The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1894-03-09
CLEAN UP AND KEEP CLEAN.
An Interesting, Timely, and lnstruc-
tive Paper Read by DIR. E. j.
Davis before the Social
Science Club.

The meeting of the Social Science
Club last evening was one of the most
interesting that has been held this
year. DR.. Davis gave ispaper a local
application which aroused interest
in its discussion, and covered wide
range of sanitary matters. Because
of its local Importance we give the
paper in full, and hope it will prove
beneficial in arousing renewed in
terest along this line in the city. We
would like to give full report of the
discussion which took very practical
turn, but time and space forbid more
than touching the points thereof:
During the past two decades of in
tereSted observation, | have often
been forcibly reminded of the slight
attention paid to the subject present
for your consideration tonight, and
the apparent dire results too often
following this neglect and indif-
ference. In order that any animal,
two legged or four legged, should
thrive. certain conditions in life must
be present: there must be sufficient
supply of clothing, good digestible
food properly prepared, pure water,
fresh air and cleanly, warm, well
ventilated homes. We have often heard
that cleanliness is next to Goodness,
but fear too many of us are satisfied
often with the mere form of one as
well as the other, or are content to
admire both of them a long way off.
This may seem to be a very sweeping
statement, but if not found to be true,
after we have honestly and carefully
reviewed our houses, barns and sur
roundings, in our mind tonight, | will
retract and confess that the charges
are not sustained.
In dealing with my subject | pro-
pose to speak briefly Of the source OF
filth: it's effects upon human beings
and domestic animals: also how to dis
pose of it, and thereby prevent disease
and DEATH Clean away accumula-
tions of filth in and about your homes:
see that it does not reform: disinfect
the place, thus keeping the air pure,
and you thereby help to rid the in
mates and the community of disease.
Filth may be defined as foul matter
never in place. | am one of those who
believe that filth is great breeder OF
disease, and is antagOniStic to health,
happiness and longevity. 1t is the
natural indus for the perpetuation
and cultivation of contagious disease,
for in it their germs breed, tester and
live, to finally break away from Their
bonds and corrupt both human beings
and domestic animals. [ do not hold
that all diseases come from germs
floating in the air or emanating from
previously diseased places, yet it is
certain that all contagious and infec-
tiOus diseases, and many that are
claSSed as nOn-cOntagiOuS, do arise
from germs, which to greater or less
extent find home in filth. In recent
years the microscope in the hands of
Skillful, judiciOuS and conscientious
men has opened to view many origins
OF and methods of propagation of dis
ease formerly unknown. 1t is too
late now for any one to frOWn upon,
and thereby try to deny the conclu-
sionS Of scientists in their researches,
for their effort will certainly prove I'M
successful. The researches in air dust
have shown it to be a menStrum
for conveying disease germs from the
breeding places to healthy and untaint-
ed localities, there to faint and cor
rupt the health giver and life invig-
orator, pure air. is abundant. A cur
rent of air passing over mass of filth
can not otherwise than take up the
noxious gasses and disease germs, and
laden with these it passes on to spread
them abroad, just as on a summer day
the breeze catches up the thistle
downs, left to ripen in some fence cor
ner by careless farmer, and carries
them on their way to form the germs
of other thistle. which in turn will yield
hundred thistle-downs next year: so
the breeze passes over heaps of often
sive, corrupt, decaying wastes, cess
pools of fostering filth, and messes of