Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1911-12-28
KEEP WELL AND WARM
FRESH, PURE AIR Is ESSENTIAL
TO HEALTH.
Furnace Fire Must Be Attended To,
but Not to the Entire Neglect
Of the Important Factor Of
Ventilation.

First IN the list Of requisites for
good health in winter is not the fur
mace fire, but a good continuous sup.
ply Of fresh, pure air! True, the fur
mace fire must be attended to, but not
to the entire neglect Of that equally
important health factor, ventilation.
1t is a generally accepted theory
that the best way to admit a supply of
fresh air into a room is to lower the
windows from the top. But is it?
This admits a cold incoming current
and then, what happens? The heat
from the registers or radiators, being
lighter than the surrounding atmos-
phere Of the room, Immediately rises
toward the ceiling, and rapidly finds
its way out Of the window! While,
on the other hand, the impure gas
carbon dioxide) which we exhale
from the lungs, being heavier than
air, does not rise when expelled from
the body, but gradually settles down
in the lower part of the room. Thus,
a room ventilated in this way, has
three layers Of air; the carbon dlox-
ide at the bottom of the room; the
hot air, all at the top ION its way out
of the window; and in between the
two an incoming current of fresh air,
which, although 1t brings in oxygen
near the region of the carbon dioxide,
feels cold and raw, because 1t does
not get an opportunity to mingle with
the heated air at the top of the room.
A much better way to ventilate a
room Is to open the window at the
bottom. This gives m outlet for the
carbon dloxide; and at the center Of
the window, where the sashes inter
sect, there is an incoming current Of
air to mingle with the heat coming
from the radiators before it all rises
toward the ceiling.
To prevent uncomfortable drafts
from blowing in, a device Is now made
by window manufacturers which con-
sists Of a small wooden frame filed in
with glass and resembling a transom.
This fits in between the frames and
the sash and can be opened out as far
as desired, to carry off the impure gas
as well as to admit the air. Many
people have homemade devices that
answer the same purpose. The idea
Of having the windows open both at
the top and bottom is unnecessary,
except for carrying off overheated
air.
Drafts from window frames and
door jambs should be stopped up with
weather strips Of either rubber or can
vas. These can be bought for a mod
crate price, anywhere. These strips
should be tackled on with nails placed
quite close together, otherwise the
strain Of opening and shutting doors
and windows will rip them out. A
great deal of cold can also be kept
out Of the house by inside window cur
tains Of burlap, or denim, lined with
some cotton material. At night when
drawn together, these curtains prove
to be a great protection, especially in
isolated country houses that have to
Withstand the force of the winds.
If floors are cold, line all the rugs
or carpets with heavy canvas, or sail
cloth. Such a lining not only helps
to keep the feet warm, but prevents
the warp threads from wearing away
too fast. If used under a rug, cut the
lining to fit exactly, joining any seams
so that they will lie fiat like a fell.
Turn under the edges Of the lining,
and tack it to the border Of the rug
with stout linen thread, placing the
tackings about three inches apart. II
carpets are used, put between the lin
ing and the carpet, a layer Of newspa-
pers. These will not only keep out
the cold from the foor beneath, but
will collect all the dirt sifted through
the carpet. Then, when housekeeping
time comes, the dirt can be gathered
up in the newspapers, leaving the lin
ing comparatively clean.-The House.
keeper.