SCHOOL BUILDINGS AND SITES. 1 97 



.the ceiling level to pass throug-h the roof and be fitted with effec- 

 tive " registers " or valves at the ceiling level, as well as exhaust 

 heads above roof level to induce draught and prevent down 



• draught. Inlet air flues in the piers between windows weaken 

 them considerably, but the} are useful when, on account of high 

 "\inds or dust storms, the windows cannot be opened. If scien- 

 tifically distributed so as to catch all air currents, and if properly 

 fitted with louvred inlet gratings, draught deflectors, dust inter- 

 ceptors and common sense valves that cannot be tampered with, 

 they are quite effective. 



The sectional clear Avay area of the flues and appurtenances 

 should be at least 4 inches per scholar. 



It must be borne in mind that an ill-ventilated room predis- 

 poses scholars to many epidemic diseases, and in any case the 

 organisms become depressed and the dangers of all diseases be- 

 come intensified. 



Every class room should be cleared and every door and window 

 simultaneously opened at most after ij hours' occupation by its 

 full complement of scholars. 



HEATING. 



In some parts of South Africa, especially at the greater alti- 

 tudes, it has been found necessary to provide fireplaces in class- 

 rooms, but the subject is not of sufficient importance to enlarge 

 upon here. In very exposed positions it would probably be neces- 

 sary to heat all corridors as well as the rooms, and in such cases 

 a mechanical circulating system of low pressure hot water pipes, 

 with radiators at the fresh air inlets, would probably be the most 

 eflicient and economical. On no account, however, should the 

 •temperature, at any time, be allowed to exceed, say, 60° Fahr. 



WATER SLPPLV. 



The greatest care should be taken in the selection of a source 

 of water supply, as the danger of contamination of wells and 

 open water furrows is great. Where possible, a supply under 

 •constant pressure from municipal water mains should be insisted 

 upon. Tanks are always a. danger from neglect of cleansing and 

 possible pollution by mosquitoes, birds, mice, etc., that get access 

 to the water when the manholes or overflows are left exposed. 

 If exposed to the sun the water in tanks becomes hot and quite 

 unfit for human consumption. 



FLOORS. 



Class-room floors should be of such material as can be easily 

 cleansed, with as few and a.s close fitting joints as possible, to 

 prevent the harbouring and incubation of disease germs. The 

 dry sweeping of floors is worse than useless, as the process merely 

 w hirls the dust into the air to alight again upon the floor, 'furni- 

 ture and books. I need hardly remind my readers that it is 

 just the inhalation of this dust, which is often more or less germ- 

 laden, that accounts for much of the pulmonary tuberculosis that 

 is too common in schools generally to-day. 



