376 TRANSACTIONS OF THE 



that it may be subservient to the real purposes of life. Without this pnre 

 element, it is impossible that our homes can be healthy. 



Many of our houses have been built with what would appear a most sur- 

 prising ignorance of this want of the principal necessary of life ; and many, 

 bedrooms are without fire-places, or other means for ingress or egress of 

 air. Such buildings are often filled to overflowing with their living con- 

 tents, ignorant that each and all of them are poisoning each other. The 

 committee on public health should be aroused to this important question, 

 and the ball should be kept in motion, till no habitation for man or beast 

 be constructed which should be unfit for the occupancy of the tenant who 

 is to inhabit the same. 



Each inspiration requires about twenty cubic inches ; fifteen inspirations 

 per minute, requiring 300 cubic inches, or nearly one-sixth of a foot. 

 This quantity, mixing with the air, would render about two feet unfit for 

 respiration. Under ordinary circumstances, the respired air is near the 

 temperature of the body, or 98*^. This is specifically higher than the sur- 

 rounding air, generally. 



In dry air, heated to 240'^, D. Dobson found the heat of the body 99. 5'^, 

 He remained in air 210'', ten minutes ; his temperature was 101.5®. 



Fillit and Marantin, that air was respired at SOO'^ to 825*. 



In Quito, Bonpland and Humboldt, found fishes in volcanic water, at 210*^ 



In Germany, some bath girls have breathed air at 288°, for ten minutes, 

 without inconvenience ; one girl inhaled it at 325*^, for five minutes. Sir 

 Joseph Banks moved about in a room at 211°, and Sir Charles Bladger 

 at 260°. Sir E. Parry, Capt. Kane, and others, at 50° below zero. 



Mr. Stetson thought the subject a very important one. He alluded to 

 the warming of the Cooper Union, viz., through perforations in the floor ;■ 

 and also to the plan adopted by Mr. Rutan, admitting the hot air at the 

 top, and forcing it out near the floor. Perfect ventilation, is admitting 

 pure air imperceptibly into the room. 



Mr. Seeley. — I do not approve of the plan of admitting air at the ceiling, 

 I am of opinion that air should be admitted at the floor, in imperceptible 

 streams. 



Mr. Stetson. — Breathing produces carbonic acid gas. Gas light destroys- 

 a vast amount of air. 



Mr. Butler thought that carbonic acid gas was the trouble. Chemists, 

 by some mode, could get rid of that. The pure and impure air might be 

 separated. 



Mr. Seeley thought that we should study nature. Carbonic acid gas was 

 continually forming by breathing, and by our mode ©f lighting. The 

 winds constantly change it ; plants consume a vast deal. Plants in aqua- 

 riums, render the water pure, and prevent the changing of the water. 



Mr. Reynolds being called upon to explain the system of ventilation in 

 the Cooper Union, stated that, firstly, a pair of locomotive boilers and an 

 engine, propelling fans ten feet in diameter. In winter, the air is taken 

 some distance up. The air is forced through coils of pipes, 1,800 feet p 



