The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1885-11-25
Select Mlistellamp.
WOman's Work in Sanitation.


There are great many departments
in which men do the most of the talk
ing and women the most of the work.
ing. We are not sure but this applies
in good degree to practical sanitation.
The house is and ever will be the SAM
tary unit. Perfect housekeeping is the
basis of all sanitary progress and re-
form. 1t, in all its details, must neces-
sarily devolve upon womankind. Next
to this is the care of the person. In this,
too, we depend mostly upon the neater
sex. Even with the personal presenta-
bility of men they have very much to
do. If household and personal SANTA
ton are correct, there is little fear but
that fair degree of attention will be
given to more public sanitary admins
tration. 1t is, therefore, exceedingly
important that women be educated and
informed as to all the necessities of
perfect house. They should know the
evils of bad ground, of poor building
material and wrong modes of construc-
ton. The condition of heating and
ventilation, and the different modes of
securing good air should be we'll under
stood by them. The laws of pipe dis
tribution, and the relation of traps and
all fixtures to purity are matters that
they cannot safely leave to the option of
others. Women dwell in houses more
than men; and they or their children
are most apt to be the sufferers from
imperfect household conditions. Re-
suits do not always or generally declare
themselves in specific diseases; but lung
affections, rheumatism, nervousness
and general breakdown are too often
effects of bad household conditions.
We hail it as good omen that Mrs.
Plunkett of Pittsfield, Mass, has re-
Gently written an excellent book under
the title of Women, Plumbers and
Doctors" 1t is worthy of note that
the establishment of the first state board
of health in this country was chiefly
due to the intelligent and jealous advo-
cacy of this lady. There is no field of
study that presents greater practical
needs than this. 1t concerns the entire
question of right living. Beside the
study of household conditions, the mat
tiers of right foods, of proper cookery,
of clothing, require careful considera-
ton. The health of the family and of
the community is far more in the keeping
of women than of men. When we come
to inquire into the dwellings of the poor,
we find that most of the good work as
to these has been initiated by women.
So appreciative was Canon Kingsley of
the efficiency of this service that it was
among his greatest pleasures to give
aid and support to the sanitary charities
of London. We have just before us
bound volumes of the various tracts of
q" The Ladies Sanitary Association :"
and of " The National Health Society !"
of London, the first of which is admin
istered by benevolent and charitable
ladies, and the other greatly aided by
them. The ladies' association says
that it aims at the diffusion of sanitary
knowledge among all classes, the deliv-
cry of lectures, the establishment of in
situations for training and of loan IL
braries of popular and sanitary books.
Over million of pages of sanitary
tracts have been distributed and forty
or more courses of lectures delivered
Friendly visitors become acquainted
with the sanitary needs of the people
and much is accomplished, both for pub
lie and domestic sanitation. 1t is now
quite feasible that, in this country.
housekeepers and others should take UP
courses of reading and study in hygiene,
something after the Chautauqua plan,
and thus become fully acquainted with
the principles and practice of SANTA
ton as they are needing to be con-
Quoted in daily life. Indeed, so much
in the practical application of hygiene
is technical that the greatest hope of
progress is in the accurate knowledge
of women as to the conditions requisite
for good health. They have the high
est motives for this work, since, both
for themselves and their families, there
is no more practical knowledge.-In-
dependent.