News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1910-10-05

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 contaminat ton also exist
and are a menace to health. l have
mentioned vapor of water as an ingre-
dent Of pure air. This vapor is quite
necessary to health. and it's absence
occasions a peculiar dryness of the
skin and STIFFNESS 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
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 Il part of the heating appara'
tus a vessel of water should be paced
upon the stove or at some point where
the hot air will pass over it and take
up the moisture: otherwise it will take
the moisture from the body.
The temperature in the house should
not be allowed to rise above GS 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 a constant supply
Oh fresh OulSlue ali, 10 I've DcSt SgS-
tenn if the air is supplied direct to
each room and the precautions taken
to keep the air moist which | 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 tireplaces
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 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-
tenn is used for heating the above pre-
cautions are also advisable. as such
systems do not provide any means of
ventilation.
ventlatine at Night.
The problem of ventilating at night
is much simpler. but in all these mat
tiers common sense and caution must
be used. In the winter time pre-
cautions should DE taken against
drafts, but a thorough ventilation of
the sleeping rooms should be rigidly
maintained regardless of the condition
of the weather 1t is usually posi-
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 Indictment 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 off from the air of the
room. This method has the advantage