Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-07-06
BY MRS. NJ. A. WILSON

fcopuriOht, 1920. DV Mrs. ". 4. wilson. a"
rights rcSerUcd0
DPIDEMICS may ravag" the cities
Il and countryside and people wonder
and talk, Some even feel that the in
fiuenza, smallpox and the plague. ty-
pboid and ptOmainc poiSons that yearly
scourgc our beautiful land are vista
tions from the hand of God.
The population is increasing daily and
unless strict sanitation is practiccd by
each and every inhabitant Of the com
munity, disease is the result, Hollapd'
pcr capita. has less sickness than anT
other country in Europe and to iind
the cause for this. one n"cds but to
step from the Immediately clean streets
TO the homes: these may b" lust little
two rOomcd affairs. or mansion OF
dozen rooms or more. to ma that the
good vrOuw is pCrpctually waginS war
upon dirt.
Yenrs ago these good people were
taught that tho close personal contact
with the crowded communities breeds
disease. unless the individual has the
welfare of himself and the whole com
munity at heart. Each householder is
directly responsible for every foot Of his
property this means that he must not
only care for the premises, but the
highway-frOnt and rcar-of his dOmi-
cile.
Health physicians nrc sending to you
repeated warnings to clean up and
keep things clean. Now. this does not
mean that you are to do things by fits
and starts, to stir up dust and throw
abroad on the highways various rubbish
that you accumulate. It does mean
that you must wage warfare on mice,
rats. reaches, stray cats and dogs, Ono
needs but to walk the streets and not"
the old papers and various disCards of
trash that are lying on the highways.
I am not talking about our slumS and
poor quarters this can be seen on any
of our residential sections.
Now. let us begin with the purchase
OF things that are brought into the
home-food. clothing and the miSrrl-
laneous articles that the average home
purchases. The wrappings are removed
and rolled into a ball and tosS"d--
where? Where do you throw paper
that that has covered perhaps meat,
fish. cheese. bread. butter and other
foods? Or perhaps you will bring
home oysters, reIishes and foods from
the deliCateSSPn store. even a box of
ice cream-but whore do you throw this
discarded carrier of food? Perhaps in
the trash barrel or box in the yard. il
you are dwpIler in the house or apart
ment; and later, usually once n week,
the city collector takes the trash away ,
or perhaps If you are an apartment
dwelcr, it is allowed to accumulate
In the rear for the disposal the same
as the hOuseholdors.
Do you open cans Of foods, remove
the contents and then discard the same
thp pthpr trogb9 than ,-,,, n -,
willful contributor TO the support
OF mice, rats and other vermin that
infest piles of rubbish.
The air and earth are full OF living
bacteria and when dirt and disease are
rarried by the wind. which easily scat
ters them right and left for great
distance, one can easily account for
the real reason why sickness is much
more prevalent in certain districts and
communities,
Let us begin with the home. Do yOu
throw open wide the windows and make
furious onslaught with the broom
and thus cause great clouds of dust Il
rise? Now, If you have floor cover,
ings in this condition remove them anC
send them to the cleaners for a thor
ough cleaning. Wash the floor witi
plenty Of warm, soapy water and clear
the paint by thorough scrubbing ant
Tiping.
Beating carpets, rugs, etc, in crowd
ed cities is dangerous. This scatter
the dust over your neighbors and the
scatter 1t over you. Remember tha
bright, sunny rooms are the best cur
for disease, so allow the sunlight t
enter. Screen every window, and tn
front and rear doors. Swat and XII
every fly and only then is it possible t
have a home free from flies where tn
children will be safe.
Where there are small children scree