Year: 1866

OEOAOl4 4LC1 CLA4NA DAO4AAASS NtN@A W.


In conversation some time ago with


an officer Of one of the gas companies,


we asked him why he did not render his


gas less disagreeable to the smell. His
reply was, that it was great advantage
to the consumer to have the gas thus


unpleasant, for were it odorless leak
would not be observed, as it now is at


once AS the unpleasant odor OF the


Gas enables US to detect defect in the


pipes, 50 other odors point out defects


in thehousehold and domestic economy,


and indicate that something is escaping


that ought to be stopped Whatever


may be the cause Of certain epidemic


diseases, there is enc thing that is well


established, they are invited by filth


and rcpelled by cleanliness. Decaying


animal and vegetable matters, if they do


not cause the disease themselves, put


the air in a condition to propagate it.


Fortunately these processes OF decay


give us warning, for the most part by


the unpleasant odor given off. Clean


illness Of the house and its surroundings


should at all times be observed, but es-


pecialIy when warm weather Lastens


decay of all kinds. Prevention in this


case is better than cure, and the removal
of all offensive matter from about the


dwelling is the first thing TO be thought
Of An existing smell may be treated


in one Of three ways i may be dis
guised. absorbed, or destroyed. The
Disgusting of smells is not to be com
mended, though much of the so-called
disinfecting is Of this character. The
; sprinkliDg Of perfumes, the burning OF
= pastilles and other substances which give
= off an odor by the application Of heat,
+ only substitute one odor for another,
. and do nothing towards actually re-
j. moving the trouble Absorbents are
J useful in many cases. One Of the most
: powerful of these is alcohol, but dried
e peat or muck, or even loamy soil will
y answer a good purpose. BY the use OF
S either of these, priyies, piggerles, and
e heaps where animal matter is being
a made into manure, can be kept from
y giving off offensive odors. Among the


substances that have been used for des-


troying odors chemically, are Chlorine,


Nitric oxide, Permanganate of Potash
/, Sulphate of Iron, Nitrate of Lead,
/ Chloride Of Zinc, snd others, besides
y several secret or patented compounds.
(. Of these there is but one likely to be
# employed by the public generally, and
h that is Chlorine in the, form Of what is
Is called Chloride Of Lime, or Bleaching
II Powders. 1t is cheap, easily applied,
y free from unpleasant after effects, and
d quite as efficacious as any other. When
e sprinkled about in offensive places, it
G DESTROYS unpleasant odors as they are
;e generated, and if more prompt action
e IS desired, it may be dissolved in water,
d allowed to settle, and the clear liquid
ir used. There ere ether ways for apply
ot ing chlorine more thoroughly, but they
d are not to be commended for genera
S. use. While this and other disinfectant'
( are of great use in producing a whole
:, some state of the atmosphere, medlca
g men doubt if they possess any consider
t. able efficacy in destroying the poison
10 or whatever it may be that causes epide
1t mic and contagious diseases after it
le once introduced