90 SMITHSONIAN MISCELLANEOUS COLLECTIONS VOL. OO 



of the structure prevents the diffusion of air which takes place so 

 freely through the brick walls of a house. The men in their sleep- 

 ing quarters are very closely confined, and as the openings of the 

 air conduits are placed in the roof between the hammocks, the men 

 next to such openings receive a cold draught and are likely to shut 

 the openings. To sleep in a warm moist " fugg " would not matter 

 if the men were actively engaged for many hours of the day on 

 deck and were there exposed to the open air and the rigors of sea 

 and weather. In the modern war-ship most of the crew work for 

 many hours under deck, and many of the men, unless disciplined to 

 do so, may scarcely come on deck for weeks or even months. Con- 

 sidering the conditions which obtain, it seems to be of the utmost 

 importance that all the men in a battle-ship should be inspected at 

 short intervals by the medical officers, so that cases of tuberculosis 

 may be weeded out in their incipiency. The men of every rating 

 should be compelled to deck drill for some part of every day. 



In a destroyer inspected by one of us 12 men occupied quarters 

 containing about 1,700 cubic feet of air. There was an open stove 

 with iron pipe for a chimney, from which fumes of combustion must 

 leak when in use, and a fan which would not work. When the men 

 are shut down, the moisture is such that boots, etc., become mouldy 

 and the water drips off the walls and ceilings. The cooling effect 

 of the sea-water washing over the steel shell of the boat is very 

 beneficial in keeping down the temperature in these confined and 

 ill-ventilated quarters. 



On the manoeuvring platform in the engine room the wet-bulb 

 temperature reaches a very high degree, owing to the slight escape 

 of steam round the turbines. 



Captain Domvile was kind enough to take the wet- and dry-bulb 

 temperatures for us while in command of the destroyer Lyra. 



The wet bulb was found to be never below 8o° F., and sometimes 

 reached 95 ° and even 98 ° F. 



It is impossible for men to work at these temperatures without 

 straining the heat-regulating mechanism of the body and diminishing 

 the working capacity of the men. If such wet-bulb temperatures are 

 unavoidable, means should be provided, such as fans, which would- 

 alleviate the discomfort and fatigue caused thereby. A cylinder of 

 compressed air fitted with a nozzle might be arranged and used 

 occasionally to douche the body with cool air. \W have tried this 

 plan and found it very effectual. We recommend the compressed-air 

 bath as a substitute for a bracincr cold wind. 



