The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1878-07-25
SUNLIGHT AND HEALTH.
The Good Results of the solar Beam

The Good Results of the Solar Beam.
lFrom the Cottage HEARTH
Sunlight IS even more necessary to
health in summer than IN winter, for
one, among other reasons, that disinfect-
ants of all sorts are more necessary in
summer than in winter. The rays of heat
quicken the vital powers, the chemical
rays exert their mysterious and potent
influence, and the Illuminating rays in
dependently of the others, as has been
recently proved by Mr.. Crooke to the
satisfaction of the ablest scientists, COM
municate motion. The exhalations from
our bodies in warm weather are more
copious than they are in cold weather,
and If we shut out the light from our
houses we remove the most efficient of
all agents in destroying what is unwhole-
some. The noxious vapors, which tree
admission of air and light would remove,
are absorbed by carpets and upholstery,
and become productive of disease.
Those who are accustomed to the dark
ness and dampre ss of close rooms may
not consciously suffer therefrom, but
that they sustain real injury is evident
in their pallid faces, their fiaccid mus
Giles, and nerveless movements. The
contrast between them and those whose
lives pass in the open air is too evident
to need comment. 1t may not be neces-
sary to expose during the day every
room III the house to the direct rays of
the sun, but there should be frequent
opening of doors and windows, SO that
the solar beam may perform it's bepef-
cent office. Bed rooms and other rooms
in constant use should receive most care
full attention in this respect. Sick-rooms
especially require thorough summing and
ventilation, and, if possible, should
always have southern aspect. More
patients die on the north side of hos
pitfalls than on the south side there are
more deaths on the shady side of any
street than on the sunny side. A nota-
BILE Southern housekeeper, observing
strictly the following rule during the
summer months, kept her house per-
fectly sweet and cool and dry from May
to October: Until 10 o'clock in the
morning all the doors and windows were
opened wide; then they were closed
until 4 in the afternoon then opened
again till nightfall. This rule might not
do for all localities, but such use of it
as would secure free access of light and
air to every part of the house at least
once a day could but be productive of
good results.
New York Charities.
It appears from the official report that
during the past year the people Of New
York State have paid, in whole or in part,
for the keeping of 1905 persons in the
various public charitable institutions.
OF these 2,174 we're insane, 1856 blind.
922 deaf and dumb, 230idiots, 81 inebri-
ates. The house of refuge had 1,347
inmates; the county poor houses, 6,S41;
the city almshouses, 9.203: the orphan
aeylums and reformation Is, 800 the
homes for the Gagged, 3 907 the hospitals,
1904. In addition, outdoor relief was
given to a great number, the overseers
OF the poor alone relieving la, 1893 per-
sons, while the dispensaries give medical
relief to 254, 497. The statistics show an
increase of insanity, which is doubtless
to be referred in part to the hard times.