HOUSE SANITATION f j j. HOUSE SANITATION A Manual for Housekeepers BY MARION TALBOT SECOND PRINTING WHITCOMB & BARROWS BOSTON, 1913 \ COPYRIGHT 1912 BY MARION TALBOT THOMAS TODD Co., PRINTERS 14 BEACON STREET, BOSTON, MASS. CONTENTS CHAPTER PAGE I. THE NEW SANITATION I II. THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE HOUSEKEEPER 9 III. SITUATION OF THE HOUSE AND CARE OF THE CELLAR 13 IV. PLUMBING 24 V. AIR AND VENTILATION 42 VI. HEATING 57 VII. LIGHT AND LIGHTING 68 VIII. FURNISHING 79 IX. THE COUNTRY HOUSE 87 X. HOUSEHOLD CONTROL OF INFECTION 96 XL CONCLUSION 107 BIBLIOGRAPHY no INDEX 113 258632 PREFATORY NOTE UNDER the wise and inspiring guidance of Mrs. Ellen H. Richards, a group of young college women Annie E. Allen, Alice Stone Blackwell, Sarah Louise Day, Alia W. Foster, Edith Talbot Jackson, Alice Peloubet Norton, and the undersigned formed, in 1883, a Sanitary Science Club, one of the first Organized activities of the Association of Collegiate Alumnae. After careful study of sanitary problems, they published a little book, entitled "Home Sanitation," which, in the twenty-five years that have passed, has been widely used and has proved even more helpful than the authors anticipated. During these years, however, very important and far- reaching changes have taken place in sanitary theory and a considerable number of the practical sugges- tions in "Home Sanitation" have become out-of-date. Mrs. Richards had been urging a revision of the book for some time prior to her death in 1911. The surviving editor believed, however, that it would be more truly in accord with Mrs. Richards's scientific and progressive spirit to rewrite the book. This she has done, drawing freely from the older text, using the results of studies made by advanced students in the Department of House- hold Administration of the University of Chicago, and endeavoring to replace out-worn theories and useless practices with such modern views and practical sugges- tions as will best help the progressive housekeeper in her vii Vlll PREFATORY NOTE efforts to maintain her household in health and physical efficiency with the least expenditure of money, time, and strength. MARION TALBOT. Department of Household Administration The University of Chicago July, 1912 CHAPTER I THE NEW SANITATION THE conservation of national resources is a term which is gradually coming to include human life as well as timber and coal. Needless waste of national vitality is taking its place among the wrongs which are of national concern. Conservation of human life is to be accomplished in large part through the practice of sani- tary measures. To be effective in the best sense, this practice must be carried on with the least possible ex- penditure of time, effort, and money. If, with intelligence and skill, one housekeeper can do the work of ten health officers or one dollar accomplish as much as ten dollars in the hands of a sanitary inspector, the larger expendi- ture is sheer waste and the net result in conservation is so much the smaller. It is, therefore, well worth while for those interested in the promotion of public and private health occasion- ally to survey the field of sanitary practice and to learn whether the methods in use are in accord with the advance of science, or whether modern theory calls for changes in practice in the interests of effective and economical re- sults. This is particularly true of housekeepers, for, on the whole, the sanitation of the home is in their keeping, and as the famous sanitarian, Dr. B. W. Richardson, said, "If in the centers called home the foundations of IK 'USE SANITATION the science of health are laid, the rest on a larger scale will necessarily follow." The idea of considering the house as a unit of health is essentially modern. It was, indeed, an impossible one until the knowledge was available which has been acquired in recent years. The fact that it is so generally accepted today shows that our views have changed materially in respect to two points, viz., the relation of private to public rights and the causation of disease. In the first place, a man's house is no longer considered his castle, to use as he pleases regardless of the welfare of other people. Modern sanitary law greatly abridges the rights of the householder in recognizing that his possession involves obligations to his neighbors and can- not be used in a way which may prove harmful to them. In the second place, ideas in regard to disease have undergone radical change. The early Christian view was that disease was caused by the wrath of God or the malice of Satan, or by a combination of both. Since the source of disease was supernatural, it was considered irreligious "to use natural means for combating it. Methods of cure were logically based on the two ideas of striving to appease the divine anger which had been aroused because )af sin and of eluding the malice of Satan. On the one hand, help was sought by prayer, visits to shrines, pil- grimages, gifts to the church, and similar practices reputed to be effective in renewing divine favor ; on the other hand, the malice of Satan was to be thwarted by the persecution and murder of his supposed emissaries, especially Jews and witches. The proof that the Jews were particularly chosen for this office lay in the fact THE NEW SANITATION 3 that they were remarkably free from disease. It is now known that their rigid adherence to the Mosaic code of sanitation, which was to them a religious duty, was the true explanation of their exemption. In consequence of these views, measures which in modern times would be called sanitary reform were looked upon as impious. Even