The record-union., 1899-10-29
HOME SANITATION.

The "San Antonio Sanitary Improve
ment Club" is an organization, the
very name Of which is a reproach. Yet
evidently these Texans found such an
organization necessary in order to bring
about reforms in that community that
had long cried out for adoption. 1t is
pitiful that in this day and age of
enlightenment it should be necessary in
any civilized community TO organize
outside Of the law to insure ordinary
cleanliness in a city or town and the
conservation Of the public health.
1t is conceded that the San Antonio
society has been the instrument of
great good; that it has already accom-
plished reforms which had just as we'll
been achieved ten or twenty years ago.
But so it is that communities dawdle
along in courses uneconomic and in vio-
lation Of the most ordinary sanitary
laws, simply because there is no agency
to stir them to correction. The San
Antonio association has, we learn, done
so we'll that it is now giving its atten-
tion to the enlightenment of the people
upon matters of home sanitation. There
field presents ripe for the harvest.
Unquestionably vast deal of human
suffering would be avoided, If in every
home the ordinary sanitary laws were
even half observed. One Of the papers
read before the San Antonio associa-
ton recently on home sanitation is be-
fore US. It is a clever paper of sound
advice. Yet there is not a single new
thing in it; no statement of need that
has not been preached for fifty years :
no advice given that has not filtered
through the columns Of the press of the
country and dropped from the lecture
platform for more than a score of years.
But the fact that these truths have
not been adopted in San Antonio is not
fact confined to that locality. In
every town and city>in the land the
same paper could be read in the homes
with great benefit. For instance these
truths established in the mouth of hu
man experience, approved by the lips
OF science and builded on the latest
revelations Of natural law, are in de-
tan set forth; that cleanliness is =
means 10 happiness, and uncleanliness
Is step into unhappiness and suffer
lng' that the germ of disease knows no
distinction between poor or rich. thar
the business of the housekeeper is to
prevent disease as we'll as promote oon
Tort and happiness and virtue: that
covered up germs of disease are really
more dangerous than those exnosad
that impure air, overheated rooms
badly cookedsfood, foul drains and nm
aired bedding are promotive Of sick
ness and bodily infrmities.
That dwelling upon damp and nm
dralned ground is situate over a breed
ing place of disease; that to sunnlv
pipes with special means for flusbing
Is TO prevent numerous ills: that
kitchen sinks should be supplied with
grease traps; that pipes for lavatories
should be tested by a skilled mechanic.
that as little woodwork should ha ON,
pioyed about lavatories, wash sinks
etc. as possible; that all traps sbonld
De cleaned at least once a week. either
oy taking apart or by flushing with dis
lhiectants and germicide fluids. that
household fixtures Of the kitchen should
be scrubbed at least once a week. that
decomposing kitchen refuse is a prom-
lse OF pestilence and that it should ba
crenated or carried away and disnosad
of properly.
That the house fly, harmless as II
seems, is an industrious carrier of the
germs of disease. and hence it should
be permitted no food in the house that
is decaying or liable to charge it with
the germs Of disease; that all rooms
should be swept at least once a week.
and busted daily, preferably with a
slightly moistened cloth that dust
germs may not be sent into the air:
that linen sheets foster rheumatism:
that bed clothing should be close but