Artificial Lighting
With the present day modern methods of artificial lighting it seems there would be little difficulty in lighting our homes and other buildings; but the question is not alone one of how they are to be lighted, but also how this can best be accomplished and not interfere with health and produce eye strain and other conditions that are likely to follow improper lighting.
It is interesting to note the evolution of the lighting systems from the primitive man who carried a burning stick from the campfire into his cave and thus realized the pleasure of the privacy of his own dwelling, up to the modern lighting systems. For centuries man burned wood and other materials in their natural state and depended upon these for his illumination. Then it was discovered that by dipping this raw material in animal fat more light could be obtained. Later the oil was placed in a container and a wick used. Then from this crude grease lamp with its wick evolved the candle, which was a great improvement over the former method. And so mankind groped in comparative darkness through centuries. It was not until the closing years of the nineteenth century that he found a better means of illumination. In 1879 Edison brought out his wonderful invention, the electric light. Even the evolution of this light would be interesting for there have been many improvements over the original.
It is very obvious that the best method of lighting is by the use of the incandescent electric light. It produces the desired intensity, does not vitiate the air, requires little attention, and is operated at a minimum expense.
The objections to the open blaze for illumination are that oxygen is consumed from the air, carbon dioxide and other impurities are given off, the light is not constant, since there is a tendency to flicker and especially so in a draft, it requires more attention, is unhandy to operate and does not give the proper amount of illumination. Most of these objections are overcome in the electric light.
The source of light must be so placed that it will not strike the eyes directly. Care must be taken that there are no surfaces reflecting light directly into the eyes. The lighting system must provide illumination of sufficient intensity, yet without a glare which produces eye strain. While our modern methods of artificially producing light are a great boon to civilization, they may also be a great detriment to health to say nothing of the discomfort that is caused by improper methods of lighting our homes, schools, and workshops.