to the present day, phrases linger in popular speech which express the old view, as, for example, after an epidemic of a contagious disease lead- ing to much loss of life, the explanation is still sometimes offered that the disaster was "due to an inscrutable Providence," "a divine visitation," "the result of natural sin," or "the rebuke of God." Such influences greatly delayed the progress of scien- tific thought, for any attempt at another explanation met with opposition and ridicule, reen forced by religious fervor and fanaticism. But the onward march of knowl- edge could not be permanently stopped. Facts gradually accumulated whose antagonism to the established theory aroused questionings. It became clear, foi instance, that pestilence was not limited to heretical countries or to ungodly people. In time, many forms of disease were seen to be in some way connected with uncleanliness, and that there was some connection between the spread of disease and the water supply became evident. John Wesley's dictum, "Cleanliness next to Godliness," expressed the new idea from which results have already come which have greatly affected society. The impetus to hygienic research came largely through the practical efforts of Sir Edwin Chad- wick, properly called "the father of sanitary reform." 4 HOUSE SANITATION The modern science of bacteriology, a marvel in the rapidity of its development, has contributed in an extraor- dinary measure to men's knowledge of ways in which many kinds of disease are caused, spread, and controlled. A change of view on the part of the clergy has natur- ally followed close upon this new knowledge. It is said that after a bishop had issued a call to prayer to ward off cholera, one clergyman refused on the ground that it would be blasphemous to seek help from prayer, con- sidering the filthy condition of the streets, and he urged the members of his church to clean up the town. Fast- ing, penance, and prayer are now recognized as ineffec- tive substitutes for obedience to the divine law in the physical realm. As science has been reenforced by rational and active practical effort, several diseases, such as cholera, typhus, and plague, have almost disappeared. Many other dis- eases, it has been proved, can be controlled to a great extent and perhaps ultimately exterminated. Tubercu- losis is a noteworthy example. As sanitary science has developed, light has been thrown on a good many obscure points, and views con- cerning other points, especially the real significance of uncleanliness, have had to be materially altered. As a re- sult, there is need of many changes in sanitary practice. This is shown by the increasing use of such terms as "The New Public Health," "Profitable and Fruitless Lines of Endeavor in Public Health Work," "Public Health Fallacies," and "Sources and Modes of Infec- tion," which are becoming familiar through the teachings of progressive and scientific sanitarians. THE NEW SANITATION 5 The pith of the matter is thus stated by Dr. H. W. Hill in a series of illuminating articles on "The Control of Infectious Diseases": "The old sanitation was concerned / with the environment, the new is concerned with the individual, and finds the sources of infectious disease in man himself rather than in his surroundings." Dr. Hill pictures "the old ideas that slum dwellers live like pigs and therefore invoke the coming of smallpox, scarlet fever, typhoid fever, and diphtheria. If these diseases invaded the homes of well-to-do, a pin hole in the plumb- ing accounted for diphtheria, rotten potatoes in the cellar for typhoid, manure piles for cholera, ground air for malaria, impure water for yellow fever. Tuberculosis was considered hereditary and bubonic plague could be banished by improved ventilation." Dr. Hill also points out that "the old-style sanitary inspector usually condemned everything in sight, from the garbage pail at the back door to the plumbing in the bath- room. But what availed it that the garbage pail was emptied every day or a vent pipe placed on the bath water waste pipe, if the milkman delivered scarlet- fever infected* milk or an unrecognized case of measles sat next the children at school?" Modern sanitarians are urging that public funds appropriated for sanitary measures should be expended in such a way as to prevent the spread of disease. The mistaken idea should be abandoned that everything which tends toward comfort, beauty, good order, and even in- directly toward health, such as street cleaning, garbage disposal, and smoke prevention, belongs to the health de- partment. Dr. C. V. Chapin, in his work on "The Sources 6 HOUSE SANITATION and Modes of Infection," states his belief that such municipal improvements belong no more to the health officials than do " free transfers, cheaper commutation tickets, lower prices for coal, less shoddy in clothing, or more rubber in rubbers all good things in their way and tending towards comfort and health." The housekeeper should understand that a broken bed-spring, a worn-out stove, a tumble-down chair, or even more offensive rubbish in a vacant lot near her house, is not a menace to health and is not a concern of sanitary officials. If these objects are offensive to her and the standard of municipal housekeeping is not very high, her complaint should be remedied by an appeal to a private agency, such as a Municipal Art League. Instances could be multiplied to show that the housekeeper needs to be well informed as to advances in sanitary knowledge, u^ order to direct her efforts intelligently and effectively. A few illustrations of interest to the housekeeper will show changes in sanitary theory