The Union daily times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1918-current, 1921-11-15
Do Not Run Engine
In Closed Garage


ming the engine Of car to warm it |
up, in a small closed garage, is one
of the most dangerous things that a
man can do, according to Prof. Yam
dell Henderson, Of Yale University.
It is almost as dangerous as blow
ing out the gas before going to bed
Professor Henderson says.
1.-THE exhaust gas from an engine
md city illuminating gas both con-
ain large proportions of carbon mon
'xide," says Professor Henderson. "A
small car produces as much carbon
nonoxide in a minute as a gas burner
will flow in three or four hours, and
a large car produces even more of
his gas.
"These facts have been shown re-
emily by Mr.. A! C. Fieldner and his
associates of the U. S. Bureau of
Mines.
Professor Henderson consulting
physiologist of the Bureau of Mines
1as shown that if the exhaust gas is
diluted with enough fresh air it is
,rac' ically harmless. Three or four
volumes of carbon nIonoXide in 10000
times as much fresh air can be breath
ed for an hour or more without any
i'll effect, he says.
"But six volumes of the gas may
cause a slight headache, nine volumes
a severe headache and nausea, and Is
or 20 volumes in 10000 of air will pro-
duce unconsciousness and even DEATH"
a states.
"a car produces one cubic foot or
more of carbon monoxide per minute,
and Professor Henderson calculates
thta in small closed garage 90 by
20 b. 20 feet) the car, when warming
Up, contaminates the afr to a dead
ly concentration within throo or four
minutes.
"NIany people lose their lives every
winter by running their engine with
the garage doors and windows closed"
he points out. '9The only safe way is
to open the garage doors before start
ng the engine, or to slip piece of
hose over the exhaust and so deliver
the gas out of doors.
"These Investigations we carried
out for the New York and h jersey
Tunnel Commission which are con.
trncting vehicular tunnel under the
Hudson river. The tunnel will be
'arge enough for two lines of pas
senger cars or trucks each way, and
will relieve automobilists of the de
lay involved in crossing the river on
he ferries. Elaborate plans are be-
ing made by the engineers for prop
erly ventilating the tubes to keep
them clear of smoke and gas"
The standard for maximum concen.
tration of carbon monoxide in air for
safety recommended by Professor
Henderson has been adopted for the
tunnel, and driving through the tun-
mel will not involve appreciably more
risk due to bad air thah driving 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 expert
ence in a large badly ventilated pub
lie garage" says DR.. Henderson. CDR.
portance not only to automobilists but
show that these symptoms are not due
to the gasoline vapor but to the car
bon monoxide gas which results when
the gasoline vapor is exploded in the
cylinders of an engine.
carbon monoxide combines with
the red colocing 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 person comes
into fresh air again, the carbon mon
oxide begins to leave the blood. The
restoration of the blood to it's normal
condition can also be assisted by in
haling oxygen.
"These Investigations are of i'm
also to everyone who takes care Of
his own furnace. If enough air is
not supplied to a coal fire, large
amounts of carbon monoxide are
formed and some of this gas may leak
out into the air of the house. They
are of Importance also to city fremen,
for the smoke of burning buildinb
nearly always contains large amounts
of carbon monoxide. 1t is not the
stinging, visible vapors which over
come the men trying to enter the
burning building, but the invisible,
odorless carbon monoxide contained
in the smoke.
"In numerous instances firemen 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
wide. AS a result of the investiga-
tions of the chemists and physiolo-
rists of the Bureau of Mines and the
Chemical Warfare Service, masks are
now being developed to protect
against carbon monoxide."