72 
PROF. T. CARNELLEY, MR. J. S. HALDANE, AND DR, A. M. ANDERSON 
distinct, increase. This, unless it be a mere coincidence, appears to be an anomalous 
result; but it may perhaps have the following simple explanation :—A large bed-room 
of, say, 3,000 cubic feet has usually about the same means of ventilation as one 
of only 1,000 cubic feet. Consequently the air will be changed less frequently hr 
the larger than in the smaller room, so that in the former portions, at least, of the air 
will be comparatively stagnant. Air vitiated by respiration will, therefore, in these 
portions at any rate, be removed more slowly than in a smaller room. If this be true, 
the results in the above Table would seem to indicate that about 1,000 cubic feet 
is the most appropriate sleeping-space per person in an ordinary bed-room without 
special means of ventilation. 
In the above Table the absolute quantities of carbonic acid and organic matter are 
given, but similar results are obtained if we make allowance for the carbonic acid and 
organic matter in the outside air at the time. This has been done in the following 
Table :— 
Above outside air. 
No. of 
houses. 
Temperature. 
Carbonic 
Acid. 
Organic 
matter. 
Total micro¬ 
organisms. 
Bacteria. 
Moulds. 
Cubic feet. 
100- 180 
14 
19 
61 
5-6 
80 
78 
1-8 
180- 260 
18 
19 
6-9 
6-5 
49 
47 
1-5 
260- 340 
6 
19 
5-8 
1-9 
32 
31 
07 
340- 500 
4 
18 
5-2 
1-9 
42 
40 
21 
500-1000 
6 
13 
4-2 
2-9 
6 
6 
0 
1000-2500 
8 
13 
2-6 
1-5 
9-1 
8-5 
0-6 
2500-4000 
4 
16 
2-8 
33 
13-1 
12-8 
0-4 
Comparison of Mortality Statistics with the Composition of the Air of 
Dwelling-Houses. 
One of us, being the Medical Officer for Dundee, made arrangements for the year 
1884 with the various Registrars of Deaths in the town, whereby, in addition to the 
information which is usually given on the registration of death, full particulars were 
also obtained of the number of rooms and persons in the house in which the death 
occurred, as well as of other similar data. This has enabled us to make a detailed 
comparison of the death-rates with the composition of the air in various classes 
of dwelling-houses. 
This, we believe, is the first time such a comparison has been made, and is, in fact, 
the first time it has been possible, owing to the lack of necessary data. The following 
Table represents the results we have thus obtained. In constructing this Table, there 
has been a difficulty as regards the deaths occurring in the Infirmary and Poor-houses. 
These deaths, in the case of some diseases, materially affect the results, and, as they 
are almost always those of people belonging to one- and two-roomed houses, we have 
added a final column to the Table, in which the data for the Infirmary and Poor- 