which have been abun- dantly and conclusively proved. In nearly every case popular opinion and sanitary enactment, as well as, too frequently, expert practice, have lagged far behind in making readjustments, and thus lead to waste in every kind of expenditure. The statements are made in brief and positive form, and together with others will be con- sidered more fully in later chapters. Night air is purer than day air, and should be admitted freely to the house. Gases from marshes do not cause malaria. The quality of the air in the breathing zone is more important than the general air of the room. THE NEW SANITATION 7 The quantity of carbon dioxide or "carbonic acid" is not a measure of the unhealthfulness of air. Ordinary variations in the normal gaseous constitu- ents of air produce no apparent effects. High humidity, combined with high temperature, produces the discomfort ordinarily attributed to "bad air," and is unhealthful. Ordinary buildings and rooms ventilate themselves to a considerable extent. A small house needs comparatively less provision for change of air than a large building. Air from properly constructed sewers is not harmful." Sunlight cannot be depended on for disinfection or as a substitute for cleanliness. Its value is physiological, psychical, and chiefly moral. Actual light rather than window area should be the measure of the efficiency of room lighting. Odors are not harmful physically, but when un- pleasant should be eliminated by cleansing methods rather than by ventilation. Disinfection as ordinarily practiced, especially by amateurs, is practically valueless. The housekeeper must not be misled by the new sanitation into the belief that the means at her command for promoting the health of her household have almost reached the vanishing point, since ground, air, and plumb- ing have lost so many of their terrors. On the contrary, the implications in the modern views, if fully understood and intelligently acted upon, give her greater opportuni- ties than she has ever had and lay upon her still heavier responsibilities. This new phase of house sanitation, which trenches closely upon personal hygiene, needs more 8 HOUSE SANITATION attention than it is receiving and will be discussed in later chapters. Health depends in part on freedom from infection. The probability of obtaining that freedom will be greatly increased by maintaining the body at a high state of vigor or "vitality," as it is popularly called. This implies the promotion of all agencies which have to do with physical well-being, as well as with the control of sources of infection ; and in so far as such agencies are made use of within the house, they belong properly to, house sanitation. CHAPTER II THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE HOUSEKEEPER IN promoting the sanitation of the house, the house- keeper should realize that she is helping to solve important social and economic problems. The character of the place in which people live and spend more than half their time necessarily has a close relation to their social and economic efficiency. This is recognized -by sani- tary congresses, boards of health, and students of scien- tific and social questions, but it remains for the house- keeper in her home to put into practice those views which otherwise would remain unrelated to human welfare. This responsibility affords an opportunity for very real service and should not be assumed lightly or without adequate preparation. Abundant knowledge, a fine power of observation and discrimination, and executive ability are qualities that are needed if the best results are to be secured. Hardly less important is an attitude of mind or poise which enables the housekeeper to be always mis- tress of herself and of the forces she directs, so that un- certainties, perplexities, and even alarms which she may experience will not needlessly disturb her household. In studying the principles of house sanitation, she will find that conditions are not always directly under her control. She must know how to act when such conditions arise so as to reduce to a minimum the harm which might come in other words, she should be resourceful. She 9 IO HOUSE SANITATION should at the outset have complete familiarity with the house in which she lives. The purchaser of a house demands and is willing to pay for a clear legal title to the property; there should be the same demand and the same willingness to pay for a clear sanitary title, i. e., assurance that the house con- forms in all respects to the best known laws of sanitation. A purchaser or tenant should have as perfect a guaranty of the latter as of the former. The time must come soon when, in order to sell or let houses, the owners or agents will be required to show a certificate secured through expert examination regard- ing the perfect sanitary condition of each house. Already some wise landlords show such certificates. In general, however, the purchaser or tenant must look out for this himself, remembering that all expense incurred is for the safety, health, and possibly the lives of his wife and children and himself. Wherever there is a Board of Health, an Inspector of Buildings, or a Board of Examiners, they may be con- sulted as to the laws of that town or city, since as yet there is little uniformity as to details. But, because the members of these boards are not always themselves ex- perts, and because the standard of public opinion does not as yet demand that they shall be, full reliance cannot, in all cases, be placed upon inspection by public authorities. In houses already occupied, the heating and plumbing systems should be closely