NO. 23 



INFLUENCE OF ATMOSPHERE ON HEALTH 



55 



The readings were taken at about chest height. The chamber held 

 approximately 3 cubic meters of air. In one class of experiments 

 we shut within the chamber seven or eight students for about half 

 an hour and observed the effect of the confined atmosphere upon 

 them. We kept them therein until the CO a reached 3 to 4 per cent, 

 and the oxygen had fallen to from 17 to 16 per cent. The wet-bulb 

 temperature rose meanwhile to about 8o° to 85 ° F. and the dry-bulb 

 a degree or two higher. The students went in chatting and laugh- 

 ing, but by and by as the temperature rose they ceased to talk and 

 their faces became flushed and moist. We have watched them try- 

 ing to light a cigarette (to relieve the monotony of the experiment) 

 and puzzled by their matches going out, borrowing others, only in 

 vain. They had not sensed the percentage of the diminution of 

 oxygen, which fell below 17. Their breathing was slightly deepened 

 by the high percentage of C< > 2 , but no headache occurred in any of 

 them from the short exposure to from 3 to 4 per cent C0 2 . Their 

 discomfort was relieved to an astonishing extent by putting on 

 the electric fans placed in the roof. Whilst the air was kept 

 stirred the students were not affected by the oppressive atmosphere. 

 They begged for the fans to be put on when they were cut off. The 

 same old stale air containing 3 to 4 per cent CO. and 16 to 17 per 

 cent 2 was whirled, but the movement of the air gave complete 

 relief, because the air was 8o° to 85 F. (wet bulb) while the air 

 enmeshed in their clothes in contact with their skin was 98 to 00 

 F. (wet bulb). The whirling away of this stationary air cooled the 

 body effectually, for air at 8o° to 85 F. holds considerably more 

 water vapor when heated up to from 98 to 99 F. 



January 29, 1912. Seven students and M. F. shut in chamber. 



Analysis of air taken at 3.10 p. m. : C0 2 ^,.^7 per cent; 2 16.37 

 per cent. Matches would not burn in the air. The students 



