Air - Victorian Health and Medicine

AIR is composed of oxygen, nitrogen, and carbonic acid gases, in the proportion of oxygen 20 volumes, nitrogen 79 volumes, carbonic acid gas one volume. The air when once breathed parts with one-sixth part of its oxygen; were it therefore to be breathed six times successively it would be deprived of all its oxygen; the consequence of which would be that the blood would be divested of its vitality, the organs have their action suspended, and death would ensue. Air vitiated by the different processes of respiration, combustion, and putrefaction, or which is suffered to stagnate, becomes prejudicial to the human frame; hence large cities, public assemblies, hospitals, burying-grounds, &c., are injurious to health, and often productive of contagious disorders.

The quality of air is greatly influenced by local causes; sea air is well known to be beneficial and invigorating, which is attributable to its constant agitation by the winds and tides, and also to the absence of many deteriorating causes to which land is subject, such as the respiration of animals and the putrefaction of animal and vegetable substances. Lofty and exposed aspects have a bracing effect upon the system, while low situations, if on a dry soil, are more congenial to less hardy constitutions. In many instances, however, the surrounding air may be rendered pure or impure by circumstances over which we have immediate control. If, for instance, we suffer filth and refuse to accumulate near our dwellings, a vitiated atmosphere will be the inevitable consequence of the exhalations arising from these nuisances ; or if an impure state of the air exist without any such, aggravating causes, the remedy is within our power by the appliance of such means as art and science have placed within our reach.- See. also DRAINAGE, EXERCISE, VENTILATION, &c.

AIR, CHANGE OF, is efficacious in many diseases, amongst which are pulmonary complaints, asthma, affections of the throat and windpipe, dyspepsia, and hypochondriasis, chronic rheumatism, scrofula, liver complaints, and the state of convalescence from fevers.

Pulmonary complaints are benefited by removal from a colder to a warmer climate; and Madeira, from the equality of its temperature, is universally esteemed as the best adapted for consumptive patients. In dyspepsia and hypochondriasis, the suitability of climate depends on the habit and constitution of the patient. If there be a relaxation and debility, a dry and bracing air is needed; but if the tendency of the system be to fever and inflammatory action, the soft and humid climates are preferable. In cases of chronic rheumatism, mild climates are generally found suitable, such as Bath in England, and Rome or Nice on the Continent. In scrofula a pure, bracing air is required, such as the watering places on the north-west coast. In liver complaints, and convalescence from fevers, change of air generally, guided by circumstances, is beneficial. The benefits derivable from change of air are not applicable alone to invalids and convalescents, but will yield an equal source of enjoyment and relaxation to all those whose avocations are pursued daily in busy cities and towns, and whose systems become exhausted by the constant and unremitting exertions which their minds and bodies undergo.

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