Comments on: Switch Closes Window, Turns on Heat for Early Riser

By: George Trudeau

George Trudeau — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 14:44:42 +0000

Oh, and I’m absolutely no relation to that screwball Kevin Trudeau!

By: George Trudeau

George Trudeau — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 14:42:25 +0000

You can find photos online of TB patients in hospital beds that are outside on the lawn. This was part of the “cure” at Dr. Trudeau’s Sanitorium at Sarnac Lake in NY. (I only know this because that’s my last name (not Sarnac))

By: Anne

Anne — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 14:33:50 +0000

I think it was believed that fresh air (hence the open window) would keep you from catching, or cure, tuberculosis. No doubt this is partly true; at least the bit about not catching it. Since getting “fresh air” meant that you weren’t likely to be around people with T.B. anyway, which would make catching it difficult. But I doubt “fresh air” was quite as effective as they used to believe.

By: mike

mike — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 17:32:16 +0000

Isn’t that Ferris Buller in that bed?

By: George

George — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 23:49:39 +0000

Looks like early MIT room automation.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DnZYIiVAcJM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R_kYaPZ6eds

By: Rick

Rick — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 19:06:01 +0000

Looks like a contraption devised by Wallis in one of the Wallis and Grommet animations.

By: Mike

Mike — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 13:57:19 +0000

If Wikipedia says it, it must be true.

By: fluffy

fluffy — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 07:37:45 +0000

Was it believed that warm air was what caused tuberculosis? Wikipedia only mentions that in the early 20th century, people believed it was caused by masturbation, but I don’t see how keeping the window open would prevent that.