The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1906-01-28
HYGIENE OF THE HOUSE.
Sunlight and Fresh Air as Necessitie:
of Healthy Home.
New York HeraIdN

The late DR.. s. Oakley VanderpoeI,
who was a most efficient health officer,
in answer TO a question regarding the
best disinfectants for an infected ship.
replied that he was always satisfied
when ne could allow the fresh winds of
the bay to sweep the cabins and the
sunshine to paralyze and kill the noX-
iOus agents. This was before the days
of germs and before bacteriOIogy had
proved that these are even now the
main means OF overcoming insanitary
conditions from any cause.
The same doctrine applies as much to
our homes as to our ships. The thou
sands who are at this time putting their
houses in order have abundant OppOT-
tunities of proving the practical value
of this very simple method of disease
prevention.
Clean and we'll ventilated apart
ments are always safe habitations in
all weathers, in all seasons. and are the
main factors in reducing sickness and
mortality in any community
The great consideration is not only
to make them so. but to keep them so.
1t is a question of ceaseless detail and
the constant care of little things. The
sanitary arrangements of the modern
dOmicile are growing more and more
complicated. In most well regulated
and we'll appointed houses the number
of servants far exceeds that of the
family. 1t requires no small executive
ability on the part of the housewife in
any sta ton to have all the necessary
work run smoothly.
Unfortunately the things most neg
lected are often those of greatest san
itary Importance. The cellars and
drains. for instance, are striking exam
pies in point. What should be the
Cleanest part of the house is often the
receptacle Of every kind OF rubbish that
can be hidden and packed in the darker
corners. The cellar being out Of sight
is usually out of mind.
The hot air furnace that is to supply
the heat for the coming winter may
still hold the cinders of the last fire, its
fiues may be choked with the accumu-
lated SCOT Of months and the registers
filled with the dust from the sweepings
of spring and summer How much
these conditions may have to do with
the stuffy character of the heat sup
piled to the family during the long win
ter months to come needs hardly to be
mentioned.
The dust problem is one that must
appeal to all. particularly to such as
must live in closely packed rooms for
months at time. We are told how
these suspended particles of dirt carry
the germs OF tuberculosis. of cerebro-
spinal fever, of pneumonia and other
infectious diseases, and yet the
thoughtless hOusekeeper is apparently
unconscious of their multiple and
threatening dangers.
Cleanliness and ventilation instead of
being considered guarantees of safety
against disease are almost entirely ig-
nored, and windows are very often kept
closed hn ffTa TO- go
OF wasting heat. The exact contrary
should be the case. as the most bene-
fetal warmth is obtained by the daily
airing Of all rooms and the systematic
heating of the changed atmosphere.
The neglect Of such precautions ex-
plains why apartments are generally
overheated and winter colds are so
frequent.
It is not generally appreciated as a
fact that the dryer the air the more
heat is required to make the atmos-
phere sensibly warmer to the body
Healthy air must have its normal ratio
of humidity. and vapor added to dried
and vitiated atmosphere always makes
the latter more comfortable. even
though 1t marks a CORRESPONDENCE low
er temperature on the thermometer.
But to make the proper balance be-
tween indoor and outdoor air we must
admit enough of the latter to make su-
perheated atmosphere impossible night
or day
It may be surprising to many to learn
during even the colder months now
much such custom will conduce to
the health and welfare of the family
At all events, it is worth while TO start
well and do the cleaning" in a proper
and rational way while we are about it.
Last winter there was an alarming
epidemic of spotted fever, due, it is
claimed. to unhygienic homes. Are We
to repeat these sad experiences by any
neglect of duty to ourselves and 9th
ers2 If We must meet any new cpl
demic we should at least 60 into the
fight with clean decks and clear con-
sciences