The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1889-04-05
PEEL YOUR WALLS.
SO Says Prof. Kedzie Of the State
Agricultural oollere-some Excel
lent Sanitary Advice.

AT this season word to the housekeepers
about the sanitary condition of the walls OF
living rooms may not be out of place. A
prime condition of health in the house is the
frequent renewal of air by ventilation.
But the walls need ventilation as well as the
room, and wall respiration is essential to
| healthy home. The constant passage of air
| in and out of the walls of room has much
to do with the ventilation of the rooms, but
more with the healthy condition of the walls
themselves by promoting the oxidation of
decomposing organic matter deposited there
OH.
The fact of wall respiration Is shown in q
plastered room long in use where the vary
ing accumulation of dust reveals the posi-
ton of every beam, joist and lath in the
wall, because air passes more freely through
plastering than where backing of wood
restricts its passage. The wall acts as
filler for all suspended solid matter, and the
air in passing through leaves a telltale of
dust to mark its passage. Many house
|1eFefs object 10 plastered walls because
they catch DUST" and the very proof of their
yentilating capacity is made an object to
plain plastered wall. Many devices are re-
dust and the wall is strangled in various
ways to keep it clean. Wall papers are
plastered on with glue or paste, and they
make the wall look clean in proportion as
they prevent wall respiration. After time
the paper becomes dingy, or torn, and new
papering is considered necessary To make
the walls appear clean and fresh. 1t is diff
ficult to reraove the old paper so as to have
smooth wall for the new paper, and so the
new paper is applied over the old. In this
way layer after lay er of wall paper is APP
piled till four or six or even ten papers may
cover the wall at the same time. The chief
concern with the paper hanger is whether
the paper is liable to peal off from the wall
by reason of the accumulation. No thought
seems to enter his mind of the continued
accumulation of dirt and filth covered up by
the new paper and thus made permanent
part of the wall, besides the annual addition
of putrescible organic matter applied in
form of paste to fasten the paper. The
layer after layer OF paper and paste is in
good condition to decay and fill the air of
the room with the smell of decOmposing
organic matter. Hence the close stuffy
smell of many rooms, suggestive of decOm-
posing rat i'm the wall. No room with such
wall accumulation of paste and paper can
remain in good sanitary condition. Hence
my advice: Peal your walls of all paper,
before applying new paper.
Beside being resting place for the de-
| velopment of disease germs in the wall,
such accumulations are dirty. The filth is
making our walls ''like unto whited sepul-
| chres which indeed appear beautiful out
ward, but within are full of dead bones and
of all uncleanness." If wall must be re-
papered so as to look clean, tear off the old
paper and wash the walls before applying
new paper. This applying layer after layer
of wall paper reminds me of the story late
| ly heard SIN September put OH flannel
undershirt; in October put on another over
this; i'm November another outside of both;
in December another outside of all, and in
January put on the last one to cover ALL
Then i'm February as il began to warm up,
l take off the outside undershirt; in March
the next one; in April the third one, and
finally in June peal off the undershirt
put on in September" ''What do you do
them" '.Do? Well, take BATH