36 
PROCEEDINGS OF THE VICTORIA INSTITUTE. 
Sometimes the contractor, willing to carry out his order, 
lias as a matter of economy to neglect affording proper ventila- 
tion, but we fear in a great many instances the blame is to be 
attached to the proprietor or owner, and his own indifference in 
these matters, when giving orders to the builder results in bad 
ventilation. 
In some institutions in neighbouring colonies the principles 
of ventilation adopted are those which I should most strongly 
advocate in all tropical countries, namely roof ventilation at the 
highest point. (Grenada, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, Hospitals, etc.) 
This system is being adopted in Port-of-Spain in the larger 
Merchant’s stores, as a matter of necessity, shown by the large 
lantern roof provided, but why not in our private dwellings, as 
well as in the trading place of the Merchant? 
The early Spanish colonists understood the building of com" 
fort able dwellings much better than colonists of the present day 5 
and the Spanish Casa is to-day a cool and comfortable resting place 
while a few yards distant, the house of the modern colonist is as 
I said be i ore a model of discomfort — and yet the house of the 
Spanish colonist has not the appearance at first sight of being 
well ventilated — but if examined we find that it really is well 
and scientifically ventilated. 
The House is built in foim of a quadrangle ( described on 
blackboard ). 3 his affords shelter from sun or wind at any time of 
of the day, and from any point of the compass. The rafters of 
the roof arc first covered, as described by Dr. Chittenden in a 
recent article on “ Margarita,” with a covering of canes, of the kind 
known in Trinidad as “ wild canes’* or white Roseau (Andro. 
2 )ogon Sacchar aides ) — over this a covering of clay, and on this the 
ridge and furrow red tiles are used, which are raised in places to 
afford ventilation between the tiles and the clay, so that the heat 
of the sun never penetrates through the roof, thus avoiding 
the deadly pall of heated air which would otherwise accumulate 
at times when the sun is shining. 
