The Plymouth Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1869-1941, 1869-11-11

The Plague of the House.
THEOLOGIANs have been extremely puz
zled to determine what the great Jewisl
law-giver meant by the terms, "leprOsy o
the house" and "leprosy of the garments.
That it was something highly detrimental
not only to the house and the garments
but to the occupants, may be inferred
from the injunctions given for its des
tructiOn. The house was to be vacated
and cleansed: the stones affected were tC
be removed out of the city the walls were
to be scraped, ETC. And if, after the pre-
scribed treatment, the leprosy remained
| the house was to be destroyed, and the
| stones thrown into some unclean place
without the city. Garments affected with
leprosy required equal care in their purifi
cation.
1t is now very generally believed that
the leprosy of the house and of the gar
ments is the mildew of damp and moist
places, which the microscope reveals to us
as fungus or plant growth. Two varie
ties of leprosy are mentioned in the Levitt
cal account-namely "redclish" and "gree1a
ISL" The former is commonly known as
the day-rot Merulius hclrymans of botan-
ists), and appears wherever there are
moisture, warmth, and stagnant air. 1t
is quite universal in its prevalence, but is
found more frequently in wood and organ
ic substances, placed under the conditions
above given-as in the hollow places OF
trees, in the framework of ships, and in
the timbers of houses. At first it re-
sembles spiders web, spreading, by
means of fine white threads, from a COM
mon centre. Gradually, it becomes con-
sOlidated into yellowish-w mass, like
a cushion, and may be seen in great num-
bers in the crevices of the wood or wall in
fected. AS the vegetable grows toward
maturity, these masses become covered
with reddish vines, which emit drops of
water, and hence the name lachrynaans
(weeping). At maturity, this plant sheds
an immense growth of seeds, so minute as
to float unperceived in the air, but having
such vitality that when they fall into a
cOngenial soil, they Immediately take root.
Thus the fungus spreads with amazing
rapidity in places adapted to its develop
ment. The destructive effects of this
plant upon wood are well known to ship
and house carpenters. The tenacity of the
fibre is destroyed, and the wood falls in
pieces like sand. Ships, once affected,
are soon rendered useless, and houses fall
into irremediable dilapidation. 1t is only
by the complete removal of every germ
that the work Of decay can be arrested !;
and for complete restoration. the sunlight
and fresh air are Indispensable.
The "greenish" color is doubtless due
to another fungus, more generally seen
than the reddish namely: mildew or
common mould (penicillium glaucuna).
This plant finds a proper soil in every
place where moisture, warmth, shade, and
stagnant air exist together, and even
where but the two conditions, moisture
and warmth, co-exist. The housewife
finds it in the cellar upon her preserves,
in the crevices of the loaf of stale bread,
fringing pumpkin-pie, covering the vim
egal, and among her linen which has been
packed away when damp. The farmer
finds it in every shady nook, upon his
Sunday boots, on old harness and saddles,
on the damp hay and grain, in the grana-
ry, on vegetables, etc. 1t is prolific to
most extraordinary degree; its germs fill
the air of our rooms, penetrate our lungs,
fill our clothing, and wherever they can
find a place for termination, take root and
multiply so rapidly as often to excite the
surprise of those most familiar with it.
Like the reddish" the "greenish" lep-
rosy is destructive of house and garments.
Every article upon (which it grows will
sooner or later undergo decay, and become
useless, except where a ferment is neces-
sary to its utility.
But these forms of leprosy are not, un-
fortunately, always confined in their inju
rious effects to our household surround
ings. They often attack, when the wealth
er is propitious various crops, the wheat,
the grape, the potato, and in a few days
cause immense destruction of property.
But even this is not the limit of their evil
effects, for the thrush of children, and
many of our most fatal diseases, are trace
able to the::growth of these fungi upon our
throats, within our stomachs, liver, and
even our blood.
This leprosy within our houses and gar
ments has never attracted the attention it
ought. In many dwellings, especially of
the poor, it prevails as permanent pesti-
lence, and not only destroys in time the
tenement, but also its occupant. In our
best houses it may be found insidiously
spreading decay and death where and
when least suspected. 1t should become
universally known that dry-rot in the
wood, or bricks, or stone of our houses,
and common mould or. mildew upon our
clothing and food, means tendency to
destruction of house and family.
The remedy for this domestic plague is
simple and effective. In sunlight and dry,
fresh air, these fungi cannot grow to ma
turity. The lesson is a most important
one to all housekeepers, and especially
those having damp, unventilated rooms.
How common it is to find such apartments
occupied as bedrooms, especially for
children No room in the house should
be left unaired, and, if possible, unsunned
for single day. Living and sleeping
rooms should always have southern ex-
posure, and the sun and air should be
freely admitted the live-long day. If the
plague clings to the woodwork and gar
ments in spite of cleaning, the summary
measures recommended by Moses had bet
ter be applied namely, destroy the house,
and cast its fragments into an unclean
place without the city.-Etninent PhySi-
clan, in Hearth and Home.