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CONIOLOGY. 

 By Robert Hessler. 



(Abstract.) 



In this ]);iiier, illustrated liy cluirts. an atteniiit was made t(i slu \v the 

 need tor a ne^' science, Coniology, the science that treats of dust. 



Until recently the importance of dnst was not understood and ajipar- 

 ently no serious attempt has been made to Iiring t(\iether the literature. 

 To write a treatise tliat does tlie subject justice would require the co-o])er- 

 ation of many scientists, and the investigation of special problems would 

 reriuire the methods peculiar to different sciences. The aims and methods 

 of the physicist, of the astronomer, the physician, of the bacteriologist, etc.. 

 differ radically. 



There are all kinds of dust.' 



Cosmic, volcanic and desert dusts collectively are the dust of tlie 

 physicist, the astronomer and the meteorologist. Dust is of trreat im]iort- 

 ance in the matter of light and shade, of sunshine and rain. 



Dusts due to the activity of man are chiefly of three Ivinds. street, 

 house and factory dust. These are concerned in the modern dust proltlem. 

 The very practical aspect of the dust problem is of course that of lveei)ing 

 the house, the streets and cities clean ; it is a ciuistant warfare with dust 

 and dirt. 



With an increase in occupations there is an increase in the special 

 kinds of occupational dusts ; some of them are very injurious. 



Dust particles in the air are estimated by the number per c.c. The 

 first three forms of dust, the dust of the physicist, occur sparingly on 

 high mountains; there may be from a few to several hundred particles per 

 c.c. Over the ocean they run from a few hundred to several thousand. 

 When we come to the dust of everyday life matters change. Street dust 

 nius from tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands per c.c. ; house dust 

 from hundreds of thousands to millions. The amount of factory dust 

 depends largely on ventilation, how fully it is carried off. 



Dust on high mountains and over the ocean is usually sterile, that is 

 free from microbes. Dust in crowded connnunities, on the other hand, is 



See Proeeedings for 1911, page 41.5. 



