Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1920-01-27
BROOM DEALS DEATH

70 a little deeper into the sam
subject.
Most of the dust on the floors 0
| a dwelling horsH has been brough
in from the outside on the shoes o
the pecn.e enter ng. This dust, o
powdered dirst picked up from tn
streets. contains The germs OF man,
diseases. particularly diseases of tn
rose. throat and lungs. As all dis
rase germs can stand drying for
short time, and some for month
and even longer without losing tnei
vitality, it is not hard to understan
why dirt tracked into the house fror
the street ;upcn which people ar
frequently splitting; is a potent fac
Tor in the transmission of disease
Cola has no effect upon d!scas
germs. as we know they can stan
at least BIG degrees below zcr
without damage.
Now this being an undispute'
fact, what can We 90 to reduce tn!
Danger to minimum? First. pre-
vent it from being tracked in b
firmly insisting that members c
TIE family must use the mat at th
front door. But in spite of that
.Scn!c dirt will be brought in and be
como :!ust upon the floors. If thi
tiru remained on The carpets an
floors, 'Ic source of danger wou!
DC elim;ratcf b,t it don't. TIL
human animal won't let it, If :;
vacuum cleaner is used. all well an
coed. but broom Well 4 brcon
used to sweep floor in hcus
where people are living. is about
diabolical An instrument as I knoI
Of. Never use broom to sweep :;
rug or carpet. At best il onl'
sweeps up some Of the heavy viSib!
dirt-thc rest being forced into th
lecture Of the carpet--and 1T IT,
same time fills the air with germ
laden dust that vii! take hours
settle. But if you must use /;
broom, then first sprinkle the floc
w:th damp tea leaves. This will rc
only prevent aust from raising br
will also brighten the rug or carpet
Don't use !. dry duster to clean Ii
furiture and woodwork. 1t will on
distribute the dust about the room
Use a c!cth moistcrad with cedar o
or even water. The idea is 10 q,
the dust out Of the room, not sinlol
scatter it. Dust is dangerous.
keep that we'll in mind.
This tracking CT Iirt into Il,
house has another and tn my mir
4 more serious aspect than 50 f;
mentioned Just imagine a ba!
crawling about the floor Gil i,
hands and knees. ard freQuent,
sticking It's little fingers, all covc:o
with this street dust. into its r7outl
IS. it any wonder that so many
them die before they are two, yea
old ali, mostly from germ Gauss
d:scaScs' / greatly marvel that
many escape. :Ani when they d,
il must as a rule be credited hor
t. good :ucl ,han good managcme,
While visiting a house the othe
.!ay, I noticed baby about te
months old playing on the floor
wsHe IT'S mother sat sewing mar by
It's little hands were almost brown
from contact with the dusty carre:
and as I sat there talking. it sever;
times quit playing, stuffed Il fist
its mcrtn and gazed ut me in woE
her. asked the mother if size di
not think it was risking the child
health, and suggested that she pla;
a sheet cr old quilt OH the floor f,
the little one to play on. 90
baby's alright" she replied, 81 ju:
swept the floor and am sure it ;
perfectly clean" There was no nee
to mention the sweeping, as the al
was so full Of dust | could hardl-
see across the room. No, she wa
not satisfied 10 let the germs re-
quietly on the carpet, but must nee
take that dcath-deaiing thing Gale
broom ard stir them so the chi.
could breathe d few extra thou:
ands into its delicate air passages
OF course this was not her inter
ti"n. but the result was just th.
same
During the winter season, almoS
every kird of sickness is blame
upon the weather. but as ali dis
eases Of the respiratory system ar
causslIby bacteria. the weather h.
little to do with it. The real reg
sen is. we live more indoors an
come into closer contact with eac
other. Tie weather is an inGirec
| cause ONLY. Keep properly ciotle