Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1921-11-14
RUNNING ENGINE
IN GARAGE: MAY
PROVE SERIOUS
1t Is Almost As Dangerous
As Blowing Out the Gas
Before Going to Bed,
Yale Professor Says.
(By The Associsted PRESS,

New Haven, Conn, Nov. 49,
Running the engine of car, to
warm it up, In small closed ga
rage, is one Of the most dangerous
things that a man can do. accord
ing to Prof. Yandell Henderson of
Yale university. 1t is almost as
dangerous as blowing out the gas
before going to bed, Professor Hen
derson says.
1.-THE exhaust gas from an engine
and city Illuminating gas both con-
tain large proportions Of carbon
monoxide," says Professor Hender-
son. "a small car produces as
much carbon monoxide in minute
as a gas burner will flow in three
or four hours. and a large car pro-
duces even more of this gas.
"These facts have been shown
recently by Mr.. A. G. Fieldner and
his associates Of the United States
bureau of mines.
Professor Henderson. consulting
psychologist of the bureau of mines,
has shown that il the exhaust gas
is diluted with enough fresh air it
is practie ally harmless. Three or
four volumes of carbon monoxide
in 10000 times as much fresh air
can be breathed for an hour or
more without any i'll effect, he
says.
"But six volumes Of the gas may
cause slight headache nine vol
umes n severe headache and maui
sea, and fifteen or twenty volumes
in 10000 Of air will produce uncon-
seriousness and even DEATH" he
states
A car produces one cubic foot or
more Of carbon monoxide ner min
ute, and Professor Henderson cal
culates that in a small closed ga
rage 90 by 10 by 20 feet) the car
when warming up, communicates
the air to a deadly concentration
within three or four minutes.
"Many people lose their lives
every winter by running their en-
CINE with the garage doors and
windows closed" he points out
"The only safe way is to open the
garage doors before starting the
engine. or to slip a piece of hose
over the exhaust and so deliver the
gas out of doors.
"These investigations were car
ried out for the New York and
New Jersey tunnel commission
which are constructing a vchicnlar
tunnel under the Hudson river. The
tunnel will be large enough for two
lines Of passenger cars or trucks
each way, and will relieve automo-
hilists OF the delay involved In
crossing the river on. the ferries
Elaborate plans are being made BY
the engineers for properly ventilat-
ing the tubes to keep them clear of
smoke and gas"
The standard for maximum con-
centration of carbon monoxide in
air for safety recommended hv Pro-
fessor Henderson has been adopted
for the tunnel. and driving through
the. tunnel will not involve apore-
ciahly more risk due to bad air than
driving along Fifth avenue in New
York city on crowded afternoon
"Many people believe that gaso-
line varor is the cause of the un-
pleasant feelings that they some
times experience in a large. badly
ventilated public garage" says DIR
Henderson Or. Fl. w. Hasgard.
working with me. has shown that
these symptoms are not due to the
gasoline vapor hut to the carbon
monoxide gas which results when
the gasoline vapor is exploded in
the cylinders of an engine.
Carbon monoxide combines with
the red coloring matter of the
blood. and this prevents the blood
from carrying an adequate amount
of oxygen from the lungs to the
brain and other parts Of the body
Rut we find that soon after the af-
fected person comes into fresh air
again the carbon monoxide begins
to leave the blood. The restoration
Of the blood to its normal condi-
ton can only be assisted by inhal-
ing oxygen.
These investiga tons are of i'm
portance not only to Automobiles
hut also to everyone who takes care
of his own furnace. If enough air
is not supplied to coal fire, large
amounts of carbon monoxide are