The Sunday herald and weekly national intelligencer., 1891-08-30
HEALTHY HOMES
suggestions by DIR. samuel Durrin 70
Those Intending to Build.

S"skes''ons Dy DE- samuel Durgin for
Those Intending to Build.
Buffalo Building News.
Dr. Samuel H. Durgiu, of the Boston
Board of Health, recently inaugurated at
Norcross Hall, in the Young Mems Christian
Union Building, series of lectures upon tho
laws of health bya talk on Healthy Iomes.u
Among other things the speaker said:
There are several things to be especiallv
avoided in selecting site for your dwellings
DO not select them near swamps, millponds.
or stagnant water. Another thing to be
avoided is the proximity to manufactures
which are liable to give off noxous odols and
drainage from which smells arise.
Having selected a site, the next thing to
90 is TO select your material The two most
popular materials are brick and wood Wood
is dryer, fully as warm and know of no reo
son why 1t is not one OF the best materials
although 1t cannot be used in certain limits
because 1t does not resist fire, as does brick.
Don't neglect to select southern exposure
as northern exposure always makes damn
cold house. The most important part of the
house is the cellar A damp unhealthy cellar
means house OF that sort. There should be
no part of the cellar that cannot easily he
lighted and ventilated. Too much stress can
not be laid upon these points When Won
have heat in your house you form a draft that
draws into the house the air of the cellar.
therefore, it is necessary to keep that air pure
Then your rooms should be so arranged as
10 be easily ventilated and flooded with sun
light Your windows should be large and
ample, reaching near the ceiling and also near
the hoor This gives you ventilation and sun
light with no extra expense, as windows cost
no more large than small. Windows are as
warm as walls
would advise smooth walls, frescoed or
painted; the painted are the most easily
cleaned.
The furnace is perhaps the most common.
ana perhaps also the cheapest, method of heat
ing. But furnace requires intelligent care.
IL must be supplied with the fresh air, with
the mouth of the shaft as far as possible from
the garbage barrel and cesspool The eyapo-.
rating process shall be used in eyery case and,
the damper air is much more healthful. Steam
neat is very convenient, and not very ex-
pensive, but there is seldom any method of
supplying fresh air.
Inc last consideration in the building of a
mouse is ventilation, but it is not by any
means the least. Few houses are built with
any regard to this necessity. The old-fash-
loneu fireplace is one of the best means of
VentllatinS homes, even though it is not
needed for heating. The transom should NOT
be lost sight of.
wells are an important feature of homes
In lne country, and should never be near cess
pools, barnyards, or any other possible CON
tamlnatng influence. Driven wells are better.
than wells which are dug and walled up. Rain
water is rarely in the country, and never in
the city, fit for domestic use.
while L cannot enter into the subject of
plumbing, let me say that the best plumbing
is none too good, and the most expensive
thing you can have In your house is Door
plumbing Your know when it will give
out; you never know when health will be
jeopardized.
When you home is started, the wastes bepin
Never let them accumulate. Have no dark.
damp corners and no standing garbage. All
garbage should he burned at once. Not di-
rectly on the fire, for this makes noxious
smell, but in receptacle at the side of the
stove or on top of the stove. where It is dried led
down to sweet, harmless charcoal, without
smell and useful as fuel.