watched. If defect is suspected, any person in the house may make a complaint to the Board of Health and inspection will be made without expense. RESPONSIBILITY OF THE HOUSEKEEPER II Given a house in perfect* sanitary condition at the start, the housewife should know what is required to keep it in like condition. Barring accidents, cleanness and pure air will usually insure a condition of safety. She should then know what accidents are liable to happen and how to keep the entire house clean. The object of the following chapters is to give her this knowledge. The questions are so framed that an affirmative answer implies a satisfactory arrangement, while the question itself suggests a remedy, if the answer is negative. In thus pointing out the sources of danger and the ideal standards of sanitation in the perfectly healthful house, it is not the intention unnecessarily to alarm or discourage the householder. The new sanitation, indeed, removes many of the terrors of former times. The aim is to urge the intelligent oversight of these matters, and to indicate the points requiring investigation, the methods of examination, and the practical remedies. The conditions required under the two topics (Situa- tion and Plumbing) which open the subject may seem as difficult of realization, especially to those already settled in their homes, as they are important. But while the suggestions will be of greater value to those con- sidering the choice of a residence, it is believed that they will also show to those who assume the conditions of their houses to be beyond their control that the remedy frequently lies within their reach. The second topic (Plumbing) is necessarily somewhat technical; but it is hoped that the explanations in the notes will .prove the difficulties to be more apparent than real, and that the principles will be easily understood. \ 12 HOUSE SANITATION It is unavoidable that, in a subject so full of -detail, some of the points should appear in themselves trivial, and the risk to health, incurred in ignoring them, very slight ; but the sum of such trifles often makes the difference between physical vigor and weakness, and the risk, small as it is, is greater and more serious than that from fire, against which the householder always insures himself. One of the most dangerous qualities of the unsanitary house is that it slowly and insidiously causes ill health and general languor, which incapacitate for sustained effort, and to which women, from their greater confinement to the house, are especially subject. In conclusion, the householder must be reminded that it is not enough to secure right sanitary conditions ; they must be maintained. This can be done only through the eternal vigilance of the housekeeper, who can thus, in large measure, secure the two essentials of a happy home good health and its attendant, good nature. The following motto should be the basis of her efforts : "Any invention intended to be a substitute for watch- fulness will prove a delusion and a snare." CHAPTER III SITUATION OF THE HOUSE AND CARE OF THE CELLAR THE location and surroundings of the house are of the first importance from a sanitary standpoint. Folding doors and carved mantelpieces are attractive to the house hunter; but the satisfaction they give may be more than offset by the disagreeable or harmful effects of a neighboring marsh, a wet, dark cellar, a lack of sunshine, or by unpleasant surroundings, such as factories and smoking chimneys. As W. P. Gerhard well says: "It must be constantly borne in mind that, while defec- tive construction may generally be remedied, unhealthy surroundings, an undesirable aspect, or insalubrious building site cannot be changed." If, then, a house ready built is to be rented or bought, it is not sufficient that the style of architecture and the social aspect of the locality be considered. The seeker for a house which is to be not only a beautiful but a healthful home must carefully consider the far more important points of character of soil, age of house, honesty of construction, style of plumbing and of heat- ing apparatus, and the possibilities of sunlight and air. Until there is opened in every city and town an office from which trained inspectors can be obtained men or women who understand what living in a house means and what dangers come in the using of apparatus which 13 14 HOUSE SANITATION while new and untried seems to be correct in principle until then the house hunter must herself understand the cardinal points of safety. The chief essentials to be secured are pure air, sun- light, and dryness. These are conditions upon which physical and mental vigor largely depend. Without them the human system loses its power of resistance to disease. Rheumatism and consumption are diseases which seem to be peculiarly prevalent in their absence, and many forms of organic life, known familiarly to us in the form of decay and mold, thrive only in dampness and darkness. An ample supply of pure or clean water is also essential. Clean soil is the primary factor in making possible clean air and clean water. As sanitary views have changed greatly in relation to the hygienic significance of the soil, a few general principles should be clearly understood, especially as they tend to do away with a great many of the disturbing ideas which used to be held in regard to the ground. Health was supposed to be con- stantly menaced by ground air and ground water, but it is now known that neither air nor water can cause disease simply because it is in the ground. We usually think of air as only above ground, not as moving about in it, and seldom realize how great the amount of