The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1873-06-03
Look 10 the Cellars.

Dr.. 8. o. johnson furnishes the C0un-
try Gentleman with the following timely
article: ! .rfs
at Is said that the summer Of 1873 will
be greatly productive Of epidemic dis
eases. Now It Is q practice Of many
farmers In the Northern States TO bank up
their cellars tightly in the autumn, leav-
ing no ventilation and no chance for the
eflIuvia arising from decaying vegetables
TO escape, excepting through the cracks In
tho rooms above. Is 1t any wonder that
scarlet fever, diphtheria, measles and
smallpox prevail where such Is the prac-
ticeH II the children are sick and die, do
not call It q dlspe1sation Of Providence, or
lay the blame upon the cold winter, but
look to the cellar whence the trouble
springs. If there are rotten fruits, bins oil
decaying potatoes, turnips, caboagesr
musty barrels and all manner oi disagree
able odors, do not forget that they breed
disease, and do not wonder whence the
scarlet fever and measles can come from;
but set 10 work and rout out all the foul
ness which lies under your feet Take the
barrels out of doors; wash them and let
them dry; bury in the barnyard all decay
ing vegetable matter. Look TO the pork
and beet barrels; keep them sweet and
clean. Commence the work in the morn
ing, when the sun shines warm and bright;
remove all the banking, take out all the
windows, throw open the hatchWsy, and
let the fresh air blow throug b every part,
Garry out every box, barrel and movea-
BILE thing, and sWeeten the bottom thor
oughly; and not only the bottom, but
the sides and rafters. Do you think
they are clean? The foul air, the
lightest air Is settled there, pressing It's
Wsy upward into your rooms, and sowing
the seeds ot diptheria and typhoid pneu-
monis, and fevers Of all kinds. 30 take a
thick broom and scrub down every part;
give the sides similar treatment, and
clean the whole cellar thoroughly; do not
leave ono sprouting potato or onion; all
vegetables are better in the barnthan In
the cellar now. To be sure, 1t Is not easy
work, but neither Is 1t easy TO watch by
the sick bed, 10 see our loved ones suffer,
to have no rest night or day, and finally
robe them for the grave. Science teaches
US that we SOW the seeds ot epidemic
tevers-that we SOW them ignorantly and
then weep over tho destruction that en-
sues, and call 1t Gods doing When the
Prince OF Wales lsy OF the point Of death
1t was ascertained that his disease was
contracted from sleeping in. an elegant
apartment, poisoned with mephitio air iS-
suing from disused drain. His youth, and
the good nursing he received, Joined to
the prayers Of his family and the nation,
saved his life, his valet, however, lost bis
and Lord Chesterfield was also victim
TO tho disease. In high and low places,
mephitic gases spread diseases, and the
flesh shrinks and withers under their
fierce, baneGul fires. Make Whitewash with
one peck Of funslacked lime and boiling, wa:
ter enough to thin it; and to IA pounds ot
copperaS and 8 pints Of -four starch; make
It thin enough to spread well, and vel
low with COpperas. Wash every raft
er. stone and crack or creVice at the sides
and overhead, and sec how sweet the
place will become, and what scamperlng
ofmice and rats will follow. Throw bits
Of copperas In the corners,-lay them on
the shelyes,-and purify every part OF the
cellar WIN tnlb CuGhp 0lA4hISSNen5 MAAAS.
is also disagreeable 10 the rodentia. Don't
hesitate to do this, because your own
health and the health Of your wife and
children depend upon 1t. A family liv-
ing over foul cellar Is more liable to be
affected with illness than city family 10
a tenament building. With plenty Of pure
air, water and exercise, farmers ought to
keep the evil imp, disease, from their
midst; but foul cellars, iron stoves, and
small sleeping rooms are fast making coun;
try villages as unhealthy as the crowded
city. Diphtheria has been more fatal IN
the country than in the city. know Of
ono family where 1t carried to the grave
five Of tho members In less than four
weeks. The attending physician traced
the disease 10 foul drains, but parents
scolTed at the idea, and bitterly bewailed
the severe stroke from the divine hand.
Ignorance ofsanitarY laws fills our grave
yards, and this summer death will be a
successful reaper II farmers forget that per-
feet cleanliness In their cellars and barns
Is essential to the lives Of their families.