The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1913-04-06

The apparatus used was invented by Dr..
klas Sonden. of Stockholm, and an Inn
proved form Of It was specially con-
etructed for this laboratory. In this ap-
paratus potassium pyrogallate is used
to absorb the oxygen, and potassium hy-
droxlde 10 absorb the carbon dioyide. After
the carbon dioxlde is absorbed the con-
traction in volume shows the proportion
OF that substance N the air, then the
oxygen is absorbed and the further con-
traction in volume is measured and shows
the amount Of that substance IN the air.
One important lesson taught by the ex-
periments was the extraordinary Tapidity
with which the air diffuses itself in the
neighborhood of factories which pour out
all day long clouds OF poisonous vapors.
The comparative density Of the smoke and
air being different, violent air-currents are
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-
tions to find any appreclable change in
the air content ct distance OF half g. mile
from these centres of harmfulness.
When 1t Is realized that oxygen Is the
most important factor in human life, it is
matter for extreme qualification to find
that 30 little danger accrues from over
crowding in the cities. It is made evident
that the Ill conditions Of city slums are
not due so much TO the bad air in the
streets, but to the actual ventilation of the
homes. to the lack OF sunlight, and to food
which lacks the right powers Of nourish-
ment These are matters that tenement
laws can reach, and Nature will take care
OF the rest. Not only is air good mixer"
Dut It's adaptability ensures this side OF the
Well-being OF man, all over the globe. and
even the crowded city quarter receives the
benefit
1t ls known that the amounts OF carbon
dioxide shown by these experiments to be
present IN the air Of the most crowded
city streets and even in the subways are
not sufficient to be Injurious to human
life
10 what then are we to attribute the
feeble health we find in city dwelIers as
compared with those who live IN the coun-
try and are equally well fed? How are we
to explain the great benefits that are shown
when person goes from the city to the
Seasnore or the mountains?
The explanation ts thut the city dwelfer's
trouble Is due 10 working In q sunless.
overheated, evenly warmed and windless
building. II he were continuously exposed
10 the city air he would be almost as we'll
rs at the mountains or the seashore
In illustration OF this it is pointed out
that policemen and others who lead an
open air life in the cities are fully as ro-
bust as any class OF country men,
These facts are encouraging to the city
worker who suffers from tuberculosis.
anaemia or any Of the diseases associated
with city life and sedentary occupation.
They appear TO prove that he can obtain
relief II he can get enough open air in
the 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 most crowded tene-
ment houses should furnish a health re-
sort practically as beneficial as the
Adirondacks or the seashore