Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1879-06-21

Constant inspection of houses, cellars, yards
and outbuildings is imperative, SO as 70 pre-
vent the accumulation of filth, garbage or
masses of decomposing organic matter 80
prejudlcial to health. 1t is equally necessary
that some means be devised for the disposal
of the same, so as to render it harmless.
Water Closets and PRIZES Foul odors
are natures signal of danger. Water closets
should be properly constructed, kept free from
odor and always beautifully supplied with
water. The waste-pipes should be wholly
disconnected from all other pipes and pro-
vided with independent ventilation. They
should be so located as to avoid all possibility
OF polluting the air of any other part of the
house. Where priVies are used, they should
be built ADORE ground, tcith Gir-tigM udults,
kept always free from foul smell by the lib
eral use of dry earth sifted upon the contents,
or by the use of solution of copperas. They
should be emptied at least twice a year, or
oftener if the contents accumulate to more
than one-third the capacity of the vault.
The walls and ceilings should be thoroughly
whitewashed. Instead of ordinary privies,
the pail system in general use in many of the
manufacturing towns Of England is recon-
mended as being found to combine economy,
simplicity of construction, easy management,
with great facility for removing contents
without odor or Inconvenience. Privies
should be SO placed as to prevent their exha-
lations from contamlnating the air of houses
or polluting the sources of water supply from
wells or clsterns.
Water Supply. Water, next to air, is
the chief necessary of life." We may even
place it before food, because all food is largely
composed of it; and it is required, too, for
personal cleanliness, and for the publication
of our houses and their surroundings. Run
ming streams and springs, which are the best
~ 10 shcsrlI ho frcn IL
examined, 10 order to detect otherwise I'M
suspected causes of pollution. CisfernS
should be constructed of suitable material,
carefully built and covered, and 30 placed
that no foul air can pass through or over the
water they contain. The overflow pipes
from cisterns should be free from connection
with any other pipes. Roofs and cutters
supplying cisterns must be frequently in
spected, and some simple continuance should
be adopted to insure their careful cleansing,
before the water is allowed to run into the
cistern. CIstern-water ought to be frequently
examined and kept free from color, odUr. or
other indications of impurity. Wells are .ne
most dangerous sources of water supply, for
few wells are safe from surface pollution.
Wells should, therefore, be properly located,
to avoid all possible risk of contamination
from their surroundings, carefully built with
elevated curves and covered tops. The water
they contain should be examined at shot in
tervals. A simple method of examination is
by dissolying a lump of sugar IN a quantity
of the suspected water In a clean bottle,
which should have a close-fttlng glass stop
per. Set the bottle In the window of a room
where the sunlight will fail on it. If the
water remains bright and lImpid after a
weeks exposure, it may be pronounced Sc for
use. But If 1t becomes turbid during the
week, 1t contain enough impurity to be IN
healthy. Such water should not be used for
drinking purposes until it has been boiled
and filtered; after which it should be aerated
by any simple process, such as pouring sew
elal times from one vessel into another in
the open air. The addition of solution of
permanganate of petassa will also serve, in
most cases, to sufficiently purify water for
drinking purposes. Eight grains of the per-
manganate to one ounce of distilled or boiled
water will make the solution. Add one drop
of this to halt pint OF the suspected water;
If the red tint disappears in half an hour,
add another drop. For every drop that loses
its color In the half pint, there will be from
one-half to two grains OF organic lmpurity
In one gallon of the water. If such water
must be used, drop in the permanganate un-
til the red tint remains; the solution in this
proportion Is not Injurious, n or does it taste
unpleasantly.
Dwellings, prime conditions of
health In a house depend upon cleanliness,
pure air and unpolluted water; the prompt
and thorough removal of all refuse; and the
perfect exclusion OF all foul matters arising
outside the house. Good ventilation Is alb
solutely necessary. Rooms should be fire.
quently aired, and a daily visit from DIR.
Sunshine encouraged. Overcrowding is O
frightiul source of air-pollution in dwellings.
Jealous attention should be paid to cellars,
pantrles and passages. Mold, dampness and
foul smells are never to be neglected. The
suns rays, free ventilation and lavish use
of whitewash are excellent scavengers. The
floors OF dwellings should be frequently
washed. Choose for this purpose a dry day;
doors and windows to be left open during
and after the operation until thoroughly dry.
The floors of dwellings, should always be
raised from three to four feet above ground.
SO as to insure perfect ventilation beneath,
and the site should be higher than the sur
roundiDgs, SO as at all times 10 prevent
dampness or presence of .stagnant water.
Disinfectasits and DeodOrants.-Moret than
halt 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 disinfectants. Where other
agents are necessary, the following list will
be found useful: CopperaS can be used al
most anywhere, cheap and efficient. Es
pecialy useful In prlvies, etc. Ten pounds
IN pailful of water; teacupful In bed
pans, chambers, etc, after being used. A
quart day In privies, urinals, etc, for ordi-
nary purposes. In dangerous diseases, add
from pint to a quart 10 each discharge.
The contents OF privy SIX feet IN diameter
and twelve feet deep will require twenty
pounds Of copperas to dlsInfect 1t. QHickline
and gypsum. or land plaster, are good abb
sorbents, and may be used advantageously
IL damp places, cellars, cutters, 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
decomposing soap water, form lime 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 or gypsum, and sprinkled freely
in malodorous localities. Suspended in a
basket, IN cisterns, meat-ssfes, diaries, etc.,
it tends to keep the contents from absorbing
foul odors. Charcoal should be frequently
reheated to drive Oft the absorbed gases and
renew its efficiency. Garbolic acid and the
ooal-tar disinfeetants are only admissible for
outdoor use, on account of their odor. Mixed
with gypsum, they are valuable around
stables, outbuildings, etc. A gill of carbolic
acid IN pailful Of water may
be used to flush sewers, drains,
etc., and in privy-vaults and catch basins.
Chloride Of lime is sufficiently well known
NOT to need special mention here, except to
say that its value is greatly overrated The
addition of strong vinegar or dilute sulphurie
acid foil of vitroD materially increases its eff
eacy. Chloride Of zinc may be used instead
OF eopperas, and has the advantage of
neither bleaching nor staining white or col
ored fabrics with which it may come in con-
tact. On this account 1t is especially useful
in disinfecting clothing, bedding, etc Of
the large number of proprietary preparations
sold for disinfecting purposes, it Is not neces-
sary to treat in this connection. If further
information Is needed, consult your sanitary
officer or family physician.