The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1882-12-22
Address by Dr.. O. I. Bartlett.
HYGIENE OF OUR HOMES.


sanitary matters Is earnest, and among
civilized people. well nigh universal
The sewerage Of cities has always
been u problem for engineers to In.
vestigate, and the disposal of filthy
deposits a question not easily deter
mined but so far rs q few of the
largest cities are concerned definite
and successful plans have been intro
duced. and attention has been direct
ed of late more particularly to the
defects Of house plumbing and ventila
ton and the pollution of streams and
lakes from which water supplies are
obtained for domestic purposes. In
these Investigations it is neither new
nor strange to 6nd physicians promi.
nent and among the most active of
those enlisted in the work. 1t has
ever been thus with the profession
when the comfort and safety Of their
fellow men have been concerned and
it is a fact Of promise for good in the
future as it has been in the past but
the peculiar relation between their
business and their efforts in behalf
of preventive medicine" flor such
is the aim and object of sanitary
science,) has not escaped notice and
comment. At the late meeting of
the American Public Health Associa.
ton ut Indianapolis, the Governor of
the State In his address Of welcome
well remarked see the most in.
telligent members of a profession
whose income Is derived from fees
for curing diseases. assembled to con.
slider with real carnestness the most
efficient means Of preventing disease,
is All inspiring spectacle" 1t might
well challenge respect and admiration
In contrast with other gatherings of
business men, usually assembled and
combined to promote their own inter-
ests, without regard to the sufferings
or pecuniary advantages OF their
neighbOrs.
In selecting for a few remarks at
this time the subject Of The Hygiene
1T our Homes, ! do not offer you any
original researches or expect to teach
the members Of this society anything
new. 1t is my object simply to call
your attention to \ few old and com.
mon facts and remind you OF the Pc
culiar and extraordinary opportunities
physicians enjoy for imparting cor.
rect views In practical hygiene in
their daily intercourse with the sick
and the community In general. Boards
Of health are necessary, In fact indis.
pensablc for the protection of the
masses; but they deal with extra.
ordinary circumstances mostly. and
act rather by force thnn moral suasion
L-theY do not often prevent disease
the miscnIrI mag ur uvf.U .UsD1N-ss :.
power Is invoked or used but they
can control to some extent its dura-
ton and limits. and they are useful
when a resort must be had to lao to
produce effects. On the other hand
the influence of the physician is con.
slant, and his advice Is well received.
especially i'm times OF sickness and
family distress. because appreciated
and felt to be offered in kindness and
sympathy.
Our subject In its broadest sense
includes the location, construction
and materials Of our dwellings, the
water supply-the selection and pre-.
paration Of our food-the care of our
persons. and the regulation of labor
and recreation.
As to the location of homes in
cities there Is not always that liberty
of choice which Is desirable, but even
in cities there Is opportunity for wise
discretion, with limited means and in
this particular good judgment will
tend to satisfactory results.
In the country and on farms there
Is, Of course, a wider range to profit
by selection Of sites for dwellings :
but how often do We see all natural
sanitary advantages sacrificed and
comfort largely defeated by the loca.
ton of the farm hOuses-cattle sheds,
pig pens and hen roosts In close prox-
unity. merely for the convenience of
the men and to have ''things handy -
and the negligence with which the
premises are often kept with the var.
ious odors-not only annoy the sight
and sensitive olfact0ry organs. but
carry disease and death on pestilent
wings. II the family physician could
happen to appear ut the right time
when the location Of the several
buildings is under discussion much
might be done, by . few wise sug.
gestiOns, to change the arrangements
and provide for the safety and COM
fort Of the family. He would not
prudently recommend that any stable
for farm stock should be located with.
in Eve hundred feet of, the family
quarters unless so managed In Its
daily care an few are or can be under
ordinary circumstances.
The cellars are often dangerous as
well as useful adjuncts to our houses.
They are not always constructed with
care and given such attention after.
ward as to scrupulOus cleanliness and
ventilation as the health Of the fami.
lies living over them demand. Not
many physiciaBs1 presume. are with.
out the experience of finding on
examination, closed and musty rooms
with decaying wood and vegetables
and frequently stagnant water, even
under houses occupied by the most
intelligent of our citizens. as well as
those Of whom little 10 expected In
regard to the observation Of sanitary
laws. II a rattlesnake was known to
he in q cellar there would be no
peace 10 that household until the
reptile was found and removed; bu,
a poison more deadly than the bite Of
a rattlesnake my be difiused through
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