The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1904-02-27
Making Churches Sanitary.

From Medical Talk for March.
An Italian bishop once sent out to the
priests of his diocese the following circular:
l. ''In all churches, Immediately after
feastdays on which there have been very
large congregations the floors must be dis
infected by means of wood sawdust soaked
in a one-teuth per cent. solution of corro-
sive sublimate. On ordinary days they
must be frequently swept, after sprinkling
them with water so as to raise no dust.
2. "Every week, and even oftener, the
pews and confessionals must be cleaned
with sponges and cloths moistened with
pure water.
3. ''Every week, and oftener, if nee
essary, the grills of the confessionals are to
be washed and polished
4. "The holy water receptacles must be
emptied every week, or oftener if necessa-
ry, and washed with hot water or solu-
tion of corrosive sublimate
That was a wise bishop who sent out the
above order But we would like to
add one more item to it, namely: That
after every service the church windows and
doors shall be thrown wide open and the
pure, fresh, outdoor air allowed to sweep
through and through it, thoroughly cleans
ing it of the poisonous air and filling it with
pure oxygen.
A church may become a very death trap
for congregation if it is not properly ven
tilated. The air becomes vitiated and
filled with the carbonic acid gas breathed
out by the many people. Then the con-
gregation goes home, the church is closed,
and the impure and polluted air is allowed
to remain in the church throughout the
week.
The next time the people assemble they
must re- breathe this same old, dead air.
If it is in the winter time the air has been
heated, making it that much worse. The
windows are all closed. The people come
in from the outdoor air and sit down to
breathe this stuffy atmosphere. They be-
come drowsy and fidgety and nervous,
Their heads begin to ache. They don
know what is the matter with them. They
never. think of opening window and let
ting in some fresh air.
When they go out into the winter air
again they take cold They have tonsih-
tbs, bronchitis, pneumonia, and they lay
the foundation for consumption. All be-
cause the church had not been ventilated.
If you 90 to church or have anything to
do with church, let your voice be heard
in this matter Insist upon it that the
church be aired thoroughly after every
service, and that during every service there
be some means of ventilation provided. 1t
you are preacher, preach to your people
the gospel of fresh air. Provide them
with air and they will not 60 to sleep while
you are talking. Drive home to them the
sin of polluting their lungs with poisonous
air. Impress upon them the sacredness
of the body and the harmfulness Of con-
taminating it with the unclean air of an
unventilated church. Never talk to them
about saving their souls while their lungs
are being poisoned by foul air.
See that your church is swept and
cleaned and busted, that the life-given
oxygen is allowed to play through every
corner of it, that the health and comfort
of the congregation is assured-thiS will
constitute more lasting benefit than all
the prayer and song service that could be
uttered in a close, stuffy, unventilated room