Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1920-04-29
THOSE GERMS
By H.. Addington Bruce

THERE are certain facts about disease
germs it is we'll always to keep in
- mind. And they are facts particularly
deserving of recall at this time OF year-the
season of the great spring housekeeping
First and foremost is the fact that germs
thrive in darkness and in moisture.
If there are any unusually dark corners in
the house, or if there are any places where
moisture can cling, these are the corners and
these the places where the germs Oh disease
are most likely to be lurking.
Which means that the housewife should
most vigorously attack precisely the parts of
the house usually overlooked unless the
spring house cleaning is really thorough.
1t is OF the rooms in their entirety most
1t is not the rooms in their entirety most
need to be kept clean, from the point of view
of healthfulness. Direct sunlight is fatal to
most germs in very few minutes.
But let germs find place to hide away
especially place where they can procure
moisture-and they may retain disease-pro-
ducng vitality for a surprisingly long time.
Diphtheria, typhoid and tuberculosis germs
have been known to live for weeks in damp,
cool and dark quarters.
Cellar walls and floors, attic recesses,
spaces under stairways, dark corners under
sinks, ETC., consequently call more urgently
for cleaning than any open, we'll ventilated,
we'll lighted portion of the house.
And the cleaning of every portion should
be so done that the air will not be flled with
flying dust specks that possibly have disease
germs attached to them.
1t is proverbial that with the coming of
spring many people suffer from colds, sore
throats, and similar affections, albeit they
may have perhaps gone through the winter
free from diseases Of any kind.
Commonly this is attributed to the lowered
vitality that is recognized sequel to the
overeating and overheating, the under-exer-
cisine and the underventilating practices too
widespread in winter
But even lowered vitality diseases such as
colds and sore throats would not result unless
the germs causing them were taken into the
system Obviously they can most reaolly De
taken in if the air is exceptionally germ laden'
as it is apt to be under careless housecleah-
ing.
Sometimes, in fact, a direct connection be
tween housekeeping and conditions OF Ill
health is perceived by the victims themselves.
AS one woman informed her doctor:
81 used to suffer every time cleaned
house. 1t used to make me feel so bad and
gave me such peculiar sensation IN my chesl
that wanted to put my hands on my CHEST
And at those times would spit black"
Tt was this woman's custom to sweep WIN
her windows closed. Opening the windows
and doors. SO that there was always strong
outgoing current of air to carry away Tie
dust. relieved her completely OF her symp-
toms
Better still, however, is the employment OF
a. vacuum cleaner Or, if such cleaner can
not be used, the beating OF all rugs ana car
nets outdoors, and the cleaning OF all WOOD
work with scrubbing brushes and moist cloths
is the rule of safety for the aVoldance OIL
housekeeping infections.
(Conyright 1920, by the Associated News
papers.)