ground air is until we try the simple experi- ment of pouring water into a potful of dry earth, and notice how much water the earth will absorb in the space before occupied by air. This air is, of course, originally the same as atmospheric air. When it gets into the ground it usually undergoes some changes due to vegeta- tion. The amount of carbon dioxide and of water in- SITUATION OF THE HOUSE 15 creases and of oxygen decreases wherever there is decay of vegetable matter. These changes were formerly thought to make the air very unwholesome, but it is now known that ground air changed only in this way and to the extent which takes place in the ground is quite harm- less. Other things, however, may go on in the ground which will bring about undesirable changes. Defective drains and decaying animal matter may produce offensive gases which will mix with the ground air, but even then the changes are not thought to be sufficient in amount or harmful enough in kind to lead to disease. If, how- ever, there are gas pipes in the ground which leak, it is another matter, for one of the components of illuminating gas produces very serious and even fatal consequences if breathed, and should on no account be allowed to get into the house. It is also true that there are no gaseous exhalations from marshes which cause disease. A spe- cial kind of mosquito which may infest such places and is quite as likely to be found breeding in any little puddle r and which flies about especially at night, is now known to be the cause of the trouble which has given such a bad name to ground air and to night air. It will be readily seen that in deciding upon measures intended to keep ground air out of the house, the housekeeper needs to know whether it is likely to be polluted in any dangerous way. Materials ordinarily used for the construction of cellar walls are more pervious to moisture and air than is generally supposed. Dry brick, for example, is so porous that it can take up about twenty-five per cent of its weight of water, and even the finest grained stones absorb some 1 6 HOUSE SANITATION moisture and allow air to pass through them. If, then, the expense involved in making cellar walls and floor quite impervious to air simply results in keeping out some- thing which is harmless, it is a waste of money which should go to meet real needs. On the other hand, if there is certainty or even probability that the ground air may be polluted, it should be kept out at any cost. This is an illustration of the many ways in which the house- keeper should be guided by exact knowledge rather than by any rule of thumb. Similar statements may be made in regard to ground water. Fifty years ago a distinguished physician of Massachusetts -announced the law of soil moisture, to the effect that residence on a damp soil is a primal cause of consumption, which can be checked or prevented by atten- tion to this fact. This was before the discovery of the germ which causes this disease and without which no amount of moisture can cause it. The belief now is that the relation between them is probably quite indirect and due merely to the fact that dampness depresses vitality.- It is certainly true that a great many effects formerly attributed to moisture are due to other causes. It is also true that until the matter is less obscure than it is at present, the safe course is to avoid excessive moisture in the soil, such as is likely to exist where the level of the ground water is high and the soil of such a character that surface water does not drain from it easily and quickly. Still another charge against the ground has been dis- proved. It was formerly thought to be crowded with disease germs. The truth is that there is only one patho- SITUATION OF THE HOUSE I/ genie or disease-producing form harmful to human beings whose normal habitat is the ground, and that is the germ which causes tetanus or lockjaw. If other disease germs gain access to the ground, they quickly perish. They lack the proper food, the temperature is unfavorable, and there are present many other kinds of germs which are inimical to them. Such germs as those of typhoid fever may be washed into the ground and pollute water sup- plies, but they do not survive long and cannot be drawn up into the air, as the currents are not strong enough. Just as in the case of gaseous impurities, the housekeeper needs to know whether there is the possibility of disease germs getting into the ground near her house and then should act accordingly. The emanations from fresh, upturned earth cause alarm to a great many people and are popularly supposed to produce disease. Investigations which have been made where sewer construction has been followed by malaria or typhoid fever prove that these diseases have been im- ported by laborers who harbored the parasite or the germ of the disease, and have not been due to the upturned soil. These considerations show that it is not harmful for people to live on clean ground or even below the sur- face, as in basements, if they have proper conditions and maintain right standards of cleanliness. It is considered very healthful to sleep close to the ground in camps, and when people live on boats they often sleep below the level of the water without harm from that cause. In any settled community it is almost impossible to know the actual condition of the ground on which the 1 8 HOUSE SANITATION house is. Accordingly, it is always a safe procedure to avoid dampness, darkness, and dust catchers in the house, and as much sunlight, as dry a soil, as free circulation of air as possible, and as much opportunity for a generous use of soap and water without