DEATH FROM WANT OF FRESH AIR. IJg 



4. Rapid Death from Insufficient Supply of Fresh Air. 



Cases of quick poisoning from repeated breathing of the 

 same air are not frequent Fortunately, few doors and 

 windows fit so tight as to prevent fresh air from getting 

 into a room, and foul air out of it, fast enough to keep one 

 or two people alive. The very deadly result of breathing 

 the same air repeatedly has, however, been terribly 

 proved in more than one instance. The steamship 

 " Londonderry," a few years ago, sailed from Liverpool 

 with two hundred passengers on board. Stormy weather 

 coming on, the captain ordered all the passengers into a 

 small cabin and then closed its openings. " The wretched 

 passengers were now condemned to breathe over and 

 over again the same air. This soon became intolerable. 

 There occurred a horrible scene of frenzy and violence, 

 amid the groans of the dying and the curses of the more 

 robust. This was stopped by one of the men contriving 

 to force his way on deck, and to alarm the mate, who 

 was called to a fearful spectacle. Seventy-two were 

 already dead and many were dying ; their bodies were 

 convulsed, the blood starting from their eyes, nostrils, 

 and ears." All this occurred within six hours. 



Not merely some fresh air, but a certain quantity of 

 fresh air is necessary to maintain life. It seems almost 

 absurd to point out this fact, yet many folks act as if they 

 believed that any air-hole, with little regard to its size, 

 were sufficient. The greater the number of people in a 

 room, the more abundant must the air-supply be. 

 Ignorance of this fact led to the horrible catastrophe of 



4. Why is quick poisoning from foul air not frequent ? Give an ac- 

 count of the example of it on board the " Londonderry." What be- 

 sides " some" fresh air is needful ? When must the fresh air be more 

 abundant? Describe the catastrophe of the " black hole of Calcutta.' 1 



