BY THE PEESIDENT. 
147 
admitted, such a room may then be occupied by two or three 
persons, at all events by a few in relation to the size of the room, 
for several hours before the air inside becomes as warm as the 
air outside, or before ventilation is really needed. When either of 
the two latter conditions is nearly reached, doors and windows 
must be opened. For, the advantage of a lower temperature in 
the room having ceased, the next best condition of comfort is to 
provide if possible for a continuous movement of air, or gentle 
draught, u a lovely breeze,” the moving air taking away moisture 
from the skin and producing a grateful sense of coolness. 
The avoidance of extreme cold in rooms in winter depends, 
fortunately in some cases, unfortunately in others, almost solely 
on expense; for the laws of the matter are well known and 
their application quite easy. The burning of coals or other 
fuel in an open grate, as commonly practised in England, is 
doubtless absurdly extravagant when considered solely as a source 
of heat, more than three-fourths of the heat escaping up the 
chimney. Yet the chimney thus draws within itself a quantity 
of air over and above that needed for the combustion of the fuel, 
producing better ventilation of the apartment than would be 
obtained by less escape of heat up the chimney. Secondly, under 
such an arrangement gradations of warmth are obtained; for one 
may have general warmth by sitting at some distance from the 
fire, or may get a large amount of warmth in a short space of 
time and exactly at the moment one most wants warmth by 
standing for a minute or two quite near the fire. Thirdly, a 
bright open fire is a thing of beauty worth paying for. To warm 
the whole atmosphere of a house, or its chief sections, by heated 
pipes is more economical from the point of view of a mere 
warming arrangement, and, while less pleasant than an open fire 
to persons coming in from the cold external air and desiring to be 
quickly warmed, nevertheless gives a more general sense of comfort 
to those who remain for most of their time indoors. However, it 
is, again, a question whether one is not, on the whole, rendered 
more susceptible to cold when one leaves the house in winter 
if one has been living night and day in the temperate climate of 
pipe-warmed rooms and passages. The whole subject is obviously 
one rather for individual than general consideration; one to be 
decided by the conditions, occupations, and resources, of those 
dwelling in any given house. 
THE TOWNS WE INHABIT. 
The laws of nature affecting the health of the individual having 