injury to anything are to be desired. The following directions will help the housekeeper in determining what points to observe: Look to the condition of street, yard, rain gutters, cellar walls, cellar floor, and dark closets, if any. Note if there is any appearance of mold the odor will usually betray it ; of leaks in walls or roof. Note the sun plan ; that is, the hours in the day during which the sun can shine into each room both winter and summer, remembering that sunlight is a great help in maintaining healthful conditions. Note relation of windows to the prevailing direction of the wind. Note character of interior construction and finish with reference to holding dust. Examine the drainage plan from attic to cellar. Never move into a house the drainage pipes of which are so built in that they cannot be readily seen. Note the traps, the slope of the main pipes, etc. Secure a written statement from the city inspector ; if possible, be present when the inspection is made. Every housewife should know the "sewer odor"; it is as characteristic as that of onions, and its presence shows that the sewers are not carrying off waste matters as quickly and completely as they should. Examine the heating apparatus; note if the cold- SITUATION OF THE HOUSE IQ air box, etc., answers to the requirements given in Chapter VI. Note the possibilities of obtaining a quick change of air in every room. Carefully inspect the apparatus for water supply the tank in the attic, if there is one (each water-closet must have its own separate flush-tank) ; avoid the use of a well in any thickly settled region. Learn from compe- tent authority if the town supply is well cared for. Be- ware of house filters ; water, that prime necessity of human life, should be like Caesar's wife above suspicion. Much of the air which enters the different rooms of the house comes from the cellar. A heated house acts like a chimney. Not only does it draw in air from the ground through the cellar walls and floor, unless they are made impervious, but the movement of air is from the bottom upwards, and the air of the cellar makes its way into every part of the house. A German experimenter proved that one half of the cellar air made its way into the first story, one third into the second, and one fifth into the third. The upward movement of air is shown frequently by ceilings. The dark streaks are formed by the deposit of dust from the air which passes through the plastering. These facts prove the necessity of especially consider- ing the cellar in its function of a reservoir of air for the whole house ; and it will be readily agreed that there is little use in adopting special methods of ventilation for the living rooms and sleeping rooms if foul air is allowed constantly to rise from the cellar. Therefore, during most of the year there should be a free circulation of air through screened open windows. In very hot summer 2O HOUSE SANITATION days the windows should be closed during the day to prevent the deposit of moisture upon the walls. The reader may exclaim, "Why, you would be more particular about the cellar than the parlor!" and she would not be far from right. The day has not passed when a contemplated visit to a cellar is, in many cases, a cause of some trepidation and alarm. There are the breakneck stairs to grope down, and some calculation is needed to land in safety on the board floating about at the bottom. A few steps farther and the intruder may knock her head against a hanging shelf, covered with an accumulation of fragments of food. She decides that a little fresh air would be desirable. She makes her way toward one of the narrow windows through whose cover- ing of cobwebs and dust a few rays of light straggle. The first attempt to open a window is a failure, for the coal-bin forms an impassable barrier; and the second window is as inaccessible, because of the row of old barrels, filled with decaying vegetables and household rubbish, which are placed against the cellar wall. The only other inlet for fresh air is the cellar door, which is too heavy to lift, and the visitor is forced to retreat with- out fulfilling her good resolve. For the reverse of this picture we may refer to the cellar which is not only sanitarily ideal but practically possible. It is as light and dry and clean as any room in the house. The windows are large, are on different sides, and can be opened easily. The walls are free from dust and cobwebs, and look quite attractive in their coat of whitewash. The sweetness and purity of the air are not only a satisfaction to the good housekeeper when she in- SITUATION OF THE HOUSE 21 spects her cellar, but they have much to do with the 'well- being of the family. The following questions suggest methods of keeping undue dampness and harmful ground air out of the cellar and of providing suitable and healthful surroundings for the house. QUESTIONS 1. When you selected your house did you make sure that it was in a healthful locality as well as in a convenient and fashionable one? 2. If the house is situated on rising ground, is the surface water (from rains) carried away on all sides by either natural or artificial drains ? 3. If the ground is level, are there under-drains carrying away the rain water? 4. Are special pains taken to see that there are no leaking drains or cesspools, defective gas pipes, or other sources of contamination for the ground air within two hundred feet of the house? 5. If the soil is clayey and compact, is there special provision for drainage and for keeping water out of the cellar? 6. Is the house far removed (by at least a quarter of a mile) from garbage dumps or pools of stagnant water where flies or mosquitoes could breed? 