Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1867-05-08
AgrtcuItnraI.
HOUSE CELLARS.

From the Massachusetts Poushman.
Few people ar, avirs Of the deadly effects on
health Of close ill ventilated aud damp cellar,
under a house thl' Is occupied, As most OF our
farm houses ace. by the members Of the family y.-
In the building Of our cellars no arrangement is
made 20 secure suitable ventilation during the
greater part Of the year. Probably. II the truth
was known it would be found that a large pro-
portion OF the diseases in the community arises
from the violation Of well-established sanitary laws
in regard 70 collars
De- l.. S Pennington, OF Sterling, Ill.,. has
spoken of this subject, so far as it refers to farm
house cellars in that State, but his remarks apply
equally well to every cellar in the country. He
speaks as follows
1t has been said anil very wisely, too, that is is
the duty of the State to enforce the laws of vaccn
alton or rather, that tue State should make and
enforce on every parent stringent law, on the
subject. There IS, however, another subject
less worthy Of State and individual attention, at-
fecting to greater Or less degree the sanitary
condition OF the State. Aud it is, that the cellar
to every dwelling house should, through the chin
Nney, in some other way, be thoroughly ventila-
ted. at all times during the year.
The cellar of every farmhouse is the receptacle
OF matter that can and does decay. lt matters
but little whether it be vegetable or amin l--de
composition sends forth poison or bad air, known
as malaria. 1t is 50 minute and subtle, that 1t
cannot be discovered by the senses, nor by any
tia, men, even when sIumb bering over it, reglrdit,
with so much Indifference II is only known by
the fatal effects which 1t produces. Our cellars
would be incapable Of sending forth this poison
to great extent, we're 1t not that certain por-
ton Of the wear they are entirely shut ont from
the external air No avenue is left for escape but
through the apartments of the dwelling, TO he there
inhaled, not only day by day, but by night;
time when malaria revols without the neutralizing
effects Of the suns rays as opposing agent.
How few Of our dwellings are entirely free from
this source Of disease? We find their inmates
living over and breathing from day to day, aud
from year to year, this tainted air Coming forth
from its Imprisoned CELL 10 Is frequently produced
in form SO concentrated and virulent as to pro-
duce disease Of the most fatal character Ty-
phoid and other fevers often arise in individuals
aud families, which cannot TO oasnal Observer
be accounted for, and too often to reconcile the
living TO the loss Of friends departed it is passed
over as mans destiny, and as decree OF ProvI-
dence.
Could we look deeper into the secret cause of
disease. we should most likely lind it some gross
violation of natures laws. Thus we go on from
year to year, from generation to generation, in
the beaten track Of error decim ting the young
and middle aged before half their time for useful
ness is ended
Cholera has been known to invade many house,
hold, and to cut of almost whole families. having
for this cellar exhibitions, an exciting cause.
But the more active forms of disease thus engen-
dered are not more to be feared than that SLOW
and insidious form which has too often sapped
the best constitutions, aud cut of, in early ife,
the most promising hopes.
In no house should chimney be constructed
except from the bottom of the cellar aud no cellar
built except it have in it large, open fire place
air passage, aud this at all times kept open and
connected with the outer air. Far better have no
cellar than one that will, whenever closed, send
forth virus which is ever ready to act as the ex-
citing cause OF disease Could the cellars and
vaults OF many of our public houses store houses,
aud other places where vegetable or animal mat
ter is suffered to rot be opened up aud their his
tory told, fear the picture would be sad one.
can but believe that our people, when they in
vestigite fully this subject, will not be slow to
adopt a means so important, and one on which an
improved sanitary condition OF our state so much
depends.