Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-04-21
|HUMID|F Y|NG TESTS
WILL Be EXTENDED
Experiments Terminated for
Present SeasonAre Called
Successful.

Now that experiments to put moisture
into the air In the Winter have been
pronounced successful, plans are afoot
to make Government Offices more COM
Portable for the workers by taking mois-
ture out of the air in the Summer.
Experiments conducted under the di-
rection of Lieut.. Col. u. S. Grant, Sd,
director of the Once Of Public Build
| ingS and Public Parks, at the Interior
Department in conjunction with hui
modification have just been terminated
for the current season to the satisfac-
ton Of offcials, who deem them a sue
cess. Under the direct supervision Of
Maj. s. M. Corbett of the Army Medi-
| cal Corps the experiments have been In
progress during the past Winter. Yes
terday the major checked over the
charts and results and concluded that
SO far they have been very satisfac-
tory" The industrial hygiene division
of the Public Health Service assisted in
/ the work.
II the Summer plans materialize 1t
will be possible, Maj. Corbett said, to
make the air in the temporary buildings
on the Mall and elsewhere comfortable
during the hot days.
Plan More installations.
| In an interview with The Star Mai.
Corbett said: Owing to the termina-
ton OF the heating season, which auto
matically eliminates the necessity for
humidification. We are unable to carry
our experiments further this Spring.
We are planning to make more extern
sive installations next Fall and to con-
tinue our observations during the
coming Winter.
/ ssrrha roc,,1fs en Co. ho,,o l.~>., .,..,.
satisfactory One type of machine to
supply moisture to heated air was In
stalled in room where about 10 ply
sicianS were constantly employed at
desks. These doctors reported that the
air was unquestionably improved, that
they felt better and noticed much less
| fatigue at the close of the day. An
| other machine Of a different type was
installed in the office of the superin-
tendent of the Interior group of build
| ings and one of this same tpye was
| installed In q room occupied by two Of
ficials Of the Interior Building. They
reported substantially the same as the
doctors; all were Of the opinion that
the working conditions. so far as the
! air was concerned, were greatly i'm
proved. We know that the efficiency
! and health of workers is greatly i'm
| proved. that there Is also less loss OF
| time from sickness and definite saving
| Of fuel where the proper relative humid
/ ity is maintained. Also that there Is
less deteriorating Of furniture, fabrics,
paintings and books.
Dehumidifying Important.
Another feature of air conditioning,
| and nearly as important as humidifying,
| Is dehumidifying. An excessive humid
| ity is about as vicious as too little
moisture. Our hot, 'muggy' days, In
this climate that are so enervating. are
caused principally by q high relative
| humidity-or excessive moisture. High
temperatures reduce efficiency. so lar
| as human beings are concerned. They
slow down some of the more important
physiological functions of our bodies
| and increase the tendency to disease.
TT would be difficult," Mai. Corbett
continued, land costly to carry on ex-
| periments to dehumidify the air IN our
Government buildings as they now
| stand, but it is hoped that arrange
i ments can be made to provide this COM
! fort in the new structures now planned
Modern plants are designed TO ADA
moisture to the air in Winter and take
| it out in Summer with practically the
same installation. This would mean
that the temperature within Govern
| ulCIIb Uuu0nABo WOuAN VIC AASAA NN"->
] even on the hottest days to very
| comfortable degree-thus eliminating
the necessity for closing the ofnces on
hot days.
Furthermore, the efficiency Of all
| employees would be increased through
| out the hot season by decentralization,
as 1t would be in the cold season by
| humidifying the air. Modern air-con-
| ditionipg plants also provide the neces-
sary heat, properly moistened, to heat
buildings In Winter-thus eliminating
the necessity of sepaWte heating equip
| ment and reducing the original cost OF
installing air-conditioning machinery.
Hospitals, In my opinion. would be
greatly benefited by humidifying the
air In Winter and dehumidifying in
Summer. Moist air in operating rooms
would reduce the liability to explosions
of the ether by sparks caused by static
electricity. 1t would provide greater
comfort for all patients, especially those
suffering with respiratory affections.
| Every one knows the efficacy Of the
Group kettle which is nothing more
| than a humidifier with some medica-
/ ton added. In Summer, If the air IN
hospitals was dehumidifled and cooled
patients would not only be more COM
| Portable, but recovery would be expe-
dited Metabolism is sped up, the
| body functions more ef1iciently, and re-
| sistance to disease Is increased"