New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1921-11-16
AUTO EXHAUST
GAS is DEADLY
Yale Professor Warns Against
Racing Engines in Garage

New Haven, Nov. 16.-RunninS the
engine of a car to warm 1t up IN
small closed garage, is one OF the
most dangerous things that man
can do, according to Prof. Iandell
Henderson, of Yale University 1t IS
almost as dangerous as blowing out
the gas before going to bed, Profess
sor Henderson says,
THE exhaust gas from an engine,
aud city Illuminating gas both con-
tain large proportions OF carbon mon
oxide" says Prof. Henderson. "A
small car produces as much carbon
monoXide in minute as a gas burn
er will flow in three or four hours,
and a large car produces even more
OF this gas.
'"These facts have been shown re-
Gently by A. C. Fieldncr and his as
sociates of the L. $. Bureau of Mines.
Professor Henderson, consulting
physiologst of the Bureau of Mines,
mas shown that if the exhaust gas is
diluted with enough fresh air it is
practically harmless. Three or four
volumes of carbon nionoXide in TO-
600 times as much fresh air can be
breathed for an hour or more with
out any i'll effect, he says,
But 6 volumes of the gas may
cause a slight headache, . volumes a
severe headache and nauseau, and 5
or 20 volumes in 10000 Of air will
produce unconsCiousness and even
DEATH" he states.
A car produces one cubic foot or
more of carbon monoXide per minute,
and Professor Henderson calculates
that in a small closed garage 90 by
90 feet) the car, when warming up,
communicates the air to a deadly con-
centration within three or four min
utes.
MANY people lose their lives every
winter by running their engine with
the garage doors and windows closed, "
he points out. The only safe way is
to open the garage doors before start
ing the engine, or to slip piece of
hose over the exhaust and SO deliver
the gas out of doors.
"These investigations were carried
out for the New York and New Jer-
sey Tunnel Commission, which are
constructing vehicular tunnel UNI
will be large enough for two lines of
passenger cars or trucks each way,
and will relieve automobolists of the
delay involved in crossing the river
on the ferries. Elaborate plans are
being made by the engineers for prop
erly ventilating the tubes to keer
them clear of smoke and gas
The standard for maximum con-
centraton of carbon monoXide in air
for safety recommended by Profess
sor Henderson has been adopted for
the tunnel, and driving through the
tunnel will not involve appreciably
more risk due to bad air than driv-
ing along Fifth Avenue in New York
city on a crowded afternoon.
Many people believe that gasoline
vapor is the cause of the unpleasant
feelings that they sometimes eXper-
| fence in large badly ventilated pub
lie garage says DR.. Henderson. Or
II. w. Haggard, working with me
has shown that these symptoms are
not due to the gasoline VapOr but tC
| the carbon monoxide gas which re-
suits when the gasoline Vapor is eX-
| ploded in the cylinders of an engine
Carbon monoxde combines with
| the red. coloring matter of the blood
and this prevents the blood from car
rying an adequate amount of oxygen
| from the lungs to the brain and other
parts of the body. But we find that
soon after the affected persons comes
into fresh air again, the carbon mon
oxide begins to leave the blood, The
restoration of the blood to its nor
NAL condition can also be assisted
by inhaling oxygen.
"These Investigations are of import
ance not only to automobilsists but
also to everyone who takes care of
not supplied to a coal fire, large
amounts of carbon monoXide arc
| formed and some of this gas may
leak out into the air of the house
They are of importance also to city
flremen, for the smoke of a burning
building nearly always contains large
amounts of carbon mOnoXide. 1t is
not the singing, visible vapors which
overcome the men trying to enter the
burning building, but the invisible
oderless carbon monoXide contained
in the smoke.
In numerous instances flremen in
different cities have tried to use army
gas masks in fighting city fires, not
knowing that these masks do not pro.
tect against the deadly carbon mon
oxide. AS result of the investiga.
tons of the chemists and physiolo.
gists of the Bureau of Mines and the
Chemical Warfare Service. masks are
now being developed to protect
against carbon monoxde."