The daily morning journal and courier., 1898-02-19
ABOUT CHOOSING A HOME
HYGIENIC CONDITIONS IMPORTANT
 IN THE SELECTION.
Be Sure to Have "A Liberal Amount of Sum shine-The Morals of Good Health Cellar Dug In Clay Soil.

The question of choosing home is much more important one than is usu- ally imagined, and it has much to do with the physical, moral and economi- chooses-if one is wise-not merely for the pleasant situation, the convenience to localities, the desirability of the ao- cial element by which 1t is surrounded, though all these are important, but with a consideration for the sanitary surroundings. Indeed, so important factor in any community is the condi- tion of the home, that the question of a healthy situation and proper con struction of the permanent abiding place is by no means trihing one. The health, the happiness and the prosperity of its inmates, depend greatly upon the knowledge it's found- CTS possess of sanitary rules. and the importance they attach to them. In These days of research, there is very little excuse for ignorance upon these topics, and vet there are persons who should be well informed and interested who either fail to comprehend or will fully ignore, all conditions. It is good sign, however, that women are taking a more active interest in these questions than they have ever done be- fore. The matter has been discussed in clubs, 1t has been lectured about in associations, it has been written about in magazines and newspapers, and it has been included in the courses of home study. In fact one hears good deal of home sanitation, and that, of course, includes the choice of a home site, but sometimes one hears and doesn't comprehend, or doesn't pay at- fention.
 Herbert Spencer says: Among 8 mans duties, care of the body is im perative, not only out of regard to per sonal welfare, but also out of regard to that of his descendants"
 The possession of a home is the uni- versal desire of civilized humanity, and its first consideration should be health. This is the first fullfillment of the duty as laid down by Spencer. And this
 
 live, and children grow up in health and happiness without the doctors services, as in the days of long ago, in the times when men lived hundreds of years. and the science of medicine was still unknown. Such homes are per- fectly possible, they are not among the things to be dreamed of, and 1onged for. and yet never obtained. To be sure, they do not develop of them selves, they do not grow without as sistance, but they are the result Of an intelligence and definite purpose.
 Naturally the first point of import ance in selecting a home Is location, other conditions may be modified or changed, but the place and character of the habitation remains the same. If you are selecting home in compar- atively new locality, you will try to se- cure a place where there is neutral drainage, and which is exposed to the sun. It is not, or should not be neces- sary to explain this, it should be obvi- ous to all. It is a well known fact that in times on the shady side of the street have the highest mortality list. The same holds true of hospital wards. The patient in the sunny wards have the E best chances of recovery There is no other cause so prolific of disease as dampness; but with proper drainage and the drying, disinfecting sunshine, one may feel well secured. A leading physician says that according to his observation, the constant condition of liptheria is the structural dampness of houses, and he adds that when any gerrninal or infectious disease appears in family without obvious cause, be sure there is something wrong with the water supply, the milk supply. or the drinage of the house.
 Still another point to be considered, and one of really great importance, is the actual warmth of different soils. How many understand that a house built on clay or gravel soils stands dry and warm, while, especially in cold countries, the house will be more or less chilly, and is decidedly favorable to catarrh and rheumatism, those two ailments which attack nine out of ten of the residents of New England. If one finds ones self in possession of a house which has not natural drainage, the first consideration should be to se- cure an artificial, and it should be as simple as possible. The most conplete drainage for heavy clay soils is said to be--by those who are competent to speak with authority-a three-inch drain tile, laid in a trench, dug next the cellar walls on four sides, and deep enough to hold the tile; this Is to be connected with a drain pipe for carry ing the contents away to suitable distance. In a near suburban town this plan has been adopted in two eel lars, which every spring held water from foot to two feet in depth, and it has proven very successful. The re- claimed cellars are now dry and free from mould, and the expense of mak- ing this improvement, so necessary to the health of the dwellers in the house was trif1ing. A dry cellar with oppo- site windows for purposes of ventila- tion is one of the first requisites fo1 the family physical welfare.
 In fact, dampness should be avoided in every part of the house, from the cellar to the garret, fer dampness pro- notes mould and general mustiness This mustiness is a result of the mould, and belongs to it. Perhaps g spot appears upon your wall paper look out for the cause which produces