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THE OTTAWA NATURALIST 



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VOL. XXII. OTTAWA, MAY, 1908 NK'2 



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SOME SANITARY CONSIDERATIONS REGARDING THE 

 CONSTRUCTION, HEALTH AND VENTILATION 



OF HOUSES* 



By Peter H. Bryce, M.A,. M.D., L.R.GP.S, Editor, 

 Chief Medical Officer Dept. Interior. 



Last year I had the pleasure of addressing the Club on the 

 subject of climate in relation to health, and have thovight it may 

 be of interest and perhaps profit to speak to-night on the subject 

 of House Atmospheres or Artificial Climates. 



The value of fresh air and sunlight' and the evils of foul 

 air were then set forth, while I pointed out that these evils 

 consisted alwavs in the excess of carbonic acid, of lessened 

 oxygen and deficient humidity in the house atmosphere in 

 winter. It will be plain that the location of the house, as regards 

 the nature of the soil, the free exposure to sunlight and air cur- 

 rents must be of much importance as regards health ; but as it 

 is not always possible to select the best location in the streets 

 of a city, it is some comfort to remember that so long as the 

 house can have the wind blow freely around it, there can be at 

 least an assurance that ample fresh air can be had if we choose 

 to allow it to enter the house. Let us then deal brieflv with the 

 nature of the soil under the house.. Ordinarilv in this countrv, 

 no difficulty w^ill arise with regard to the presence of decaving 

 organic matter under the house unless in some old filled up 

 ravine in a city. The upper organic mold is taken off when 

 the cellar is excavated, and the chief difficulty experienced, is 

 to get rid of ground, water when the house is. on a clav sub- 

 soil. Of course, in the city, an ordinary residence need not 

 be more than 3 or 4 feet below the ground level, but with roof 

 water and ground water running down the walls, provision must 

 be made for its rapid removal to prevent a damp cellar, pro- 

 moting organic decay as seen in moulds on the walls, on fruits, 



*Address delivered before the Club, Jan.- 7th, 190S. 



