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Show A "HIDDEN" CAUSE OF ACCIDENTS. The more traffic experts study the accident toll, the more they become convinced that there is an important j "hidden" cause of many automobile I accidents. This lurking agent of (death and injury is carbon monoxide poisoning. Carbon monoxide gas develops ;when any fuel coal, wood, gasoline, or illuminating gas does not burn 1 properly or completely. It cannot be seen, ' smelled or tasted. Its only warnings are headache arid drowsi-. drowsi-. ness. Yet it is in the air wherever there is motor traffic. The exhaust of the car, even one in good condition, contains a , concentration tf fifteen 'per cent of it. As little rls two per I cent in the air . will poison, and four per cent will kill. L Statistics show, acoordfrig to the 'National Bureau of Casualty and ! Surety underwriters, hat cavrbon I monoxide from auto exhaust gases j is the direct cause ghen in at least 1 700 deaths annually. Ho one knows ! nor can guess how nany lives are lost indirectly through, its infl fence, j For example, there is no telling how 'often that common driving occur-i occur-i rence, "sleep at the wheel," has been ; induced by carbon monoxide. : All motorists are familiar with tfhe headache and lassitode -which oftivn come upon them while driving. These signs, coupled with the odors of ex-, haust fumes' in a moving vehicle, are final warnings that carbon monoxide ' is present in lethal (juantities. They should be more than sufficient notice to take the necessary measures against carbon monoxide poisoming. This means regular? checking of the exhaust mechanism, and the carburetor carbure-tor action, keeping the vehicle well' ventilated while driving, eliminating ' any leaks- or holes which allow seepage seep-age from the motor or exhaust to the body of the car. Householders should also consider that carbon monoxide pjoisoning is a possibility whenever fhelis burned in the home. Coal, gas stave, furnace and oil burner .companies can give advice on precautions 'that will afford safety from this inv'fe:ble death. |