace, which insures constant supply
Of fresh outside air, Is the best sys-
tenn If the air is supplied direct to
each room and the precautions taken
to keep the air moist which l have
already outlined. While this system
does not provide for releasing bad air.
this usually escapes through the cracks
of doors and windows. 1t is desir-
able, however, to have open freplaces
wherever possible to insure the rapid
escape Of vitiated air. Where stoves
are employed the air is not changed
very rapidly, and the dangers Of con-
tamination from coal gas necessitate
some special means of ventilation. An
excellent measure Is to raise the lower
sash Of a window about four inches
and close the opening with an accu-
rately fitting board. This will allow
the air to come in between the two
sashes without causing a draft. Two
holes may be cut in this board and
small boxes opening toward the cell
ing placed over them.
AS frequently as possible living
rooms should be thoroughly ventilated
by opening all windows and doors and
rapidly and completely changing the
air.
Where the hot water or steam sys-
TEN Is used for heating the above pre-
cautions are also advisable, as such
systems do not provide any means OF
ventilation.
VentiIatins at Night.
The problem of ventilating at night
is much simpler, but In all these mat
ters common sense and caution must
be used. In the winter time pre-
cautions should be taken against
drafts, but thorough ventilation Of
the sleeping rooms should be rigidly
maintained regardless Of the condition
Of the weather 1t is usually possi-
BILE to have free ventilation without
draft by properly placing the bed,
The ideal method. however. is to have
a sleeping porch or balcony. where one
may sleep practically In the open. Such
a porch can easily be adjusted for
protection from inclement weather.
Another method is the window tent
This is very much like an ordinary
window awning, but is placed on the
inside of the window. over the upper
part of the sleeper's body. completely
shutting him of from the air Of the
room. This method has the advantage
Of insuring the constant breathing OF
outside air without drafts and at the
same time keeping the temperature of
the room fairly warm.
Not mere than one person should
sleep In a small bedroom. II possible
children should sleep alone and each
child have a room to itself.