VENTILATION AND VENTILATORS. 
409 
the outlet tube, but the funnel removes much of the heated 
air of the room — tobacco-smoke, vapour, and such like, passing 
up with great rapidity through the apertures in the “ ceiling- 
flower.” It will be observed that the diagram shows a pair of tubes 
external to the funnel and communicating with an inlet tube, 
the arrows here indicating a passage of air inwards. This is an 
addition to Mr. Ricketts’ lamp, which was suggested by Mr. J. 
P. Seddon, Hon. Secretary to the Royal Institute of British 
Architects, and which strikes us as more ingenious than effi- 
cient. Its object is the introduction of cool fresh air from 
without, thus converting the lamp into an apparatus for venti- 
lating perfectly closed rooms. It is only fair to say that we 
have not gone carefully into the examination of this addition ; 
but our observations, so far as they went, tended to prove 
its utter inutility ; indeed, so far as we could perceive, it acted 
more as an outlet than anything else ; but on this point we 
are desirous of further experience. In every other particular, 
Mr. Ricketts’ plan seems to meet a great want ; and we doubt 
whether in winter (when fires are used) any other mode of get- 
ting rid of foul air is required. But for those who do not care to 
go to the expense of purchasing one of the globes, we should 
recommend the employment of an outlet-shaft, expanding at one 
end into a cone, situated over the ceiling-flower, and opening at 
the other extremity into the chimney. This we have seen in 
some houses, and its effect has been admirable. A somewhat 
similar contrivance is shown in the adjoining cut. Indeed, the 
6e sun-light ” method of illumination is generally one of the 
best modes of ventilation ; and gas-lamps, provided with the 
above arrangement, approach them in usefulness. No system 
of ventilation can be considered perfect in which the gas-lamp 
is not made to carry away the air vitiated by its use.* 
We come now to another consideration, which, if of not so 
grave a nature, at all events demands every attention. We refer 
to the mode of introduction of pure air. At present, in most 
* We have not noticed Arnott’s chimney- valves and other similar con- 
trivances, because we have no faith in their efficiency. They occasionally 
interfere with the draught of the chimney, and in some instances allow 
smoke to pass out, and thus injure ceilings, cornices, and such like. 
