The Washington times., 1919-03-22
Bacteria in the
Home
By LOretto O. Lynch.

CIV TONDER what they think
w women are-welI. I wen
out in the end-he sim
ply had to paint my kitchen In dark
gray or I'd have moved. The idea
of anyone having a kitchen painted
light yellow with white enameled
WOODWORK And as Mrs. Reynolds
concluded she winked wisely at
Mrs. Morton.
Mrs. MortOn's kitchen had not
been done over. In fact, Mrs. Nor
ton wanted to be able TO detect the
dirt OF her kitchen in so far as was
possible. Yet Mrs. Reynolds was
the type OF woman who tore the
hair from her head when two mem
bers Of her family came down with
an infectious disease.
Staying up night after night and
doing the endless work necessary in
the home in which there is illness
was not considered labOrious by the
doting woman. Yet keeping her
kitchen Immediately clean did not
seem important to this woman. She
had finally succeeded In having her
kltchen painted color that would
hide the Dirt
However, the dirt that shows the
plainest is not always the most OBJ
jectionable. A dusty plano is Of
much less consequence than a dirty
dish towel. The dirt in houses con-
sists for most part OF dust both
alone and mixed with greasy mat
ter, water and sticky substances.
Dust is usually earth and similar
matter so fine that it can be raised
and carried by the wind. Dust is
everywhere. A sun ray shows Us
that the air is full of II.
For long time visible dust was
the only kind known about. hut
recently scientists have discovered
that mixed with visible dust is an
other kind so fine that il can be
seen only with a microscope. Upon
examination it will be found that
this invisible dust is made I'D OF
very tiny plants. When many OF
these plants are growing together
they may be seen with the naked
eye.
These little plants are OF three
Varieties5;molds, yeast and bacte-
ria Bacteria is the dust most to be
feared. If bacteria enters the body
they may cause disease, especially
If conditions are favorable for their
growth. Other kinds OF bacteria
cause food to spoil Bacteria thrives
best in dark. damp, moderately
warm places. where any kind OF
animal or vegetable matter is pres
ent. Anything that kills bacteria
or hinders their growth is called a
disinfectant
nd pO1org
cleanliness by revealing dirt and
destroying harmful bacteria. Direst
sunlight destroys bacteria. Plenty
OF fresh air, an abundant supply OF
water, as well as sunlight, are
natures aid to cleanliness.
If a woman must economize IA
time and strength. it is much bet
ter for her to allow some of her
rooms to go undusted and to use
her time and effort on a. 100 per
cent clean kitchen. The more near
Iy white is the color Of your kitchen
and its furnishings, just so much
the better can you see the dirt and
dust that gathers in it.
A filthy old rag as a dishcloth Is
first aid to suicide. II inOculates
the dishes probably three times a
day with all kinds OF deadly BAG
terra. Often ones constitution Is
sufficiently strong to ward Off the
influence OF the diseases consumed
with the food, but the chance one
takes is very great indeed
Cleanliness is next to godliness.
Dirt and disease go hand in hand
Look for the dirt in your kitchen
ard go after the dirt that yoV|can-
not see with effective disintctsnts'