156 PHYSIOLOGY AND HEALTH. 



much larger than many rooms so occupied. It is esteemed a 

 proper economy to have small and tight parlors and sitting- 

 rooms, for the occupation of the families during the day and 

 evening. On an average these do not probably contain 

 more than 1700 feet. If only four persons inhabit one 

 of these, they would have air sufficient for less than one hour. 



359. It is considered, by many, a prudent architectural 

 design, to have many and small sleeping-chambers. Room 

 for the bed and wardrobe, and for convenient dressing, is all 

 that is thought absolutely necessary. At least, the plan of a 

 good dwelling generally includes a portion of these narrow 

 chambers. Many of these will not contain more than 500 

 cubic feet ; and in such, two grown persons, often more 

 than two children, sleep during the night. Here is air 

 enough to last two persons a little more than half an hour. 



360. In public boarding-houses, in some taverns, and in 

 the houses where the operatives of factories are boarded, it 

 is an object to lodge the family as cheaply as possible. Con- 

 sequently, the lodging-rooms are often made as small, or to 

 hold as many sleepers, as they can. Oftentimes these lodgers 

 are so closely crowded, as to have hardly air enough for half 

 an hour's respiration. At one of our large manufacturing 

 establishments, eight, sleep in one chamber containing 2574 

 feet; in several other chambers, two have 262^- feet, four 

 have 1800 feet, six have 973 feet, four have 686 feet, for 

 a night's respiration. These rooms contain air enough to 

 supply their occupants from twenty-five to sixty-six minutes. 



361. This close crowding of sleeping-chambers is carried 

 to the greatest extent in some of the lodging-houses built for 

 temporary usa on some of the railroads, and other public 

 works. I have the measure of one of these chambers. The 

 room was in the attic, sixteen feet long, and fourteen feet 

 wide. The height was six feet ten inches in the middle, but 

 the roof met the floor at the sides, so that the average height 

 of the room was three feet five inches, and the whole cubic 

 contents of this chamber were 765 feet. There were no 

 means whatever provided for the ventilation of this room. 



