Year: 1873

| IHE finding in an exchange OF sad
account of the death of a whole family
from Inhaling carbonic acid gas has sug-
gested to us the propriety of warning our
readers to be careful in the management
| of fires. Coal while burning throws off
carbonic acid or coal gas in large quanti-
ties. This, being more than so per cent
heavier than air, will steadily escape into
the room through damper or other ORR
fee in stove or furnace or from a fire
place when there is not sufficient draft to
carry it up the chimney. If the room is
not properly ventilated it steadily rises
and gradually poisons the atmosphere of
the apartment.


When breathed into the lungs this gas
acts like narcotic poison, producing a
feeling of languor, bringing on headache
increasing in severity and making inspir-
alton labor. Inhaled in small quantities
its action is slow and insidious, but when
any considerable amount is taken into the
lungs death results in short time. Sui
cides have not unfrequently chosen to end
life in this way and to accomplish their
purpose have shut themselves in close
rooms and built fires of charcoal, that
substance evolving the poisonous vapor
more rapidly than any other inflammable
material


Carbonic acid gas may taint the air to
a considerable extent without being de-
tected until throbbing temples and ach-
ing lungs betray its presence. If it ex-
lists in large quantities it is easil--,- recog
nized by its very pungent odor, its
rasping the inside of the throat and
seemingly making the lungs all raw. In
its pure state it destroys life in a surpris-
ingly quick space of time, few seconds
suff1cing to cause death. 1t is incombust-
ihla and ch fiap,a in q tui


Being heavier than air 1t may lie in
shallow stratum in sufficient quantity to
kill a cat or a dog while a man might
walk unharmed through the deadly
stream. Burning coal or decaying veget-
able or animal matter produces it. Places
not ventilated almost invariably if not al
ways contain it, particularly if situated
low or under ground, as wells and cellars.
1t always is present in air, however pure,
though in harmless quantity, being
thrown off the lungs in the process of
respiration. 1t is the carboni, acid gas
which makes the air in a crowded room
sitting, the other atmospheric elements
being speedily absorbed into the system
and the gas being breatl ed out only to be
breathed back in increased volume in
each inspiration.


Deadly as 1t is when inhaled, it is not
only pleasant, but positively beneficial,
when taken into the stomach. 1t is the
active principle of soda and mineral
waters, and without it champagne and
similar beverages would be insipid. Its
injurious effects in the human system are
confined to the lungs, which it seems to
paralyze.


Thorough ventilation is the only safe
guard against it. Merely remaining in a
close, unventilated room, and simply
breathing, will in time SO vitiate the air
by removing from the air everything
but the fatal gas-that death will follow.
This was what caused the horrors of the
famous Black Hole of Calcutta, and whats
has produced many mysterious death.
A furnace, if improperly construct
ed or managed, may disseminate
the noxious vapor throughout a
whole house. The gas escapes from a
stove or CRATE in dangerous volumes A
leak in gas pipe or an open jet will
speedily poison room. This deadly
carbonic acid gas is constantly loading
the air in our houses, and should be care
fully guarded against by ventilation. We
cannot too forcibly impress upon the
minds of our readers the danger which
turks around the fireside, particularly
where bituminous or soft coal is burned.
Weather strips and other appliances to
hCCJ tuc COlu " keep IQ6
warmth in) are well enough in their way,
but where they are used the need of ven
tilation is greatly multiplied. A large
proportion of the diseases which affiict
our race are due to breathing impure air,
which means air more or less heavily
charged with carbonic acid gas. Let Wig
lance and ventilation be the household
watchword. GeUeldnd PaindeaIer.


~


a WIFE Of nearly ten years, having
given her servant a holiday, was attend
ing to culinary matters herself, and, hear
ing her husband coming in the kitchen,
thought che would surprise him as soon
as he entered the door by throwing her
hands over his eyes and imprinting kiss
on his brow, as in the days of the honey
moon. The husband returned the salute
with interest, and asked, as he disengag-
ed her hands, "Mary, darling, where is
your mistress?" The wife discharged
"Mary, dariiug," the next day. and has
adopted a new plan of Surprising" her
husband.-LGn'aster( Pa } Express.


THE newspaper reports of Captain
Jacks fight with regular troops confirm
the statement that the Modocs fought
naked The regulars were not to that
manner of fighting horn