New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-07-26
Science Urges the Housewife
to Renewed Warfare
Against Her An
cient Enemy.

Dust has been described as little OF
everything. In the paved streets OF cities
and towns earthly particles Of the soil are
always present: while street dust In tho
country Is composed Of the powdered earth
OF the road mixed with finely ground
manure. in cities its lighter particles are
chiefly dried manure with more or less
dried powdered sputum. Surely these
facts are sufficiently disgusting TO make us
prevent It's entrance into our homes or It's
accompaniment 10 our food In so far as IS
possible. House dust contains earthly par
ticles, pieces worn away from walls. noot
and furniture, dead cells from all animal
bodies, fragments Of clothing fibre, the
SCOT and dirt OF heating and cooking ap-
pl!ancss, also mould spores. bacteria and
street dust In greater or less quantity ac-
cording TO the location.
Every precaution should be taken II
there is illness in the house, particularly
tuberculosis or other infectious or con-
tagious disease, to prevent the micro
organisms which cause the disease from
getting into tho air and dust Tubercu-
losis is one Of the so-callod dit diseases"
II has been ascertaiued that infant pa
ralysis. too. is spread by dust Since the
disease germs which grow in the interior
OF our bodies flourish best under condi'
lions OF darkness and lessened air supply
out-of-dcor life IS preventive meas
ure, and next TO this is generous amount
Of sunlight and fresh air inside our homes
SO far as known, all disease germs are
killed by direct sunlight From health
point OF view all clothes In the laundry
should he boiled 10 kill bacteria in dis
charges Of mucous membranes or the
body or from any wound or pus forma-
ton-the pouring OF boiling water over
the clothes is not IN itself sufficient. Soap
boiling, fresh air and sunshine give
sterilization, which means death to the
germs Because there is no contagious
disease fl your neighborhood Is no guar
antee that you will escape. for the dust
may be laden with typhoid, pneumonia or
tuberculosis carried for hundred OF miles
Dust plants cause putrefaction, there
fore all food should be kept covered to
keep out the dust Some foods grow Bit
ter, some sour, some odorous and some
rancid. In q few cases this Is due to
processes brought about by mere chemi-
cal changes, but usually where food spells
It. is due 10 the growth on or in the sub
stance itself OF the little plants which
havo been carried to It through ordinary
dust. MoJlds, yeast and bacteria may be
found In the cleanest room, but they eX-
list IN far greater numbers In dirty places,
whore, for example. crumbs OF food have
been allowed TO decay and dust to ac-
cumulate. Not only do the micro-organ-
isms appropriate our food, with the result
that Il sours, .rots or putrefles. but they
leave behind disagreeable conditions Ike
the musty and mouldy odor and flavor
OF some spoiled foods. or the substances
called ptomaines, which are often poison
Gus. The housekeeper's success IN pre-
serving food from deterioration depends
very largely on her ability to reduce the
number Of these dust plants TO the lowest
possible degree.
Some dust plants Ike the sugar OF milk,
and while feeding on II change part OK
II into Tactic acid. which coagulates the
casein OF the milk. The cleaner the milk
tho longer Il Will keep sweet. As cold
retards the growth OF these plants, mix
should be cooled as quickly as possible
after being drawn from the COW md
should be kept I'm q cold place at all times.
A glass Of ordinary unclean milk con-
tains millions OF bacteria, which, although
harmless to O vigorous adult, are the
cause. direct and indirect, OF the death
OF thousands OF young children annually.
Refrigerators must be kept clean, as
dust plants grow on pieces Of food caro-
lessly dropped and may faint the meat,
milk, etc. by their gaseous products. "he
escape pipe OF the refrigerator also needs
10 be frequently cleaned throughout It's
entire length. or II viii be covered with
a Shiny mass OF bacterial growth IL the
pipe Is difficult OF access a boiling not
solution Of washing soda may be poured
down once a week, or when the iceoox
is empty.
The rapidity with which bacteria repro
duce depends largely upon the food cup
ply, the warmth and moisture. Tor they
do not flourish In cold, dry place. Hence.
all boots should be well scraped outside
the front door before entering the house.
Think what II means to bring street Attn
into a dry. warm atmosphere!
Mould Is another micro-organism sol'
dom absent from house dust, and ono or
the effects OF Its growth Is seen In The