Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1906-02-15

! divisions. They must constantly run
! together. To divide it in someway,
however, gives us better idea of the
scope of the subject
To study it in its fullness along all
! its lines would be far too broad and
quite inappropriate for an occasion
| like this. We can only briefly touch,
in a general and indefinite way, upon
a few OF the most practical points as
| they may apply to the public school
/ The climatic conditions we cannot con
troll, but we can modify their infiu
ence by the site or situation of our
buildings. We may divide soils into
moist or dry, permeable or imperme
able Healthy soils ale those which are
| dry and permeable, or which have
such a slope as renders drainage easy.
| Those which are fat, moist, and retain
moisture are unhealthy. Those which
contain much organic matter should be
avoided. The water in the soil is of
| great importance. At varying dis
tances from the surface everywhere
| there exists great subterranean lake
or sea, known as the ground water or
| Water-table, which is constantly in
motion both vertically and horizontal
| ly. Its horizontal motion is towards
the nearest water course, or towards
| the sea. Its verticle motion is deter
mined chiefly by rainfall. In selecting
building site much Importance should
| be attached to this. A permanent
| groundwater level close to the surface
is bad, while a low one far below the
surface is good. Varying modifca-
tions of this general rule, where other
| considerations, may alter it slightly,
| but in the main it prevails and is
safe guide. The healthy soils as to
their composition are the grants, clay
slate, limestone, chalk, gravel, and
sand. These conditions are by far too
| often overlooked. The site being care
! fully selected, The sanitation of the
buildings themselves involves numer
GUS points. They ought to be arranged
| so that they may receive plenty OF
light and in the right direction. Sun
Ijght for full health is almost as neces-
sary as air. This is so strongly recog-
nlZed that many sanitarians provide
| places where their patients may take
"sun baths". Too much care cannot
be bestowed in the endeavor to secure
| proper light together with appropriate
seats and desks appropriately arranged
with their relation to the light. The
| light should enter the school room
! from the side or rear so that it may
/ strike the student on the side or back
never in the face while at his work.
| Translucent curtains to entrances of
! light should be provided so that no
direct sunlight should rest on the face
| To rest onbody moderately is beneficial
| The curtains should never he drawn to
| exclude anything but direct sunlight
from the face. This for the protection
| to eyesight. The reasons for which
are obvious. In this connection it NAV
be wei to note that equal care should
be given that text books be printed
with clear type ofsuitable size, proper
ly spaced, and on good not too highly
glazed paper. This opens up a very
broad subject'to which we must con
tent ourselves with this brief allusien.
The materials of which houses are
built are also important This should
be of such a character as to insure dry
ness. Wood is coed but there is
danger of fire. Stone may be used if
the construction is properly done
Perhaps the best material conside red
from all points Is good we'll burnt brick.
There are various means for preventing
dampness, which should be we'll con-
sidered and applied, no matter what
the material used. 1t is highly i'm
portant that the inner surfaces should
be non absorbent. Where air can pass
or percolate through any material,
| organic matter held in solution or in
admixture in the air will lodge therein
and become a source of danger. The
wall and ceilings should be covered
with paint or such materials that can
be washed. Floors should be made of
well fitting seasoned wood, calked and
oiled to make them waterproof, and to
prevent lodgment of any form of ilth
wherein disease germs may originate
and multiply.
Proper cubic space is important to
facilitate the renewing of air Two
hundred and fifty cubic feet Of space
for each pupil and with floor space OF
about 20 square feet is considered
right The warming of houses is inn
portant but is generally badly done
Overheated rooms are source ofmuch
i'll health. For a study or Il work
room the temperature should he kept
at about % degrees Farenheit with an
allowable range of variation of from 80