396 THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY, 



make sure of our air supply under all the varying conditions of this changeable 

 climate. 



Under tlie old means of ventilation doors windows, and 

 suction shafts : 



The ventilation heretofore has been imperfect, with a great prevalence of 

 cold draughts, annoying and dangerous to teachers and pupils. Unreflecting 

 people, however, will tell you that it was well enough, and all the expenditure 

 that has been made to secure good ventilation in this schoolhouse is unnecessary 

 a mere waste of money. Those who make this assertion have no arguments 

 based on facts to present for our consideration. They simply give us their 

 opinion, generally accompanying the expression of it with a sneer, or an oppro- 

 brious epithet, like that of " crank," hurled at the advocates of free ventilation. 

 Now, if so important a matter as this is to be settled by authority ; if any man's 

 ipise dixit is to be regarded as final, it should surely be that of a person who has 

 some knowledge of the subject. I am of the opinion that the liberal supply of 

 fresh air which has been provided for this building is necessary to the health of 

 its occupants; and there is not a recent scientific investigator in this field, 

 there is not a well-known writer upon hygiene, there is not an intelligent physi- 

 cian in the world who will not support me in this opinion. Then, what of the 



cost? Do you care for that, citizens of L , if it is necessary for the health of 



your children ? I am well assured that you do not. "We, who spend our lives in 

 effort to combat disease, can assure you that no other investment of money pays 

 so well as that the inconae of which is good health; for, in securing this return, 

 we secure with it, as a possibility at least, nearly everything which life can give 

 of enjoyment or usefulness.* 



The doctor then proceeded to give an itemized statement of 

 the working cost of this new ventilating arrangement, and 

 showed it to be about seven mills per occupant daily ; but, inas- 

 much as his calculations were based on the previous attendance, 

 and as the present year has witnessed a very notable increase of 

 attendance, even to the extent of requiring utilization for school- 

 room of portions of the library space, without increase of the 

 total cost of ventilation, the expense may probably be safely 

 stated as not exceeding half a cent for each occupant daily. 

 Even this slight expenditure (not in excess but instead of that 

 of previous expedients) may, in one sense, be regarded as no 

 expenditure at all, in view of the fact that there is not an intelli- 

 gent teacher but will testify to a manifest improvement in the 

 result of her labors far in excess of the added cost. 



The necessity of ample ventilation is therefore evident, even 

 from the narrow merely scholastic standpoint ; and we may 

 be more sure that as education comes to be recognized in the 

 broader and more proper sense, which includes the full and 

 plenary development of all the physical, mental, and moral fac- 

 ulties that necessity will become more abundantly manifest. 



* Dedicatory Address at Opening of the Iligh School of the City of L , p. 210. 



