1902] HEATING AND VENTILATION 253 



the somewhat ingenious system which was fitted in the 

 ' Discovery,' and to point out in what respects it failed. 



The idea was that fresh air entering should pass into a 

 chamber and there become warmed by a small stove before 

 entering the compartment ; the vitiated air was to be drawn 

 up through the exhaust which surrounded the funnel of the 

 ordinary heating stove, the heat of the funnel being expected 

 to cause an up-draught. Of course, in addition to the air 

 passing out at the exhaust under this system, a large volume of 

 air would have to enter to supply the combustion of the stoves, 

 but as long as there was an up-draught through the exhaust 

 the heated vitiated air in the upper part of the compartment 

 would be drawn off. When we found that we obtained suffi- 

 cient heat from the ordinary stove alone, much of the theoretical 

 benefit of this scheme vanished. With changes of wind we 

 had often to contend with practical dififiiculties, and there were 

 times when the system was the object of universal contumely. 



The question of fresh air and ventilation was one which 

 afforded us a constant field for argument, and even our 

 medical officers were divided in opinion, one making a bold 

 stand for equable warmth, whilst the other contended that at 

 all costs the purity of the air we breathed should be assured. 

 In consequence of this, the community was divided into two 

 camps, for and against the opening of the skylights ; and as 

 the members of each camp were desirous of arranging matters 

 to suit themselves, the skylights were constantly frying up and 

 down until a compromise was effected. It was decided that 

 the skylight and the door of the companion should be opened 

 every morning at 7.30, and not closed until the air in the 

 compartment was thoroughly renewed, and that after that hour 

 it should only be opened by general consent, and should the 

 temperature rise above 60°. 



^Jufie 23. — We kept our mid- winter festival to-day, as 

 yesterday was Sunday, and the ship has been en fete. The 

 mess-deck was gaily decorated with designs in coloured papers 

 and festooned with chains and ropes of the same material, 

 the tables were loaded with plum puddings, mince pies, and 



