Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1885-11-27

1t is no eXaggeration to say, as does the
writer of the article below, that sources of
disease, which it is possible to remove, threat
en- at least 80 per cent of all country dwell
ings; yet we hardly believe that the cellar in
which vegetables are stored, underneath the
dwelling, is the most dangerous of these.
We can bring to mind large number Of FAM
lilies noted for their ply steal strength, longev-
ity, and exemption from disease, that have
lived all their lives in houses over a cellar In
which vegetables were stored in winter.
Farm houses, almost without exception, have
cellars in which vegetables are kept, general
ly directly under the rooms most occupied.
If attention is given to ventilation, and I'M
sound vegetables removed before many have
accumulated, we do not believe they can be
quite so great source of danger as the writ
er represents, even when the cellar door, az
usual, opens into the kitchen but we cannot
be too careful to avoid everything that is liza
BILE to affect injuriously the health, and it will
do no harm to read hat is said below about
farm house cellars
The location chosen for the house and it's
surroundings is the immediate reason for a
towns and in the country. While it may not
be possible to take every house to a knoll
which is free from the drainage of the lands
above, nor secure for it the desirable south
ern or southeastern exposure, il Is possible
to remove from the house those sources OF
disease which threaten at least 80 per cent OF
all the better and more respectable dwellings
outside of the large towns
The task of sanitary reformation should
han rim al Nha nallo afV iNa al
cradle and radical cure is indispensable.
To understand the nature of the danger it
is necessary to explain the difference between
decaying animal and vegetable matter as far
as human beings are concerned. 1t has been
found that the tffiuvia of decaying animal
matter, and it's presence even in large quAnt-
ties does not appear to breed disease in hui
| man beings unless it enters into the circula-
ton in some way or is taken into the stomach.
Butchers, bone-yard people, glue makers and
| otel-dock employ e5, are healthy, and are not
subject to special diseases of any kind. Ex.
perience in the knacker yards Of Paris has
more than proved this.
On the other hand, the emAnations from
decsying vegetable matter, in comparatively
small quantities, though far less offensive, are
deadly. The Roman or Campagna fever, 80
dreaded in Italy, ia born Of the decaying veg
etable matter of the Pontne marshes. The
deadly Ohagres fever owes its origin to vege-
table matter rotting under a tropical sun in
air saturated with moisture. The cellar of
the neat and tidy American cottage or farm
house in the winter presents conditions which
| engender the deadly typhoid fever. The
| house is closely banked up and the cellar full
| of vegetables, while the temperature is high
enough to cause decay toward the middle OF
winter. No vegetables of any kind should be
stored in cellar under, or opening into,
| dwelling house. The cellar floor must be
made clean, and every scrap of decaying veg
etable matter carefully removed. People are
so accustomed to such things that they say,
"Oh, it is only few rotten apples in one Of
the barrels" True but if the cellar happens
TO be very tight and the cold is 30 great as to
prevent thorough ventilation of the house,
the rotten apples may produce gu attack of
fever or diphtheria. If loved one is sent to
sleep on the cold hill. side, remember that II is
result of ignorance or oarelessness. Provi-
dence has nothing to do with murders of this
kind.
The rule for the cellar is the simple one of
perfect cleanliness, aud no vegetable matter
of any kind stored in or under the house.
The house being heated cold air from out
side and below is constantly rising into it, and
will pass through the walls and floors quite
rapidly hence the importance of having the
vegetable cellar where it cannot ventilate it.
self into the house.
The privy and cesspool are among the fore
most causes of disease in town and country
homes, il we except the kitchen sink and the
filthy spot near the kitchen door where the
dishwater is frequently thrown. During the
summer months they smell unto heaven in
hundreds upon hundreds of places in New
England and the Middle States. Foul as they
render the air, this is but small portion Of
the injury they do. The great evil is q per.
msnent pollution Of the soil and underground
water. courses. Foul matter buried in the
ground, even 80 inches below the surface,
appears to retain its poison forever. The
soil surrounding the fossil remains Of animals
which persisted ages ago Is frequently found
to be loaded with impurities which resulted
from the decay of their bodies A few years
ago an old graveyard in New York state was
abandoned, aud the site used for building
lots. An epidemic of typhoid aud other fe.
veTs followed the disturbance Of the polluted
soil, and, although ten years have elapsed,
diphtheria is always TO be found in that local
ity.
While the cess-pool and the privy-vaull
poison the soil in wide circle, and involve
both well aud dwelling in their baleful infln.
enoe, this cannot be discussed we can only
allow space for consideration Of the remedy.
The fret step is to clean them out then dig
up and cart away the polluted son--it viii
make an excellent fertilizer Fill up the hole
: with clean earth. Build a tight box on
stone boat, or a couple OF planks that vii
! allow II to be hauled like one. The box may