The suburban citizen., 1902-07-26
THE GERM-PROOF HOME
1T SHOULD BE RATHER 6ARE, WELL
VENTILATED, VERY sUNsHlNY.

While on the subject Of dust and
dirt and consequent microbes a word
about the ideal healthy home is in sea-
son. According to the scientists an
ideal living place is a rather bare,
perfectly ventilated and very sun
shiny place. To those whose souls are
welded to their knick-knacks and dra-
peries the hygienic home is a cheerless
place, but this feeling is said to wear
off after a few weeks of life in the
clean, bare rooms recommended by the
idealists, and other peoples over
to ones enlightened eyes,
If one wishes to accustom oneself
by degrees to hygienic furnishings in
stead Of taking the fatal plunge at once
this is a good time Of year to begin
when most of the useless and more or
less-usually less-ornamental and
dust-collecting carpets and hangings
are packed away in moth balls and
cedar chests. One would have to be
strong minded indeed to live up to all
gienic furnisher, but one can make
gentle compromises, and the adoption
Of even few of these new ideas would
work a happy change in the nerves
and general well-being Of the average
worrying, fidgety women who live in
crowded rooms.
To begin with, If she desires to do
the thing thoroughly, the would-be
hygienic housewife must make up her
mind to dispense with dainty and taste.
full upholstery in her new home. for
this is the happy hunting grounds of
the elusive and malevoent microbe.
In the ideal health home there should
be no stairs-all the rooms should be
On the ground floor. No picturesque
nsect-harboring creepers should adorn
the walls. Ordinary bricks in some
conditions Of the atmosphere become
regular germ lairs. and should be su-
perceded by glazed and tightly fitting
hygienic bricks. Naturally, the air of
the country is purer than in town
: Still such adjuncts of civilization as
4 gas and water are not to be despised
y % hygienic dwelling house that was
1Astuated 700 far from a town would
#have several grave drawbacks. A
gravel soil is also indispensable. Light
Is fatal TO bacteria. darkness is favor
able to their development, so cellars
accordingly. are favorable lurking
places for them. Therefore cellars must
go. A layer of concrete should first be
placed under the floors. Above this, and
Immediately beneath the floors should
be a damp course" running right
along the length Of the walls, consist
ing of blocks of earthenware pierced
for ventilation. This absolutely pre-.
vents any damp that might get past
the concrete entering the house.
The house may be of any design, but
the windows should, for choice. reach
from the top to the bottom Of the
walls. A good type of window is that
In which the lower frame opens like a
easement and the upper swings like a
fanlight.
The best type Of roof is tiled, not
slated.
AS to drainage, If there is no good
system Of sewers available, the waste
water from the house is led into a
series Of V-shaped troughs. into which
a special culture of microbes is placed.
The particular germ used is a gigantic
fellow compared to his brothers of
cholera and typhoid. All poisonous
bacteria are fish that come into his
clutches. He lives and fattens on them
as soon as they enter his V-shaped
den. Though absolutely harmless TO
man, he Stays his brother bacteria with
zest and efficiency
AS to the furniture Of the rooms
themselves. the dining room should be
Of polished mahogany. The chairs
should be cushionless or stuffed with
medicated wool. No elaborate carving
could be tolerated, for it would
be bound to collect dust The walls
should consist of a cement that takes
high polish, can be stained to any
tone, and can be washed frequently
Curtains and curtain poles are anath-
ema to the scientist; but an artistic
touch might he introduced by a num-
her of plants Of the india-rubber and
eucalyptus type. These kill bacteria
aud insects and by giving off oxygen,
revivify the atmosphere.
Pictures of the ordinary hanging
type must also be banned. If wanted,
they should be let into the cement wall
Any projection can harbor a few thous-
and million microbes, and servants are
very human. The skirting is rather
peculiar in ''health house, 1t starts
from the wall in gentle curve, and Is
continued until it merges into the hard
wood parquet floor. Thus there are
really no corners in the room at all,
but merely graceful curves that the
housemaid's brush can readily deal
with.
In the drawing room the heavier
furniture should not stand close to the
art-tinted cement wall. Nothing should
be against the wall that could not cas-
lly be moved for the periodical wash.
"a hGan1a ssfn l.. H.. 4