The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1885-06-12
FOUL CELLAR GASES.
Methods That May he Relied Upon I
Secure Purity.

Methods That May BE Relied Upon 70
Secure Purity.
Ordinarily, those who are Intelligent.
and thoughtful viii have looked after
the cellar. removing decayed vegetables
and the like. early in the season. In
deed, most of this class will wish to
ventilate the cellar often during the
winter, that the gas which flows down
from the sleeping apartments. etc., may
be removed about as fast as it accumu-
lates.
1t should be remembered that breath
ing and combustion, as well as fermen-
tation, putrefaction and decay, evolve
this deadly gas, which is heavier than
the atmosphere. flowing like water, into
the lower rooms and cellar, there to be
disposed of in the best possible way, or
it will prove source of harm to the
family. At this season of the year.
when the usual warm weather materi-
ally hastens decomposition and putre-
faction, these gases are rapidly emitted,
and in their most deadly forms directly
producing Group. diphtheria, fevers,
malaria, and later in the season. aided
by green fruits and vegetables, it may
be, the dreaded cholera. As strange as
it may seem, in Massachusetts,, in the
latter part of the nineteenth century,
cellars may be still found that have re-
ceived no special attention up to this
time, cellars which have not been
cleaned. it may be for years! We
chnnIt not ha lan,-,, H.
there are cases of sickness most of
the time. not as the result of a mys-
FERROUS dispensation of divine Provi-
dence," but of want of decent clean
lfness-''next to goodness" If we
attempt to make a trip to such of recon-
noissance we shall find it needful to
take light, for there is not single
Observation-Disclosures and filth prevailing.
The head may scarcely reach the upper
stratum of the so-called air of this
place, where the most of the family
food is kept, before tingling sensation
in the nasal passages and threat will
convince us that there is ammonia here.
A little farther on We are reminded Of
the odor of very stale eggs. and we feel
sure that sulphureted hydrogen gas
has, in some way, found its way here.
while the dimness of the light of the
lamp indicates the presence of no small
amount of carbonic acid gas! Where
shall we find the sources of these deadly
gases? On our right part of barrel
of decayed apples may be found. left in
the early part of the winter, when the
best ones were used in cooking. while
on the left is quantity of potatoes, in
a similar plight, heap of decaying
cabbageS, turnips, beets, etc, saturated
with filth. In other parts are pieces of
mouldy bread and cake overlooked
months since-bones and pieces of stale
meats. taken out of the pork barrel last
fall. the remains of few rats. poisoned
soon after they came in the cellar in the
fall, all in the active process of decay
and putrefactiOn, filling the cellar with
the seeds of disease and death! Yet,
here in this pest-vault. this poison
crowded. filthy place, the family milk
and cream are kept, the bread, cake.
cooked meats. buildings, even the more
liquid foods, those more easily absorb
ing these foul gases. the family literally
living (sickening and dying) on filthy
and poisonous foods, wondering per-
haps why they should be so fearfully
cursed by bad climate and tickle
weather.
What shall be done9 Prepare place
for at least two windows, and open the
doors on the first windy day, allowing
the pure r to rush through for two
days, when it may be safe for the men
to commence general renovation.
with hoes. shovels. rakes, removing
everything, that the light of the sun
may scatter the foul gases. every box,
barrel and dish 10 be thoroughly aired.
The scrap;ngs from the bottom will
make excellent fer.ilizing garden ma
ter ais, while the older and more filthy
boxes, etc. may be burned. Then the
walls. posts. all should be thoroughly
whitewashed twice, the beautiful ala
bastine serving a similar purpose in the
upper part of the house. The bucket
of whitewash serving good purpose.
occasionally changed. kept in the cellar
at all times, as means of keeping it
pure, absorbing these gases. Pure and
free air. by the great law of diffusion.
serving to alternate and dilute foul
gases, robbing them of their potency
the light of the sun, and whitewash or
Stacked lime in the cellar are the more
valuable and cheap means of securing
purity on favorable terms.-G0tden
Rule.