The Washington times., 1914-05-27

in this article some of the knowle
perience, study and investigation
BY MRS. GEORGE NJ. STERNBERG
Tuberculosis, as Is well known. Is
largely a house disease. Its reduc-
tion Is, therefore. largely a matter
of good housekeeping. Here Is where
domestic science. put into practical
operation by the housewife. can be
of great service In reducing the
present high death rate from tuber-
culosis In the District. Cleanliness In
the home Is one of the most i'm
portant preventive measures that
can be taken. Much stress has been
laid upon fumigation. But even
moro important as d'sinfecting
agencies. are sunshine. and soap and
water vigorously applied. Personal
cleanliness on the part Of the SUI
ferer from tuberculosis is, of course.
a prime essential.
The deadly germs which convey
the disease from one person to an
other are contained in the sputum
OF the tuberculous sufferer. While
splitting Is offensive to good man
ners, even on the street. indiscrimi-
nate splitting in the home, especially
by those suffering from colds or
coughs, is a breach of domestic
morals. and a sure method Of
spreading tuberculosis and other In
fectious diseases Of the throat and
lungs.
Fresh Air Essential.
L.. ,z,, L.,.~Lo>o~r. 80 th.r~
who feel that they are in duty bound
to give to their households-espe-
cially their growing children-the
very best air obtainable. both by
day and by night? The long cher
ished superstition against night air
is. fortunately, rapidly disappearing.
Night air Is more free from smoke
much healthier. The increasing
popularity of outdoor sleeping is
based upon the strong recommends
tions of those who have tried 1t.
1t was not long ago that outdoor
sleeping was an experiment even In
our leading sanatoria for the treat
ment of tuberculosis. Each year,
however. patients are sent home
from these sanatoria with the in
junction. sleep in the open air. Get
a sleeping porch. and live on it as
many hours of the day as possible"
Many a patient owes his retention
of health gained in1thc sanatorium
to this practice. The advantage Of
outdoor sleeping juring the winter
months in a climate such as that Of
Washington Is two-fold. One not
only has the advantage OF breathing
fresh air with every Inhalation
throughout the night but one also
may have q warm place In which TO
dress In the morning. with plenty
of good house air to breathe. whose
oxygen has not been exhausted by
indoor sleepers-
House dust Is likely to contain the
germs of such diseases as tubercu-
losis and other Infectious diseases of
the throat and lungs, and the elimi-
nation Of dust Is an essential eIe-
ment of good housekeeping. Every
one knows how dust invades and
clings to tacked-down carpets, heavy
draperies. and upholstered furniture.
and every one knows that sweeping
carpets raises cloud Of dust which
settles upon all EXPOSED surfaces in
the room. IT Is for this reason that
sopd housekeepers prefer rugs,
which can be shaken and beaten out
Of doors. and that mops and damp
cloths are used to clean floors. vim
dow ledges. ETC.. in preference to
trooms and dust brushes.
Scrubbed Floors Best.
The vacuum cleaner also has to
larre extent taken the place of the
broom in carpeted rooms But those
who cannot afford carpets and
vacuum cleaners are perhaps fortu-
nate, as floors scrubbed with soap
and water are far more sanitary
than they would be IL covered with
carpets. even when. the broom has
been discarded In favor of vacuum
cleaner
Houses are provided with windows
for the purpose of admitting light
and fresh air. Evidently the win
dows must be opened II fresh air is
to be admitted. and It has been
fresh air Is essential to health, and
that tuberculosis Is especially like
" to develop in dark and ill-venti-
lated apartments. Open windows,
especially bedroom windows, there
fore. have come to be recognized
as essential factors in the preserva-
ton of health, or in restoring to
tuberculosis Sleeping out-of-doors Is
still better, and the sleeping porch
has become a recognized institution
in many modern homes. 1t Is true
that in cities the open window ad-
mits much street dust But this
is the least harmful kind Of dust
that invades our homes. and IL Is
better to admit II with the. fresh
outdoor air than to exclude both
and suffer the ills which result from
living in an ill-ventilated apartment.
The dust which Is formed in the
house. and which may be carried out
through an open window Is partly
ing In the house and party results
from the wear Of carpets. blankets,
hangings. etc.
It should not be forgotten that
windows are also for the admission
of light. 1t has been demonstrated
that direct sunlight is a powerful
disinfecting agent, and to exclude
II from the hause by Opaque shades
and heavy window draperies Is a
great mistake. This Is often done to
prevent the carpets and upholstered
furniture from fading. 1t is. there
fore. perhaps fortunate that con-
siderable proportion or the popula-
tion must dispense with such furn-
ishings for economic reasons
Good Food Vital.
While some housewives may not
accept the modern teachings regard
ing Ventilation. they will not be
inclined to dispute the fact that
good food properly prepared Is a
mark Of good housekeeping. Good
food-not dainties. but of substan-
tial character-is an important fac
tor in the fight against tuberculosis.
Formerly much was said about the