Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1872-05-22
Look 10 Your Cellars.

Editors Country GeHileman-lt IS said
that the summer Of 1872 will be greatly
productive Of epidemic diseases, and that the
cholera will invade us from all sides. Now
Z is practice of many farmers in the
Northern States to bank up their cellars
tightly in the autumn, leaving no ventilation
md no chance for the cfiluvia arising from
lecaying vegetables to escape, excepting
through the cracks 10 the rooms above. Is
{ any wonder that scarlet fever, dphierla,
measles aud smallpox preveil where such Is
the practice II the children are sick and
lie, do not call it dspcnsatiou Of Provi-
lence, or lay the blame upon the cold winter
but look to the cellar whence the trouble
,prings. IT there are rotten fruit bins OF
lecaying potatoes, turnips, cabbages' mus'y
barrels, aud all manner Of disagrecablc odors,
10 not forget that they breed disease, and DO
DOT wonder whence the scarat fever and
measles can come from but set to work and
rout out all the fouluoss which lies under your
feet.
Take the barrels out Of doors wash them
and let them dry bury ia the barnyard all
ecaying vegetable matter Look to the pork
and the beef barrels keep them sweet and
clean. Commence the work in the morning,
shen the sun shines warm aud bright re-
move all the banking, take out the windows,
throw open the hatchway, and let the fresh
air blow through every part Carry out
every box, barrel and movable thing, aud
sweep the bottom thoroughly and not only
the bottom, but the sides aud the rafiers. Do
you think ttey arc clean The iout air, the
ightest air is settled there, pressing its way
upwards into your rooms, and sowing the
seeds Of diphtheria aud typhoid pneumonia
and feyers Of all kinds So take a thick
broom aud scrub down every part give the
sides a similar treatment, aud clean the Who'll,
cellar Thoroughly do not leave one sprouine
potato or onion all the vegetables are better
| ia the barn than in the cellar now. To be
sure. it is not easy work but neither is j
easy to watch by esick bed to see our loved
ones suffer, to have no rest night or day an,
finally to robe them for the grave.
| Science teaches US that we SOW the seed
Of epidemic levers-sow them ignoranty
aud then weep over the destruction that Gu
sues, aud call it Gods doing When th
Prince Of Wales lay at the point Of death,
few months ago, it was ascertained that hi
disease was contracted from sleeping in a
elegant apartment, poisoned with mephti
air issuing from dsused drain. His yout
and the good nursing he received, joined t
the prayers of his family aud the natior
saved his life his valet, however, lost hi,
aud Lord Chesterfield was also victim t
the disease. In high and low places, mept
itic gases spread diseases, and the flesh shrink
and withers under their fierce, baueiul fires.
Make whtewash with one peck of unslacl
ed lime and boiling water enough to thin 1t
T. add to it four pounds of copperas and thrC
: pints Of -four starch make it thin enough
spread well, and yellow with the coppera
Wash every raiter, stone, and crack or crc'
ice at the sides or overhead, and see no
sweet the place will become, and what
4 scampering of mice aud rats will follow
Throw bits Of copperas 10 the corners, ia
them on the shelves, and purify every part
the cellar with this cheap dsinlectaut, whic
/, is also dsagreeable to the rodentia.
Don't hesitate to do this, because your ow
: health aud the health of your wife aud Chi
P dren depend upon it. A family living ov
: foul cellar is more liable to be afflicted wi
y illness than city family living in teneme
c building. With plenty of pure air, waite
and exercise, farmers ought to keep the eN
imp, disease, from their midst but foul C,
lars, iron stoves, small sleeping rooms, a
fast making country villages as unhealthy
the crowded city. Diphtheria has been mo
fatal in the country than in thecity. kno
. of one family where it carried to the gray
Eve of the members in less than four weeks
. and in another family, four died in thr'
/, weeks. The attending physician traced Il
: disease to foul drains but the parents scoifl
at the idea, and bitterly bewailed the seve
stroke received from the Divine han
Ignorance of sanitary laws fills our gray
yards, and this summer death will be su
ccssful reaper if farmers forget that perie
: cleanliness in their cellars aud barns is esse
, tal to the lives of their families-S. o.
IN Country Gentleman.