The Optimum Humidity for Mental Work

Most people have only a vague idea of the hygienic significance of humidity in the air of the home or the schoolroom.Much of the recent literature on the subject is likely to leave one with confused or erroneous ideas.On the one hand are those who apparently have found the key to human happiness and efficiency in an optimum humidity.On the other hand are those who generalizing hastily from the investigations of the New York Commission on Ventilation conclude that apart from unusual conditions the humidity in the air of a schoolroom is of minor importance.An ardent representative of the former class is Mr. Watt who has discussed at length the relation of humidity to health; and on the basis of his observations in the Graham School in Chicago condemns the dry atmosphere of the ordinary schoolroom and insists in the most emphatic language upon the need of a proper degree of moisture.In a personal letter a few years ago he wrote:" We have humidified the air in all regular rooms and reduced the temperature to 62 with everyone comfortable and enthusiastic over it.This is the greatest thing in education at this minute.The hot dry air of ordinary schools makes catarrh, pneumonia, tuberculosis, grippe, dyspepsia, general debility, headache and torpor.By injecting steam into the tempered air chamber we lower the danger of colds and make the teachers who formerly were chilly in 70 satisfied with 62.More than satisfied.