NO. 23 INFLUENCE OF ATMOSPHERE ON HEALTH 7 



tive changes in the circulatory system which affect some men tireless 

 in their mental activity. We know that the bench-worker, who 

 stands on one leg for long hours a day, may suffer from degenera- 

 tion and varicosity of the veins in that leg. Long-continued, high, 

 arterial pressure, with systolic and diastolic pressures approximately 

 the same, entails a stretched arterial wall, and this must impede the 

 circulation in the vaso-vasorum, the flow of tissue lymph in and 

 nutrition of, the wall. Since his sedentary occupation reduces the 

 metabolism and heat production of his body very greatly, the busi- 

 ness man requires a wanner atmosphere to work in. If the atmos- 

 phere is too warm it reduces his metabolism and pulmonary ventila- 

 tion still further ; thus he works in a vicious circle. Exhausting work 

 causes the consumption of certain active principles, for example, 

 adrenalin, and the reparation of these must be from the food. To 

 acquire certain of the rarer principles expended in the manifestation 

 of nervous energy more food may have to be eaten by the sedentary 

 worker than can be digested and metabolized. His digestive organs 

 lack the kneading and massage, the rapid circulation and oxidation 

 of food-stuffs which are given by muscular exercise. Hence arise 

 the digestive and metabolic ailments so common to brain workers. 

 Mr. Robert Milne informs us that of the thousands of children 

 who have passed through Barnardo's Homes — there are 9,000 in 

 the homes at any one time — not one after entering the institution 

 and passing under its regimen and the care of his father, Dr. Milne, 

 has developed appendicitis. Daily exercise and play, adequate rest, 

 and a regular simple diet have ensured their immunity to this infec- 

 tion. It pays to keep a horse healthy and efficient; it no less pays 

 to keep men healthy. One of us ( L. H.) recently investigated the 

 case of clerks employed in a great place of business, whose working 

 hours are from 9 to 6 on three days, and 7 to .9 on the other three 

 days of each week, and, working such overtime, they make from 

 $5 to $10 a week. These clerks worked in a confined space — forty 

 to fifty of them in 8,200 cubic feet, lighted by thirty electric lamps, 

 cramped for room, and overheated in warm summer days. It is n< it 

 with the chemical purity of the air of such an office that fault is to 

 be found, for fans and large openings ensured this sufficiently. 

 These clerks suffered from their long hours of monotonous and 

 sedentary occupation, and from the artificial light, and the windless, 

 overwarm and moist atmosphere. Many a girl cashier lias worked 

 from 8 to 8.30, and on Saturdays from 8 to 10, and then has had to 

 balance her books and leave perhaps after midnight on Sunday 



