Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1869-11-12
The Plague o. the House.

IHkOLO0lANs nave Deen extremely puL- |
Lled to determine what the great jewish
lawigiyer meant by the terms, "leprosy Of
the house" and "leprosy of the garments"
That il was something highly detrimental
not only 10 the house and the garments,
but TO the occupants, may be inferred
from the injunctions given for its des-
truction. The house was 10 be vacated
and oloansed the stones affected were 10
be removed out Of the city the walls were
to be scraped, etc. And iG after the pre-
scribed treatment, the leproSy remained,
the house was 20 be destroyed, and the
stones thrown into some unclean place
without the city Garments affected with
loprosy required equal care in their .purin'
cation,
) 1t snow very generally believed that
the lcprosy Of the house and of the gar
ments is the mildew of damp and moist
places, which the microscope reveals TO us
as a A,ngus OF plant growth. Two yarie-
ties or leprosy arementionedin inthe Levitt.
cal account namely :tsretidIsh' and 'Creen.
ISL" The former Is commonly known as
the dry-rot heHliWs ldchrgBDt'is OF botan-
istsl, and appears wherever there are
moisture, warmth, and stagnant afr. IL
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 II re-
sombles a spiders web, spreading, by
means Of fine white threads, FROM COM
mon centre. Gradually, II becomes con-
solidated into q yellowish-white mass, Ike
| a cushion, and may be seen in great num-
bers in the crevieesof 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 ldcI1YtndnS
| (weepingl At maturity, this plant sheds
to iloatunpcrcoivcd 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 saud. 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 giduouna).
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 erevices of the loaf of stale bread
fringing a pumpkin-pie, covering the vim
egal, and among her linen which has beer
packed away when damp. The farmer
finds it in every shady nook, upon hi
Sunday boots, on old harness and saddles
on the damp hay and grain, In the grana
ry, on vegetables, etc. IL is prolific to
most extraordinary degree its germs fl
the air of our rooms, penetrate our lungs
fill our clothing, and wherever they car
, find place for termination, take root ant
, multiply so rapidly as often TO excite th
, ,, surprise of those most familiar with /
Like the reddish" the "greenish lel
rosy is destructive of house and garments
Every article upon which it grows wi
sooner or later undergodecay, and becom
useless, except where fcrment is neces
sary to its utility, -t-tr'
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 few day
cause immense destruction of property
But even this is not the limit Of their evi
effects, for the thrush of children, ant
many of our most fatal diseases, are trace
able to the.growth of these fungi upon ou
throats, within our stomachs, liver, ant
= even our blood. r,u iraf- .t.
This leprosy within our houses and gar
ments has never attracted the attention |
! ought. In many dwellings, especially o
the poor, il prevails as permanent pesti
! lence, and not only destroys In time tn,
: tenement, but also its occupant. In ou
best houses it may be found insidiousl,
: spreading decay and death where ant
when least suspected. It should becom
universally known that dry-rot liz tn
wood, or bricks, or stone of our houses
and common mould or. nildew upon ou
clothing and food, means tendency Il
: destruction OF house and family ~
The remedy for this domestic plague i
simple and effective. In sunlight and dry
fresh air, these fungi cannot grow to ma
: turity. The lesson is most importan
one to oil housekeepers, and especial,
u those having damp, unventilated rooms
! How common tits totind such apartment
! occupied as bedrooms, especially 70
: children No room in the house shoul
DC left unaired, and, If possible, unsunne
: for a single day. Living and sleepin
! rooms should always have a southern el
: posure, and the sun and air should b
: freely admitted the liYe-lOng day. If I'll
plague cliugs to the wood work and ga
= ments in spite of cleaning, the summar
: | mpasurea rpcOlnInendad nv Mosaa had he