New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-05-01
MAY d Y,


solid North.
NAY DAY.
May poles and queens and arbntus blossom are in
order this morning, but The TRIBUNE mas h0melieT
matters to suggest to its readers. The LIST
Of May is not only tho day wien a
large proportion of families in New-York
change their dwellings, Int il is the
beginning of the hOuse-cleauiDg seasOI m every
town and village from Maine to California; an
epoch of more interest to onehaif Of the population
than Presidential election, and we are rot sure
that in this year. at least IL Is not of m0Ie ea i'm
portance We want to say word or two about IT,.
therefore, to such of our reaGers as are house
holders Intelligent and thorough Gle: ling by
tenants of individual houses IN MAJ may do much
to keep disease and death out of he country in
July and August, or at least largely aJato the
Wholesale and steadily Increasing saugh,e, which
has been wrought among us by typhoid yellow
and malaral feyers during the last five years
House-ceanlng in tho ru.nd of the ordinary house
wife means vigorous shaking of carpets and
scrubbing and a free Of white-wash paint and
wallpaper. The dwelling puts pretty, bright
aspect to greet the Spring and tho matron rejoces
in the reputation of a good housekeeper.
The truth is she has made war upon two compare
lively harmless enemies, dust and moths, while
from damp cellars. imperfect drain-plpes and neg
looted outh0uses, invisible foes left to do their
certain and deadly work. Cleaning should begin in
the cellar. the floor of which and the walls 10 a
height level with the ground should be covered
with "A cement imperyiOus not only TO water but TO
the gases which escape from the ground The
ground in city like New-YOrk is necessarily
poisoned by the gas and by the drainage from IN
enormous population. In American village ana
farm houses a habit equally deeterous prevails OF
storing apples, potatoes and other Winter yegcta-
bles in great bins in the cellars. which are then
rendered ar-tight so that the poisonous eilluvium
from the decaying vegetable matter Is forced up
into the living rooms from September until May.
Half of the unaccouutable levers, yellow SKINS and
indigestion. which torment farmers families, are
caused by this simple matter. Clear ont your VIM
ter stores now, empty your cellars of everything
but fresh air and never put anything but fresh air
into them again.
Let the second step in May cleaning, if you live in
town, be attention to all drains and &C. tho system
of ventilation. Now is tho time for alteration IN
your houses, if you make any. Drainage as a
science is it is true in its infancy but 1t has made
great progress since the majority Of town dwellings
were built. How many OF the most costly
are properly provided with traps at the en-
trance 70 the cUlyert, ventilating pines
from drains to the roof IN our towns and
villages there is the grossest neglect Of common
decency as far rs regards the removal Of the abomi
nations which poison the air. This is especially the
case in the South, but country places ia the North
are little better There are certain diseases, notably
typhoid. which cannot exist be comm nicated
except by animal poison. Other feycrs, majarlaI
and intermittent are said TO be caused by decayna
vegetable matter. Sum up the annual death and
disease rates from these causes aud we eau see how
much depends upon the purifying pt individual
houses.
Another department Of Summer cleaning which
may as well be begun to-day as any other is the
daily flushing of houses with fresh OUTSIDE ar. Oh
course, it is of no use TO urge this TIE condition
of most cars, shops, churches and dwellings, even
those tenanted by cultured people, is, rs e. rnle 50
foul with nitrogen that one is forced to believe
the American relishes it as the Esqu n doe, his
blubber. We are not sure that any of ,..s advice
viii bo followed. II is as hackneyod a7d familiar
to the public as Dick Deadeye's gruIob.ngs; but
the good housewife treats it with lofty 'cOrn and
goes on wrapping her Aannels out of sight in cam
phor from the moths and leaving her children 20 be
the prey of the Death lurking in every L-an aud
outhouse until the duty Of pntlng them. too,
out of sight forever. Nothing can be more amazing
than the stod obstinate disregard o. these simple
facts by the mass of our people. Last ears hor-
rors did much to terrfy communities into active
measures. Even in the Southern cities some effort
at cleaning the streets is now begun. But munich
pal work will count for nothing if PIT seconded
By individual h0useholders.