STUFFY ROOMS 393 



confined and ill-ventilated quarters. On the maneuvering platform in 

 the engine-room the wet-bulb temperature reaches a very high degree 

 owing to the slight escape of steam round the turbines. Commander 

 Domvile was kind enough to send me the wet and dry bulb tempera- 

 tures taken there on a number of days. The wet bulb was found to be 

 never below 80° F., sometimes reached 95° and even 98° F. It is 

 impossible for officers to work at these temperatures without straining 

 the heat-regulating mechanism of the body and diminishing their 

 health and working capacity. If such wet-bulb temperatures are 

 unavoidable, means should be provided, such as fans, which would 

 alleviate the discomfort and fatigue caused thereby. A supply of com- 

 pressed air fitted with a nozzle might be arranged and used occasionally 

 to douche the body with cool air. I have tried this plan and found it 

 very effectual, and can Tecommend the compressed-air bath as the 

 substitute for a bracing cold wind. 



The suitability of the clothing is of the greatest importance, not 

 only to the comfort but to the efficiency of man as a working machine, 

 e. g., power of soldiers to march. On a still day the body is confined 

 by the clothes as if by a chamber of stagnant air, for the air is enclosed 

 in the meshes of the clothes and the layer in contact with the skin 

 becomes heated to body temperature and saturated with moisture. 



The observations of Pembrey show that himself and four soldiers, 

 marching in drill order on a moderately warm day, lost more water 

 and retained more water in their clothes than on another similar day 

 when they worked with no jacket on. The average figures were loss 

 of moisture 1,600, against 1,200 grams, and water retained in clothes 

 254, against 109 grams. With no jacket the pulse was, on the average, 

 increased 28, against 41 in drill order, and rectal temperature 1°, 

 against 1°.5 F. The taking off of the jacket or throwing open of the 

 jacket and vest very greatly increase the physiological economy of a 

 march. It is absurd that on a hot summer day Boy Scouts should 

 march with a colored scarf knotted round their necks. Nothing should 

 be worn for ornament or smartness which increases the difficulty of 

 keeping down the body temperature. The power to march and the 

 efficiency of an army depend on prevention of heart stagnation and 

 avoidance of fatigue of the heart. 



I conclude then, that all the efforts of the heating and ventilating 

 engineer should be directed towards cooling the air in crowded places 

 and cooling the bodies of the people by setting the air in motion by 

 means of fans. In a crowded room the air confined between the bodies 

 and clothes of the people is almost warmed up to body temperature 

 and saturated with moisture so that cooling of the body by radiation, 

 convection and evaporation becomes reduced to a minimum. The 

 strain on the heat-regulating mechanism tells on the heart. The pulse 



VOL. LXXXI. — 27. 



