Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1881-01-19
POst-Natal Influences.

or disease and death. The more
obvious ones are the situation and
construction of our homes, air and
food, light and warmth, water and
drainage, sewage and disinfection.
l. Rural homes are nearly al
ways more salubrious than city
one, and yet not always. For
rural home may be healthy in it.
self. but its surroundings may be
malarious grounds. A sluggish
stream may pass through it and
bring to the filth Of some not dis
tant city. Any man who has the
means of choosing would avoid
malarious Observation-Disclosures forma-
tons, made by the washings OF
sluggish streams in ages past,
Such lands absorb and retain large
amount Of moisture, and so are con
stantly in hot seasons generating
malarial forces. Their soils are
loose and spongy and contain large
amount of vitiated air, Such lands
contain from 20 to 30per cent. Of
vitiated air, that is usually hasten
ing to the surface and poisoning the
air above. Chemists have shown
that this ground air generates and
exudes a large per cent. of carbonic
acid gas, Or dioxide of carbon as ii
is more properly called, because ii
composed Of two parts of oxygen
and one Of carbon, Pure air con-
tains not more than five parts
in 10000. while the air offields re
Gently enriched by manure or de-
composing vegetable and animal
material, over 200 parts may he
found, forest lands and loamy soils
over eighty, Graveyard air, the
carnations from sewers and cess
pools find their way to the purer
air above and vitiate it IN a greater
or less degree. In some cases such
air as well as illuminating gas may
travel through the soil and enter
cellars and visit the occupants Of
the tonements above.
Not only ground air but ground
water impairs the salubrity Of
dwelling place. Obstructing the
snrface drainage, checking the
coulse of streams, and forming ar
tifcial ponds may increase. Damp
soils tend to induce consumption,
rhumatisms and other severe results
of air, that IS saturated with cold
ness and moisture. Catching cold
is the cause of many maladies.
Even in warm seasons Of the year,
warmth and damp relax the It's
sues and invite diseases Of the Sc
verest type-fevers, dysentery and
other disturbances ofthe alimentary
canal
In selecting locality for homo
the soil should always be consider
ed. Any soil or place that re
tains a large per cent. of water
should be avoided. Hard soil
sapd stone, limestone ana granite
surfaces permit water to pass
quietly on its downward way.
Soft clayey on deeply cultivated
land absorbs and retains a large
amount of water; some dry lands
absorb all that strikes upon its sur
face, but allows it TO 60 down
ward and onward as it may. Clay
ey lands then should be avoided.
They retain too large an amount Of
moisture FOX the lite and health OF
man. Even animals avoid them.
Artificial grounds are quite as
bad, especially if made from the
waste OF various places. decayine
animal and vegetable materials, thu
sweepirgs of streets and the con
tents OF cess.pools ana sewers, al
is done IN Chicago. In such a city
we need not wonder that infants
wilt and die in crowds. The local
ity we have chosen is on a gentle
slope Of a gravelly soil, looking to
wards the south. No marsh is near
No sluggish stream sends its pOls
onous mcis ure TO orr home. N
forest trees are near enough to ex
clude the vital influences OF the Sun
It's no doubt true, that trees aroun'
a dwelling yield some protection t.
a home in some sections OF coun
try. They may protect it aga'Ds
malaria; they may purify the ali
but they also do harm if placed 8
near a dwelling as to throw a dens
shade upon it, The direct ray