The record-union., 1895-05-20
HEALTH IN THE home.
Sanitation in Our Houses and Their
Rooms.
How to Keep Clean and Sweeten n
Home-The Sick Room-Water-
Contagious Diseases.

the people. 1t was originally read before
the Nineteenth Assembly District Of the
City Vigilance League Of New ork City.
If it could be put into every home. be
studied by all householders. and its ad-
vice acted upon, we would have much
less of human suffering, and conse-
quently more of human happiness. But
this class of medical literature reaches
only the few, and those least offending
| against its laws.
The RECORD UNION may be able, how
ever, to indicate to q larger clientage some
of the more important points dwelt upon,
and thus excite interest and enlarge in
formation concerning subject upon
which all the people ought to bo we'll in
| formed.
THE BOON OF HEALTH.
| Health is tho inestimable boon; what
ever conserves it ought to be known and
practiced. If all homes had proper sani-
tation there would be an addition to hap
piness and life's pleasures impossible to
| be overestimated. Now it is possible for
| Improvement to be made in the santa
| ton OF nine-tenths of the homes in the
land. What may be some of the precau-
tions, then, which all should take and
practice T.?
WHAT THE HOUSE SHOULD BE.
The house should, of course. be well
constructed; should have plenty of sun
| light and tree circulation ofpure air. The
much vaunted inner air-shafts of tene-
ment houses and flats are simply dead
air receptacles well-holes without free
circulation. Without direct sunlight and
free air circulation no dwelling can be
considered haalthful. For air laden with
microscopical infusoria and mlcroblc dust
permeatesevery room, settling upon every
article of furniture, clothing, and carpets,
inhaled with every breath either to poi
son and destroy health, or be overcome
| by other more vigorous non-polsonous
antagonists. With the influence of the
suns direct rays and free interchanging
atmospheric currents, nature offers her
invaluable protection. No chemically
prepared germicide or disinfectant can
begin to compare with these III destruc-
ton or innocuous diffusion.
UNDERGROUND CONDITIONS
Are quite as important. Wet, dark and
undrained soil must be eliminated, or SO
prepared as to be harmless. Porous walls
in bad soil carry noxious moisture to the
rooms above. If there is cellar, 1t must
have light and free air circulation, aud
nothing liable to decay should be stored
therein. 1t should be daily aired and
ventilated. Every house drain pipe
should be intact at every Joint, and the
soil pipes should be ventilated by free air
outlet extension above the roof. These
things are essential to good health In the
house. Do not be satisfied with using
germicides; they are delusive, and simply
displace one odor for another.
THE CELLAR AND BASEMENT.
If there is furnace in the cellar, see to
it that its air supply is from the outside
direct The temperature of rooms should
rarely exceed 700 Fahrenheit, and In
sleeping-rooms under 5Oo Is better than
over it. Gaslight consumes large pro-
portion of the constituent of good air.
Constant ventilation is therefore neces-
sary, as we'll also to displace the con-
taminatiOn due to respiration.
| Every room should be exposed to sum
light and fresh, pure air daily, and every
closet thrown open daily and all the con-
tents frequently aired. Clothing and
textile fabrics should be frequently
shaken out in The Tree air. as they are the
habitats OF infusoria bacteria and poison
germs. Sunlight and pure air combined
| make the best of germicides. When a
shower washes the air we all feel relief
and know what it means. We should
wash the air OF our houses, SO to speak,
often and diligently.
DUSTING AND wHISKING.
| Feather busters and Whlsk.brOOms are
denominations tor cleansing. Hangings
should be beaten or shaken out in open
air. and all wood surfaces wiped fre-
ouently with cloth. moistened if neces-
sary. Dry dusting cloths should be
shaken out of doors often or over an open
fire, that what they accumulate may not
again be deposited.
CARPET-SwEEPING.
Before sweeping carpets should be
sprinkled with dampened material, as
sawdust, tea leaves, or coffee grounds, to
prevent the dust from rising to lodge
upon furniture, ,cornices, hanging pictures.
or the side walls, especiailyif papered, or
use good carpet-Sweeper, which accu-
lnulates aud holds the dirt and dust to be
thrown into the fire or outdoors. Carpet
sweeping should always be done with
open windows. Absolute cleanliness is
the guarantee of good house sanitation.
Bedrooms need special watchfulness
and care. Beds should be entirely
to external air and sunlight, mattresses
reversed and allowed free fresh air OK pos
ure.
! THE KITCHEN.
Kitchens should be kept scrupulously
clean; no carpets should ever be permit.
ted; floors to be scrubbed daily; no
particles OF food, spots OF grease. dust or
ashes should be allowed; sinks and wash
tubs should have no inclOsure under
meath.
The waste-pipes and traps of kitchen
sinks are very liable so become OBJ
structed. No amount of rnsing either
with hot or cold water is sufficient. Use
some solvent, otherwise they become the
seat for rapidly developing bacteria. A
handful of washing soda daily in boiling
water is ready solvent.
ROOF GARDENs-wAsTE.
If our houses, and especially the tone
ment-houses, could be constructed with
with what are termed roof gardens,
or children's Fairgrounds, open, ex-
posed to free, fresh air circulation,
| bathed with sunlight, where children
and adults could congregate and inhale
a purer atmosphere than they can find in
the street. our death-rate would be re-
duced beyond question, especially
! among children under years OF age.
One of the most important features is
the care and disposal OF waste. This con.
sists of everything that has become USE
less in the household economy. OF animal
/ or vegetable food. waste paper, discarded
| paper boxes, old worn-out clothing, rags,
boots or shoes, chiidren's play gather
| ings, and many other refuse materials
familiar TO housewives. To remove such
| beyond the household precincts is TO be
rid of nlicrobic dust and dirt, accumulat-
ing factors inimlcai to good sanitation.
Combustihlo articles SHOULD be cre-
mated, such as meat, parliigs. fruit rinds,
bones. etc. Stored old textile fabrics
should be frequently brought out to
light aud air and beaton aud shaken.
Clothing stored for years in chests have
been known to communicate disease.