The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-11-20
THE ARTDITY OF SAHARA
 WITHOUT THE SUN

WITHOUT THE SUN
 Most urban folk spend the winter in climate drier than Sahara but without the benefit of the desert sunshine.
 Outdoor air at zero temperature with a relative humidity of 50 per cent (that is, containing half the moisture it could hold if saturated), |, when heated to 70 degrees P. has a relative humidity of only 3 per cent, which is drier than the air of the driest climate known, which is sel- dom less than 25 per cent. The year around humidity in Death Valley, California, averages g per cent, and at Yuma, Arizona, it is 35 per cent in the driest month of the year.
 The excessively dried out air of the heated house Git matters little what type of heat is used), causes woodwork to shrink and fall apart, book bindings to crack, plants to droop and die, the, skin of occupants to become harsh and irritable, mu- cous membranes to become con- gested and Representative. It is hard on every one, but especially for those subject to chronic bronchitis, win ter cough, sinusitis, catarrhal" troubles, asthma, emphysema, bron- chiectasis.
 Comfort, health and economy de- rnand for every one either suit able air-c conditioning equipment in- stalled with the heatnig system or at least some provision for evapor- ating a reasonable amount of water daily in the air of the heated dwell- ing. This is desirable for every one but imperative for those subject to chronic bronchitis, sinus trouble, winter cough, catarrhal" condi- tions. Gadgets that evaporate a gallon of water a day are scarcely worth considering. AS rule it is necessary to eyaporate from one to two gallons a day for each average size room in the house, in order to maintain a fair relative humidity in the heated atmosphere.
 The other fault with the climate where most people spend the winter is absence of sunshine. It is not merely the warmth of sunshine that makes the ideal winter climate at- tractive; 1t is the greater proportion of ultraviolet rays in the sunlight nearer the equator. Ultraviolet rays, if the skin is exposed to them. generate vitamin D in the body (convertnig ergosterol into viosteroD Vitsmin D is essential in maintain ing or building immunity against in- lection. If this natural source of vit- amin D is not available, then dwell- CTS in the great indoor winter Sa- hara should supplement their diet with daily ration of vitamin Dat least 5000 or 5000 units of vitamin D every day throughout the winter
 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
 Multiple Neuritis
 Son poor eater, heavy drinker, truck driver, has stiffness in legs, hard to walk, left hand sore and numb, doctors who examined him all said nerves, some neuritis in arms and elgs. (Mrs. R. M. O.
 Anwers-Buy wheat germ by the pound. from a miller who will take the trouble to catch it out for you, or from a health food store. See that your son gets at least four ounces (one-fourth pound) of it daily, mixed with any cereal he eats, or incorporated in any recipe calling for flour-use half flour and half wheat germ.
 Glasses
 Is 1t necessary to have glasses fit- ted to child aged 9 years if the eye doctor, after drops, finds the child hes. lN dioptimal in both eyes, far sighted? (R. H. e.
 Answer-1t would be best to follow the advice of the oculist who made the examination. Often the wearing of glasses in childhood conserves vision for later life.
 How To Eat Grapes
 I am very fond of grapes, but my pleasure in eatnig them is spoiled if have to eject the skins or see any one else doing so. Is there danger of getting appendicitis if one