Lectures on Ventilation Being a Course Delivered in the Franklin Institute of Philadelphia

"Lectures on Ventilation" by Lewis W. Leeds is a late 19th-century scientific examination of air circulation’s profound influence on public health. Leeds highlights the dangers of poor ventilation in urban areas, especially in Philadelphia, which he surprisingly praises for its comparatively lower mortality rates due to better home ventilation, despite public ignorance on the topic. By presenting statistical data on deaths stemming from respiratory diseases and related complications, the book sheds light on the deadly consequences of stagnant, unventilated conditions. Leeds uses this to introduce the necessity of this series of lectures, which examines air movement, temperature, and offers practical solutions to improve air quality where people live.