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Show HUMIDITY WITHIN THE HOUSE. There is a most mistaken notion that humidity is a source of discomfort and annoyance. That much suffering is caused in summer by an excess of humidity hu-midity is unquestionably true; but the relationship between temperature and humidity is far from being understood, anl particularly the part humidity takes in the heating economy of the house In the winter. That the average American houe Is too highly heated in winter will be admitted ad-mitted without qualification; it Is a characteristic of almost every American Interior where coal can be had for consumption. con-sumption. It is, of course, necessary to keep warm In our cold and trying winters, win-ters, and the commonplace way of doing so is to burn up as much coal as possible. possi-ble. Scientific study of the heating problem prob-lem has, however, demonstrated that the best way to heat a house, the safest way in which to keep warm, is to burn coal in a scientific way, using it properly, prop-erly, getting the most out of it and conducting con-ducting the performance with the aid of scientific apparatus contrived to Insure the best results. ' Some very curious effects have been noted from the study of heating conditions. condi-tions. Rooms in which the temperature is higher than that of other rooms on other days feel colder to the occupants than when the room thermometer reads less. Investigation has brought out the remarkable fact that there is a direct relationship between the effect of temperature, tem-perature, the one with the greater humidity, hu-midity, will feel the warmer; or, put it another way, the room which has the greater humidity will require less temperature tem-perature as recorded by the thermometer thermome-ter than the one which is dryer. The obvious conclusion from such observations observa-tions is that a proper relationship must be maintained between the humidity and the temperature of our houses. Dr. Henry Mitchell Smith, who has given much time to the Investigation of this subject, suggests about 60 per cent, never less than- 50 per cent nor more than 70. With such a percentage of humidity a temperature of 65 degrees Fahrenheit is found amply sufficient and comfortable. Two results follow from a proper adjustment ad-justment of the relationship between temperature and humidity. There is greater personal comfort and Uss danger dan-ger from disease, because with this adjustment ad-justment comes a more healthfyl atmosphere. at-mosphere. The humidity within the house bears a more scientific relationship relation-ship to that without, a condition quite essential to good health in winter. American Homes and Gardens. |