The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1879-07-17
Health Preserving Directions,

w have received from the Sanitary Coun-
ell OF the Mississippi Valley, the following
simple directions to preserve the health,
and they are so pertinent to the weather,
and our city, we publish them;
Constant inspection of houses, cellars,
yards, and outbutldings is imperative, so as
to prevent the accumulation of filth, gar
bage, or masses OF dccomposing organic mat
ter so prejudiciaI to health. 1t is equally
necessary that some means be devised fer
| the disposal of the same, so as to render it
/ harmless.
DwelIings-The prime conditions Of
health in house depend upon cleanliness,
pure air and unpolluted water, the prompt
and thorough removal OF all refuse; and the
perfect exclusion of ali foul matters arising
outside the house.
Good ventilation is absolutely necessary.
Rooms should be frequently aired, and a
daily visit from Dr. Sunshine encouraged.
Overcrowding is a fruitful source of polIu-
ton in dwellings.
Jealous attention should be paid to eel
lars, pantries and passages Mold, damp
ness, and foul smells are never to be ne. =
lectcd The suns rays, free ventilation
and lavish use of whitewash are excel
lently scavengers.
The floors Of dwellings should be fire.
uuentlv washed. Choose for this purpose Il
dry day; doors and windows to be left open
during and after the operation until thor
oughly dry. The floors OF dwellings should
always be raised from three to four feet
above ground, so as to insure perfect venti-
lation beneath, and the site should be higher
than the surroundings, so as at all times to
prevent dampness or presence OF stagnant
water.
Disinfectants and Moderants.-More than
half of these agents are valueless in prevent
ing disease, and dangerous as being produc-
tive of false security.
Heat and pure air are the best of all dis
infectants. Where other agents are necea-
essary, the following list will be found use
full:
Copperas can be used almost anywhere,
cheap and efficient. Especially useful in
waters teacupful in bed-pans, chambers, etc.
after being used. A quart in day in priv
les, urinals, etc, for ordinary purposes. In
dangerous diseases, add from 4 pint to u
quart to each discharge. The contents of a
privy six feet in diameter and twelve feet
deep, will require twenty pounds Of copper
as to disinfcct it.
Quicklime and gypsum or land-plaster,
are good absorbents, and may be used adj
vantageously in damp places, cellars, gut
tiers, etc. They should not, however, be
used in drains, catch-basins, sewers, soil
pipes, etc; nor where they are liable to be
washed into such places, lest they, by de-
composing soap-water, from Hme-soap and
obstruct the passages.
Charcoal is one of the best deodorants,
absorbing large volumes Of gases. May be
used in powder, mixed with lime OF gypsum
and sprinkled freely in malodorous locali-
ties Suspended in basket, in cisterns,
meat-safes, diaries, etc, it tends to keep the
contents from absorbing foul odors. Char
coal should be freqcntly relocated to drive
off the absorbed gases and renew its effici-
eucy.
CarbOlic acid and the coal-tar disinfect-
ants are only admissible for outdoor use, on
account Of their odor. Mixed with gypsum
they are valuable around stables, outbuikI-
ings, etc A gill of carbolic acid in a pain
full of water may be used to flush sewers,
drains, etc, and in privy-vaults and catch
basins.
IN GENERAL
Should disease, however, in spite of every
reasonable care, break out in our midst, al
lay fear and prevent panic, which Is always
senseless, demOralizins the we'll and jeoP-
ardzing, to an incalculable extent, the lives
OF those who may fall sick. "In sick-room
thrc should be wise heads, yiIling laads,