The Washington times., 1917-03-20
POPULAR MEDICINE
BY DR.. HIRSHBERG
Intelligent Observation OF Rules
of Hygiene viii De-
crease Illness.
BY DIR. LEONARD X. HIRsHBERG.

BY DR.. LEONARD X. HIRsHBERG.
Deaths have been reported from time
to time in garages from the fumes Of
gasoline. Warnings have been sent
broadcast about the possible dangers
from gasoline vapors, when confined
too closely. but these seem to 80 un-
needed.
Just the other day another such death
occurred A farmer In Texas entered
the inclosed barn which he used as his
private garage and started Up the en-
CINE Of his automobile slowly in order
to test It. Some time later he was
missed. A farm hand entered the barn
and found him dead. The coroner pro-
nounced his death due to gasoline
fumes.
The explanation Of this modern cause
Of sufrocation Ii to be found, not d.
rectly in the evaporation and fumes of
the gasoline. but from the far from full
combustion Of that fuel
When gasoline 10 fully burned as q
fuel. without the loss Of any part OF Its
energy-making properties. there Ii no
danger Of such fatalities Unhappily. 1t
Is almost impossible to obtain perfect
ton Of certain noxious gases. such as
Illuminating gas sometimes produces.
Since 1t Is almost impossible to secure
complete combustion II hehooves tho
mechanic. the driver and the owner Of
gasoline engines to bear In mind the
ever threatening danger from the
poison gas"
No Danger Signs.
The imperfect combustion Of gaso-
line permits the formation of carbon
monoxide. one Of the most fatal Of
poison gases. Only one part OF this
carbon monoxide gas In . thousand
times as much pure air will cause
blueness and discomfort almost to
suffocation.
II 1t escapes In q closed space, such
as q garage, and the auto owner or
mechanic II forced to inhale II. this
sneaky, unsmelled, treacherous gas
puts him to sleep and death occurs
while the victim Is comatose-
Whenever the amount OF this prod
uct Of incompletely burned gasoline
exceeds one part in i've hundred
one thimbleful or one cubic foot to
500 cubic feet-the person exposed to
1t will seldom live TO tell OF his ex-
perience.
The worst of It is, he never knows
what has struck him down. because
monoxide of carbon is a gas. sans
odor, sans color. sans taste and sans
feeling. The human race is not en-
dowed with any sense that can per-
ceive II or detect its presence before
1t is often too late. Only the scien-
list with his laboratory instruments
is able to discover its unwelcome
presence in time
"FIrst Aid" Helps.
Minor symptoms which are suspi-
cious OF the possible production of this
illness, blueness and violent and sud
den keeling over" into unconscious
ness. Then 1t Is almost too late even
with the use of pulmotor or lung mo-
tor.
Unless the victim, upon the appear
ance Of dizziness and blue lips, Is car
ried Immediately into fresh. warm air
he will be past help. A few seconds
delay suffices to destroy all chance
of recovery.
The moral OF this is always 20 store
your car and work around II IN a well
ventilated garage. Never use the On |
CINE to run electric motors, churns. |
feeders or what not unless there Is |
every chance from open doors and |
windows to make more fresh air than |
the engine can generate OF this "pois- |
on gas"
CCopy't. 1911, by Newspaper Feature service.)