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49
reached 32 per cent., and in 1916-20 45 per cent. It should be noted,
however, that what was actually measured was heat and not light. The
long heat waves are able to penetrate through smoke or fog, while the short
light waves which contain the rays which are of chemical and physiological
importance fail to reach us.
We are reminded every winter by the occurrence of fogs that there is
room for still further improvement if London is to be protected from
the evil effects of the pollution of the atmosphere by smoke. If the
public generally appreciated that it is a direct cause of illness and death,
that it lowers industrial output besides throwing an additional charge
for artificial illumination and that it could be prevented, steps would be
taken to have the law made more stringent.
It has been estimated that domestic fires in London caused about
2¼ times as much pollution as factory and furnace fires. The remedy is
to burn smokeless fuel.