Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1913-12-16
Ventilation FalIacies.

NentllatlOn ID d buUJect toSoiu'n6
which, it seems, there has been . vast
amount OF information that isn't 30.
1t was once supposed that 1t was the
excess of carbon dioxlde In the air
which rendered 1t unfit for breathing.
Then somebody discovered that the
quantity of carbon dioxide didn't &C.
count for the unhealthfulness OF air that
had been somewhat breathed, and that
there must be in expired air some mys.
FERROUS organic poison exhaled from the
persons who had breathed the air.
In either case, however, whether 1t
was carbon dioxide or the mysterious
poison which caused the trouble, 1t was
evident, as figured by assumed health
authorities, that large amount OF fresh
air must be furnished to people. This
am cunt has frequently been set forth as
| at least four or FIVE times the volume
that could be passed through the lungs
in any given period-so large an amount,
In fact, that In cold weather In this lati.
tude it would be impossible to ventilate
an ordinary family living room properly
and still keep 1t at living temperature,
while crowded assembly room would
be an utterly hopeless problem.
But in order to furnish fresh air, venti.
lating systems for all kinds Of buildings
have been devised, and some Of them are
Judged by their users to be effective.
Then quite recently another interesting
discovery was made. 1t made differ
ence whether the air was drawn through
IN intake in the side or the top of the
building, or from the basement or some
where, or came in through window.
All these elaborate ventilatiDg systems
were of no value, 1t was declared. The
only way to get pure air was to open the
windows In the good old-fashioned way.
And now, according to the Journal OF
the American Medical Association, OK.
periments have shown that under almost
any conditions certain percentage OF
the expired air Is rebreathed into the
lnngs again. Therefore, the Journal
concludes, not much importance can be
attached to the slight variations In the
carbon dioxide in the air. Further,
these experiments also furnish addition.
al evidence that purity of air does not
consist in its freedom from the mythical
"toxic organic substance"
The attempts to "renew" the air by dis
placing its volume are declared by the
Journal to have failed Of their purpose
in many instances, and 1t pronounces
the essential factors In ventilation 10
be Goodness, dryness and motion" 1t
does not say whether we are therefore
to conclude that the ideal method OF
ventilation is to shut the room up tight
to keep out the damp outside air, and
start two or three electric fans to keep
the air stirring. Indeed, its conclusions
seem to be rather vague, and mostly neg
ative.
Meanwhile, II you want plenty of fresh
air, open your windows wide, and here
10 the country at least you are pretty
likely to get 1t.
But on this matter of open windows
there are one or two fallacies that you
don't want to give heed to. A writer
In an English paper voices one. Having
by accident slept one night in room
with the windows closed, and not dis.
covering any immediate Ill effects, be
concludes that he Is ian animal when he
sleeps and "does not need fresh air at
ALL" As II he were not an animal when
he Is not asleep, and likewise az II "ani-
mails" do not need fresh air.
Common sense rejects the above idea,
as 1t does equally the dictum OF some
over enthusiasts In the matter OF venti-
lation. These people say: "Open your
windows in winter as wide as you can
get them. 1t doesn't do any good to
open them little way" Now anybody
with grain of intelligence knows that
when the temperature outside is around
zero, the opening Of window little at
top and bottom will change the air faster
than setting 1t wide open when the tenn.
perature Is about the same outside and
inside.
And since authorities, alleged and 9th
erwise, seem to hold great diversity OF
opinions regarding this matter OF venti.
ton, perhaps 1t is we'll that we should
let our common sense guide US some
wnak