The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-03-30
Even New York Subway Air,
Taken in the Rush Hours, Showed
No Decrease of Oxygen That Would
Cause Illness by Itself Alone.

The apparatus used was invented by DR..
proved form OF 1t was specially con-
structed for this laboratory In this an
paratus potassium pyrogallate is used
to absorb the oxygen, and potassium hy-
droxide 10 absorb the carbon dioxide After
the carbon dioxide is absorbed the con-
traction in volume shows the promotion
OF that substance In the air. then the
oxygen Is absorbed and the further con-
traction In volume Is measured aud shows
the amount Of that substance In the air
One important lesson taught by the e1-
pcrlments was the extraordinary rapidity
with which the air dffuses itself In the
neighborhood OF factories which pour out
all day long clouds Of poisonous vapors,
. ha@o7T2sEatiye,, density of the smoke aud
air being different. violent All 5ts3z1s.4g+srs
set up about the mouth OF the chimney and
then rapidly scatter the fumes and render
them as harmless as possible. It is almost
impossible under ordinary weather condi-
tons to find any appreciable change In
the air content at distance of half a mile
from these centres Of harmfulness
When It is realized that oxygen Is the
most Important factor in human life il Ia
a matter for extreme qualification TO find
that 80 little danger accrues from over
crowding In the cities. It Is made evident
that the Ill conditions OF city slums ara
not due so much to the bad air in the
streets. but TO the actual ventilation of tho
homes, to the lack of sunlight, and to fond
which lacks the right powers OF nourish
ment. These are matters that tenement
laws can reach, and Nature will take care
or or me rest. not only is air good mixer"
Dut its adaptability ensures this side of the
well-being Of man, all over the globe, and
even the crowded city quarter receives the
benefit
1t Is known that the amounts OF carbon
dioxlde shown by these experiments to he
present In the air of the most crowded
CITY streets and even in the subways are
not sufficient to he Injurious to human
life
To what then are we to attribute the
feeble health We find in city dwellerg IA
compared with those who live in the ,oun
Try and are equally we'll fed? How are wa
70 explain the great benefits that are shown
mheiI person goes from the city to the
SCI more or the mountains? \
The explanation is that the city A. ve,,ar,.
trouble Is due to working in a sunless
oVerneated. evenly warmed and wjndIesa
ouiinlng. * he were continuously exposed
10 the city air he would be almost as well
rs al the mountains or the seashore.
90. ''a'ioh VI thls ~ is pointed out
'hat poncemen and others who lead an
open air life In the cities are FULLY as ro-
bnst as any class of country men.
fhese facts are encouraging to the oify
worker who suffers from tubercuIosis.
anaemia or any of the diseases associated
WIN city life and sedentary occupation.
Fhey appear to prove that he can Obtain
relief il he can get enough open air ia
me city and that there Is no need for
him to abandon his livelihood and face
starvation by going away to some distant
part Of the world in order to get fresh air.
The roofs OF our most crowded tene.
ment houses should furnish health re-
sort practically az beneficial as the
Adirondacks or the seashore.