New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-11-09
By DR.. Jacolyn Van yli.t Manning.


A brilliant young physician, the head Of
maternity dispenssry. provided bag
containing fun supply of articles needed
for each tenement madonna and child,
each article in the package. sheets,
towels. gown and swaddling clothes, hav-
ing been previously sterilized in steam
sterilizer. He wished TO ascertain II
similar supplies obtained from the linen
closets of q private home were free from
germ life and might be used with safety
about the madonna of Riverside, or, in
his case, Sheridan Drive.
This thoughtful young man. now emf
nent In his profession, asked the permis-
sion Of his mother to observe the process
of laundering her household linen, and.
with notebook and pencil in hand, gave
two days to considering the work Of the
laundress. His naive description Of this
process, seen by him for the first time
with attention included two points, which
he dwelt on with satisfaction: First, the
boiling Of the linen. and. second, the iron
ing Of the linen with a redhot iron"
His conclusion was that such linen could
be used with safety during that thrilling
and critical event. the coming Of new
life into the world.
Where is the housewife who. like this
young scientist, carries an antiseptic con-
science with her as she plans or inspects
her laundry?
The Laundry.
The laundry should be a we'll lighted
and we'll ventilated room, reparste from
although adjacent to the kitchen. As tho
plumbin OF q house must DO kept as
compact az possible, the laundry Is usual
" beside or below the kitchen. The moor
ing, walls and ceiling Of the room should
be impervious to moisture. An Asphalt or
cement floor 10 commonly found. and any
person who has known by experience the
severe effect on the feet OF standing at
work on q concrete floor will provide a
long rubber mat, which extends In front
of the laundry tubs.
Tho Stationary Tubs.
With running water in the house, sta
tionary tubs, in which water runs from
faucet and is released by lifting plug.
are great time and labor savers. The
stationary TUBS are best when constructed
Of glazed IRE clay in one piece, and with
roll rim edges. Enamelled iron tubs are
second choice. for the enamel may chip,
and exposed iron will oxidize, with rust
stained linen az consequence. Three
stationary tubs make u convenient num-
Der for tho usual processes OF washing,
rinslng and bluing linen. The water
faucets should be placed well above the
tubs. They take up too much room when
In the tubs and are likely to catch ana
tear the linen. Tubs should be selected
with a largo waste water pipe OF the
stand pipe overflow variety ortented into
corner Of the tub. The large outlet
saves the time OF the laundress and as
explained in the article on bathtuos, acts
as flush to all piping below the outlet.
Particular care must be taken with tho
waste pipes OF they will soon become the
rendezvous of bugs. Laundry tub waste
traps are likely TO be stopped with vsrE
GUS kinds of debris from the wash. Lint,
hair, buttons, pins and safety pins have
all been recovered from the pipe. The
cover of the tubs should be provided with
rubber bumpers, which leave them slight
" elevated for ventilation. Confined air
near plumbing Is always a possible ele-
ment Of danger.
The Boiler.
A small and low laundry stove In usual
ly provided for heating the boiler and
irons but bullt-in copper boiler. set
very low, with a hrebox underneath, is
preferable. In any casa there should be
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