7. Are the first floor beams of the house laid upon stone, concrete, or brick foundations, three to six feet above the ground ? Note. Only about half the height of the cellar is then below the surface of the ground. 22 HOUSE SANITATION 8. Is there' a cellar or ventilated air space under the whole house? 9. Are the .vegetables and other perishable articles stored in a light, cool, and dry room walled off from the main part of the cellar, especially if it contains a heating plant ? 10. Is the cellar perfectly dry at all seasons of the year ? 11. If not, are special drains laid under the cellar floor? 12. If the ground air around the house is not clean and dry, are the floor and walls of the cellar made im- pervious by asphalt or other means ? 13. Is the cellar thoroughly cleaned and whitewashed with lime every spring? Note. Lime is a good disinfectant. 14. Has the cellar several windows on opposite sides, if possible, so that it is light and well aired? 15. Is care taken to keep the ground outside the cellar windows free from any contamination ? 1 6. Are these windows accessible? 17. Is the coal cellar a light and dry place? Note. The decomposition of the sulphides in the coal goes on much more rapidly in a damp atmosphere. Sul- phides cause silver to tarnish. 1 8. Do the living rooms and sleeping rooms have the sunshine a good part of the day ? Note. Shade trees often surround the house too closely and prevent the entrance of sunlight, the circula- tion of fresh air, and the consequent evaporation of moisture. SITUATION OF THE HOUSE 23 19. Are there windows on two sides of every room or suite of rooms, or some other efficient means of pro- ducing a strong current of air when needed? 20. Does the supply of drinking water come from a source absolutely free from contamination? Chiefly applicable to a city house : 21. Is the street pavement usually clean and dry? 22. Are the gutters clean, and does the water run freely from them to the drain ? 23. Are the alleys well paved and kept clean? 24. If the lot is on made land: (a) Have you consulted old topographical maps, in order to learn the original character of the soil and direc- tion of the water courses? (b) Was the site well drained before the process of rilling in was begun ? (c) Does the soil consist of gravel, sand, or loam, not a mixture of ashes, street sweepings, and house refuse? (d) Have some years passed since the lot was filled in? 25. Is the back yard provided with a drain for rain water, and is the drain easy of access for cleanine"? CHAPTER IV PLUMBING VIEWS in regard to plumbing have probably changed more radically than in any other branch of house sanitation. The old beliefs have led to certain practices which need to be modified in the interest of true sanitation. Less than a generation ago, books on hygiene fre- quently contained such passages as the following: "If we look for the cause of the large mortality from .zymotic diseases in our cities, we find it principally in sewer-gas poisoning," or, "To bad plumbing we may attribute the prevalence of pythogenic pneumonia, peritonitis, inflam- matory rheumatism, typhoid and malarial fevers, croup, diphtheria, and many kindred diseases." It was generally believed that such diseases lurked wherever plumbing was introduced. People read and heard of the dangers threatening them from typhoid fever and diphtheria if they, .had water-closets, bathtubs, and washbowls in their houses, but the temptation to enjoy the comfort and con- venience of these appliances often got the better of their fears. When the germ theory of disease was developed, it was seen that if "sewer gas," or, more properly, sewer air, caused infectious disease, it could only be by carry- ing the specific germs of the disease. It was proved, moreover, that germs adhere to moist surfaces and are 24 PLUMBING 25 not easily given off from liquids into the surrounding air except by splashing or very strong currents of air or the bursting of bubbles of gas formed by decomposing waste matter. All who observed normal conditions in actual sewers believed that the danger of infection was slight. A few years ago, Major Horrocks, an English ex- perimenter, found typhoid organisms in a vertical pipe more than three feet above the liquid through which the organisms had been passed. This led people to think that perhaps, after all, sewage emanations might be the cause of outbreaks of disease. On the other hand, many observers had found that the number of bacteria in actual sewer air is extremely small, and that they are generally air forms and not sewage forms. In fact, the air of sewers is usually freer from bacteria than ordinary atmospheric air, as it is usually quieter, and this gives a chance for the bacteria to settle. Later, under the auspices of the Master Plumb- ers' Association, who with many others desired to have the question settled, Dr. Charles-Edward A. Winslow conducted an investigation and found that mechanical splashing may produce a local infection of the air in immediate contact with the spray, but that it does not extend for any distance or persist for more than a minute or two, and then only four times in two hundred liters of air. He urged that sanitation should deal with prac- tical probabilities rather than with theoretical possibilities, a doctrine which housekeepers may well take to heart. The conclusion from his experiments is that, if One were to breathe for twenty- four hours the undiluted air of a house-drainage system at any point not immediately 26 HOUSE SANITATION affected by mechanical splashing, less than fifty intestinal bacteria