Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1897-08-18

eive odors, and the air was
sck That the touch of it to the
css, even to the skin, was uncanny
ne extreme. Not only the rooms,
closets and bureau drawers were
with the foulness that had pos
ession of the house. Blankets and
Visiting guarded such cracks as might
have admitted the minutest whifs Of
outside air, ahd ingress was permitted
only through the woodhouse In the
rear-all this with the knowledge Of
the rural doctor. Feather beds, which
gather and hold disease germs as a net
does fish, were under the patients, who
had been for several days too i'll to be
moved. The custom Of the family was
to use feather beds, leave them as thew
were slept in and make them without
airing. The pail of refuse food for the
hogs held a place of honor part of the
time just outside of the kitchen door,
u when the dear thing was in danger
OF freezing it was humanely set into
the pantry or milk room, and 1t did
not fill the air with sweet odors. That
portion OF the yard near the pantry
and one bedroom window displayed
the winter accumulation OF such gar
bage as the hogs would not relish. and
was a sight to behold. Some of the
time Old Boreas' rigid hand STAYED the
powers of decay, but mild days set
them loose to spread where they would.
The bedrooms occupied by the sick
were OF dimensions better adapted to
use as s~uffocating vaults than as sick
rooms. Had the father gone to his bed
q well mar and remained there day
and night for a week he would have
been Ill at the end OF that time. and
fatally 30 in a few more days under the
same conditions. What hope was there
Tor a case of pneumoniaY 1t was piti.
1ul. The house was occupied by a
family OF seven besides helpers and
family friends, together with a dog
and cat, and several kerosene lamps
burning fourteen hours out of twenty
four. The house stood ct the bottom
OF a b%oundless ocean of purest air, air
stirred by frequent breezes from pine
clad hills, air essential to humanity's
momently existence. Yet this air, be-
cause IL was cold, though it could be
warmed, had been all winter as religi-
ously excluded from that house "a If
the all bountiful Father had surround.
ed his creatures with poison.
A physician of ripe experience being
called in consultation, and noting the
condition of things, pronounced the
children past help. But energetic
family friends came and began a sys-
tenn OF thorough ventilation. Win.
COWS that were not too tightly sealed
with several coats of paint or too gem
erously guarded by my plants" were
opened and the doors were uncalked.
Then the air OF the rooms, one BY one.
was set into motion by swaying doors
and by shaking heavy papers in everv
nook, even under beds and couches.
The little patients were then carried
INTO newly aired rooms. This was re-
peated often, until the air throughout
the house was fresh and sweet. The
dog and cat were banished to the barn
and the size of family and number of
lamps were reduced as much az possi.
BILE. The result was the rapid ecoyery
OF the two fever patients and a light
attack for another child threatened
with pneumonia.
These details would not be 90 mi.
nutely dwelt upon did not the writer
know that this house is but a sample Of
too many others, not all of them farm
houses by any means.
seems SO strange that people who
Shocked at dusty furniture, or who
u scrub lab%oriously to remove harm.
y stains from floor or paint, or sweat
laundry that the raiment may
culate, will breath over and
siSaded with poisonous
\Efhas heir W or from
: noomql that no organ
NHiaAnAIA