The Waco evening news. [volume] (Waco, Tex.) 1891-1894, 1892-05-23
A Treatise on the Principles OF
Sanitary Science.
TCoNTINUED.

Before treating on "Nuisances and
how to Abate Them" ask that every
family provide themselves with copy
of rnE News for future referances. 1t
is a subject that every family should
be familiar with, viz : How to apply
our knowledge to the healthfulnees
of our homes, particular attention
should be given to the classification
OF the most dangerous nuisances under
their proper heading Impure air;
1t has often been pronounced wonder
ful, that in the most beautiful regions
of the earth, where every sense is graft
fed, and where the air we breathe is
delightfully."- fragrant, there should be
contained within it the most pernici-
Gus poisons, under the influence of
which man sickens and dies.
The manner in which impure air
iDjuriously: affects the system is not
understood by all, though susceptible
of the simplest explanation, Now In
common with all other warm blooded
animals, require that the blood in his
system should be continually exposed
to fresh currants of pure air, So con
stantly are the lungs required to labor
in the fulfillmeut of their function,
that their cessation even for a few
minutes, would result in asphyxia or
death. BY one action Of respiration,
that of inspiration air is carried into
the lungs; by another that of expira-
ton impure air is carried out of the
system. To illustrate, therefore, the
pernicious influences of the very
prevalent evil of small or crowded
apartments and inadequate ventila,
ton, it may here be stated that the
average respiration Of pint of air
occurs about eighteen times in a
minute, equaling little over
81 cubic feet per hour, or nearly $40
cubic feet in twenty-four hours. An
apartment IA feet long, ID feet wide
and 81 feet high, which are large
proportions in Ordinary dwellings,
would therefore, not contain air
enough to supply three persons dur
ing "a hours for the purpose Of
breathing, without making any allow
ance for the influence of the insensi.
BILE perspiration in deteriorating the
confined atmosphere, or for the fact
that the carbonic acid gas that it con-
tains renders the air exhaled from
the lungs heavier than the pure atmos-
phere; it must hence be manifest to
every one, that, even where pure day
air prevails, copius ventilation is al
ways essential; and that, in winter,
when the combustion of the fuel that
warns US in cooperating with our own
vital organs in impoverishiDg the air
of its oxygen, and when the desire for
the warmth within our dwellings
tempts us to exclude the atmosphere
our danger is always greatest.
From>what has thus been stated, i,
is obvious that the preservation of the
habitations of the human family from
noxiOus and impure air is ore of the
first duties each person owes to him
self aud to his neighbors. The re.
moval of everything offensive from the
habitation of its proximity, is demand
ed by every consideration of health
comfort, decency, and true economy
Notwithstanding the apparent apathy
of the world to this truth.
Impure water-There is no problem
in science more defnately settled
than the one pertaining to the drink
ing of impure water as cause o
enterie disease. Pure water is o.
such Importance in every house
hold that it ought to be
the question of question,
before renting house or selecting
one; is the water supplied to thei
homes pure? or can get pure waite,
here. The notion that taste anc
smell can be relied upon as sure indi
cations of the quality of water is
dangerous error. | have seen ant
drank very wholesome and satisfactor,
water which one not accustomed t,
would hesitate to taste. | have also
seen water drawn from deep wells
cool, clean and sparkling, which wa.
the means of poisoning many people
some of them fatally and which N,