The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1875-02-10

dust in our dwellings. They hy from WOOL
carpets at every sweeping, and at every step
across the room. Every time wooden
garment is brushed innumerable fragments
are set afoat. The same is true when
blanket is spread upon the bed, or even be-
ing folded.
COTTON FIBERs.
The cotton fiber is much more abundant
in the atmosphere of dwellings than wool.
II is lighter and much more easily detached
from fabrics. l suspect this fiber to be one
great cause of the irritating coughs, so com
monty observed, more in females than
males the former being much more con-
fined within doors than the latter. The at
mosphere of cotton factories l have always
regarded as very unhealthy from the great
amount of cotton fiber that the operatives
are obliged to inhale. Numerous cases of
pulmonary consumption in females, have
come under my observation, in whom this
disease was induced by several months work
in cotton factory. This cause is usually
overlooked by statstcans on account Of
its being so remote.
LINEN FIBER
is sometimes found, though linen is not so
much used by our New Enganders as in
former years. The manufacture of linen
goods in farm houses has nearly ceased
The little buzzing spinning wheel, has be
come nearly obsolete, and no longer file
our dwellings with floating linen flbers.
Our towels and napkins are imported into
the family, and are convenient articles for
the conveyance ofcontagious diseases.
WOODY FIBER AND CARBON
are often observed in dust collections. The
former comes from our food, floors, ceilings,
| and the latter from the burning fuel, and
lamps. These will act only as mechanical
| irritants upon mucous lining of the air pas
| sages.
EpiTmELIAL AND DERMAL CELLS
| that have been detached from the mucos
| membrane and skin are quite frequently
| collected from the atmosphere of our homes
| and we are forced to the conclusion that
| these constitute prolific vehicle for the
| communication of infectious disease. They
can always be obtained from clothing thai
has been worn or slept on. The water that
has been used to wash clothes carry these
in abundance, and when 1t is poured ou'
upon the ground and allowed to evaporate,
these cells became dried, are caught up il
the wind, and may be carried many miles
| These cells may re-cnter dwellings ant
spread infection, to the inmates who may
never suspect the origin of the resulting
| disease. From this we learn that every
family should have u compost heap, and al
washings from clothes should be pouret
upon it, where it will be decomposed in
stead of being floated away TO originate
disease.
of various animals, such as the cat. dog
COW, horse, mouse, and rat, may be foun'
| along with human hair.
FEATHERS.
Fragments of feathers are quite frequent
ly observed. Wings are used as busters
and small pieces are continually being bro
ken off and set floating.
GRAINS OF SAND
are very easily carried in the wind
and may enter dwellings through smal
aperlures. These frequently meet the ey
of the microscopic.
During the summer season, pollen OF til
numerous plants Ut our region fill the al
mospherc. These grains enter our dwell
ings, and NAV be caught upon the slide G
the microscopic. 1t is claimed that thcs
small bodies produce information of tn
air passages, particularly of the nose an
frontal sinus. | have met with cases @
ophthalmia during the proper season that
attributed to this cause combined wit
sand.
MANY more substances could be mention
ed that present themselves to the micro
scopic investigator that have no time nc
| space here to devote to their study. Dus
| of all kinds must interfere quite material
with the oxygenation of the blood durin
| respiration 1t also must act, in a varyin
degree, as an irritant to the delicate linin
membrane of the air passages, producin
catarrhal inflammation of them, and la
the foundation for destructive disease {
the lungs
Dr. Hasseltne corroborated DIR. Currier
views and experiences relating to the il
balation of the cotton fibre, and the pr
duction of pulmonary disease resultin
therefrom. He related an instance of tw
sisters, who died from pulmonary col
sumption resulting from working 10 co
ton factory and third sister was prob'
bly, saved from the same fate through h
influence.
WtlC buuMu thc III
croscope, contirmatory of the foregoin
views.
Mr.. Hubbard said he had had recent
his attention called to curious fact {
, it was facD which he would like
know the explanation OF :: II miller state
to him that the same volume of wat
0 would do more work in the night this
/ during the day. This view had been co
i roborated by several men who were "A
customcd to work with water power du
ing nights.
o DR.. Currier called the attention of h
a club to numerous nocks of birds which b,
been seen in this region during the cold sc
son of this winter. They have been CALI
grosbeak in the newspapers, but these I
il no not answer the description of that Dir
d nor do they answer the description of al
>. species given in Samuels' "Brds of Ne
England"
" Voted to invite Dr. Kidder of Vergenn
a to deliver his lecture on 1.-THE Popul
a Humbugs of the Day." in this village.
soon as arrangements could be made wi
him.