COMPOSITION OF THE ATMOSPHERE. 21 



In Cow-houses and Stables. 



If, agaiu^ we enter cow-houses and stables^ the same 

 results are obtained. The following six are so uniform, 

 they seem to be as good as thousands, and are obtained 

 ivovQ. the only specimens collected. I went in the morning 

 after the cows had been milked and fed, and therefore 

 after the air had been allowed to enter. The houses still 

 had a close smell. The stables were badly closed, and one 

 was open ; the specimens were taken near to the horses, as 

 far from the doors as possible, avoiding the direct breath 

 of the animals. I cannot say they are fair examples of the 

 air breathed by the horses or cattle alone; but they are 

 very fair specimens of the kind of air breathed by those 

 who work in or visit stables. Two of the stables were for 

 cab-horses, the doors half open ; a third was a gentleman^s 

 stable of four stalls^ but there was only one horse; the 

 door was shut. The air seemed good for a stable, and still 

 the loss of oxygen is visible in the analysis : — 



Oxygen. 



Cow-houses xo"jo 



„ 2078 



2075 



Stables 20*82 



2074 



„ 2074 



In such places as have been last described it would not 

 be pleasant to live, and in the atmosphere of the theatre 

 we know how much desire of fresh air is produced. Yet 

 none of these numbers are so low as 2.0' b, the number 

 assumed as marking the beginning of very bad air. The 

 temperature of the theatre in the pit was 78° F., and this 

 is a common temperature in the mines. By taking 

 Leblanc's analyses a somewhat different number might be 

 arrived at ; but even he finds 20*54 o^lj after a hospital 

 window had been shut all night, and 20*53 ™ ^ room with 



