Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1893-07-16
wHYNOT FREE BATHS
Necessity for Bathing as a Pre-
ventatiye Of Disease.
CRY SHOULD PROVIDE MEANS
Az Comparatively small Coss Fsee
bath R,oosns Could He Fssscd In
nasesnenss " Public BaiidineS-

6s>ts< inc tftsSit tfAt>&sssS<<e ~ ~
ciety sickness is more prevalent In the
homes Of the poor than Of the wsIito do.
The relations u ssciety are such that
what Affects one member reacts or
others A case Of sickness. especially II
81 the infectious sort. IL likely In be con-
seyed 10 others entirely without their
knowledge or consent.
These statements are 80 evident that
by common consent cities empower their
boards of health 10 do whatever they can
10 mitigate the evils complained Of.
The efforts of boards u health. how.
ever, are restricted. II not by Law. by the
by the limited expenditure Of money.
There are numerous causes whirh
tend To invite sickness. more particularly
the aggregation III many individuals in
cifcumsciibed area.
The iiuiited supply Ut fresh air and
sunlight into room "a result III many
dwellings, stores. warehouses. etc.
without sufficient space between them
and ~ the crowding Of too many persons
IN such ropms To save expense.
The regulation 81 the construction
Of buildings and the number OF
occupants is a normal function Of city
government and more or less generally
exercised. But there IL "a function OF
city government which is not often pro-
vided for at the present day, although
the ancient Romans did SO. and other
nations which are commonly regarded
as only semi civilized make some pro
vision for. | refer TO public bath
houses.
Ii has often been said that "cleanli-
ness IL next 10 godliness." How are We
10 be clean without the opportunity
Dirt is one Of the causes Of disease.
Our boards Of health may abatc nuis-
ances by universal consent when every
ones nose is offended. There is much
dirt that can not ordinarily be reached
by the Inspector Of nuisances. and often
this dirtiness is forced upon people.
Opportunities for bathing.
What opportunity has the ordinary
laborer. after days work in coal yard.
street. trench. or other dusty employ
ment. properly Ia cleanse himselfy His
abiding place can scarcely be called a
home. has no means provided for a sup
ply n water To permit Of proper cleans
ing If his person. Small wonder. then,
with his physical discomfort imper-
fecsly understood and. even il under
stood. no means TO improve itthat he
seeks the saloon and stimulants
Ia give fictitious feeling Of gaiety;
bath at the expense OF a glass Of beer
would give him feeling 81 comfort and
self respect and enable him 10 bear his
trials with greater hopefulness. and the
money saved from the saloon would soon
secure better accommodations for him
self and family.
The good results II frequent bathing
are forcefully shown by the experience
of the German armya body III men
maintained IN as perfect health as
science can suggest. The men. Of course,
young and in good health when enlisted,
become sick as other men do. Naturally,
however. with proper care and surround
ings. the sick list should be small in
COMPARISON 10 citizens generally. This
small percentage has been decreased
quite markedly since the men have been
required under military rule to take
frequent spray baths.
Cleanliness Absolutely Necessary.
This is but an Illustration OF the
effects Of personal cleanliness of which
there are many on record. Horsemcn
know that good rubbing OF the horses coat
and healthy condition ~ the animal
than extra feed Dirt is the breeding
place Of diseases. not alone Of those
called communicable, such as smallpox.
typhoid. cholera. scarlet fever. measles.
etc. but the imperfect clsansing of the
system which can be thoroughly done
only with the free use Of water inside
ami outside Of the body-is a prolific
source OF bad health. because Of the
polsons ~e daily produce not having free
means OF escape.
Why should We not be provided with
baths either free or at a normal cost.
IL IL the proper thing 10 do. 10 invite
I psrsons 10 make our city home. and
/ then have them tell us I'VE are not able
to be clean" and thus foster the breed
ing Tor disease and crilneg We must re.
member that ''the curse causeless does
not come. The Japanese take daily
baths aud are healthy | do not claim
that baths. even daily ones. will keep
away ail sickness but that IL will do a
large share in preserving condition OF
health capable of resisting much sick
ness.
Get Up the Basements.
Large cities like New York and Lon
don have found that public bath houses
are worth infinitely more than they cost.
not counting the great amount OF pain
and suffering they lessen. Our own
beautiful city can we'll afford the cx.
pense. rs II need not be large one. The
bssetnents OF our city hall and The dit
fefcni school houses can, al very small
exrcuse be fitted with shower baths
eueiossed IN wooden partitions. where all
could be accommodated. 40 Ia some
Instances the children &oniii he bene-
tite'i physically aud rcndcfed more
capable mentally by having bath he
/ fofe entering the srhool room.
tn. lauitors u the different buildings
would have hut little extra labor. a. the
, wash ng oct II there hath rt.lms could
b. done mostly with the hose and
bFooe1- I he hest provided Zoe warming
tho school house during TIE winter
would also furnish sufficient
warm water and the cost during
The simmer mouths a mere tfIfie.
III thoaght best a small charge could h'
usada for soap aud towels. or tho patrons
could bring their osB and Ieeson the
chsrke W not available. cheap bath
houses couii he locasssl as needed. 4
famous writer. Who always wore white
vest, gave A. reason fqs hi- hosht that
a. nfae With cleae Nhh> yrsf o1 sonid
comsaii @ardes rhe ~ snsss = the
vest weuld we~st clean SHIRT 1he~e
seaiti cieaa skin. apd these ~eaid
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