PROCEEDINGS OP THE POLYTECHNIC ASSOCIATION. 437 



((Jiffercnt atmosphere but one would be necessary. It was an impossibility 

 to make good iron wlien the thermometer is at 90 degrees and the dew 

 point at 80. At the Glass works where wood is used, which absorbs 

 moisture, and witli a northeast or a southeast wind, good glass could not 

 be made, but it would have all the colors of the rainbow in it. When jel- 

 lies are made at a high dew point, in 99 cases out of 100 they will become 

 sour or mildew. So in breathing a moist atmosphere, instead of inhalin"* 

 527 cubic inches of air, but 421 an; received, and in that moist atmosphere 

 there is heat that must be got rid of by the lungs. To preserve health 

 during th-o prevalence of such an atmosphere, a less quantity of food should 

 be eaten. The bi-carl)onate of soda would neutralize much of the ill-effects 

 arising from this cause. Acetic acid is also very valuable. He rubbed 

 down the legs of dogs with this acid when they were very tired after being 

 out hunting, and its effect was such that the, animals would immediately 

 revive and continue on in the chase for hours after. 



In the case of sun-stroke, he^ believed that the dew point was more the 

 cause of it than the heat. He noticed that with the thermometer at 112 

 degrees and the dew point at 15, there would be no sun-stroke cases re- 

 corded; but if on the next day the thermometer should fall to 90 degrees 

 and the dew point at 80, sun-strokes would be very frequent. When the 

 dew point is high, vegetation will thrive, but man will sink. The stomach 

 is the same as a furnace. If a steam boiler is out of order, the whole 

 machinery will be the same. So in breathing an atmosphere that requires 

 a strong effort of nature to obtain from it what is essential to support life, 

 and in this effort heat is evolved to such an extent as to produce general- 

 lassitude, then the boiler is out of order. Much excitement prevailed at 

 one time in this city in regard to what was termed swill-milk. Considera- 

 ble of the evil, in this case, might be traced at times to the hygrometric 

 state of the atmosphere, as, with the ^thermometer at 80 and a high dew 

 point, the milk would be found to be in a state of putrefaction. It would 

 not make butter; the cow is then unhealthy; as the dew point goes up, 

 down goes the stomach. 



At New Orleans the dew point ' rises highest, but let it go down to 60 

 and cliolera will instantly disappear. If flowers are planted on a hill, some 

 facing the southea.st and others the northwest, it will be found that those 

 flowers facing the southeasit will bloom ten to fourteen days before the 

 others. Fruit will also be found best on that part of the tree facing the 

 southeast. When bread is made with the dew point at 80 and the tem- 

 perature at 90 degrees, an acid is produced which prevents the bread being- 

 baked in the center; the water will not be evaporated; complaint will be 

 made of the oven, yeast, fire, &c., but the true cause is the dew point. 

 Flour should be ground, every grain, and not mashed; if it is not properly 

 ground, it will ferment., 



Prof. Baer continued his remarks to a late hour, and no time remained 

 for a reply to some of his questionabk' deductions. The audience, how- 

 ever, were agreeably entertained, and at the close a resolution of thanks 

 to speaker was passed. 



" The cause of the impurity of our city atmosphere," was selected as the 

 subject for the next meeting. Adjourned. 