would be taken in, whereas in the amount of New York City water which one would drink in the same time there would be one hundred, or twice as many, ingested. The contrast in the probability of these two experiences occurring to any one living in New York or, in fact, in any city is quite striking. It seems, there- fore, that the chance of direct bacterial infection through the air of drains and sewers is extremely slight. It is not surely known what effect is produced by odors and gases emanating from decomposing matter. It is perfectly clear, however, that, if the process of carrying away wastes is properly conducted, there will be no such emanations. Many plumbing regulations are, however, of such a nature as to retard the flow of sewage and furnish conditions favorable for decomposition. These rules are based on the old idea of the poisonous quality of sewer air. When we are convinced of the real facts, we shall see that the water-carriage system is not merely the most effective but the most sanitary device for carry- ing away liquid waste matter. Scientific experiment and experience alike have shown that the threatened dangers are simply bogies, that germ diseases cannot originate in the plumbing, and, if introduced, the germs can with very great difficulty and not at all in well-constructed plumb- ing make their way out of the system of pipes into the house. Accordingly, instead of reducing the number of fix- tures to a minimum and absolutely prohibiting the use of any in a bedroom or a room without a window, sanitarians are urging the more general use of well-constructed PLUMBING 27 plumbing as a safe and adequate means of maintaining proper standards of personal and domestic cleanliness. There are many plumbing codes and sets of building regulations which need to be completely revised from the point of view of modern knowledge. The result would undoubtedly be much higher standards of cleanliness and more general sanitation, accompanied by saving of ex- pense in construction. Fortunately, the very great complexity and elabora- tion of pipes which was formerly thought essential has given place to much greater simplicity, and thoroughness of construction is now far better understood. It may still seem to the housekeeper that the system is a thing of mystery, but for the encouragement of the reader it may be likened to a tangled skein in which, after the first few knots are disentangled, the rest of the difficulties vanish of themselves. Defects in plumbing, while not likely to give rise to specific disease, may cause annoyance and discomfort. In many instances these can be averted, without expense or even technical skill, by intelligent over- sight and a knowledge of what defects to look for, how to find them, and how to remedy them. When an expert is really needed, a little knowledge enables one to recognize the fact in season to save the heavy penalty of discomfort or expense which delay often involves. In no department of household economy are the old adages about the ounce of prevention and the stitch in time more applicable. The questions aim to save the pound of cure and avert the nine stitches. They do not aim to supplant the mechanic or engineer, or to supply the place of a scientific treatise. 28 HOUSE SANITATION They are based upon the principles stated by Rogers Field as the three canons of house drainage: 1. All refuse mattersjmust be completely and rapidly removed. 2. No passage of air can be allowed to take place from drain or waste pipes into houses. 3. No communication can be permitted to occur be- tween the drains and the water supply. In two ways these questions are designed to be espe- cially helpful. First. To enable those selecting a house to judge of its sanitary condition. It cannot be too strongly urgecj, in this connection, that every inch of pipe, every drain and joint and trap, must have been seen and tested by^the plumbing inspector of the Board of Health. One test should be made when the house is in process of construc- tion, before any of the plumbing has been concealed, and another should be made on the completion of the house. If all is satisfactory, a certificate to that effect should be issued by the inspector. Inspection by a competent person should follow at occasional intervals after the house is occupied. Inspection which insures honest workmanship and good materials is of great pecuniary advantage, since a leakage or break is liable not to be discovered until it has produced serious trouble, and then there is often delay in having repairs made and, if the plumbing is concealed more than it should be, the partial demolition of floors and walls is often necessary to get at the root of the trouble. Second. To aid those in charge of a household to maintain healthful conditions. The larger the staff of PLUMBING 29 servants and .nl^To;GltojT0y, IOI at which theory and practice are advancing in the matter of disinfection. A review recently made of the meth- ods of disinfection employed in twenty-nine large cities showed clearly that there is no assurance that disease organisms are destroyed by ordinary house disinfection. Several members of a French medical society have claimed that disinfection as carried out in Paris has been wholly ineffectual in checking the spread of scarlet fever, diphtheria, and measles. It is stated that emphasis wrongly placed on disinfection tends to draw attention away from the mild cases and from the carriers who are the chief factors in the spread of the common contagious diseases. The practice of "terminal disinfection," or the dis- infection of rooms and their contents in general after cases of diphtheria and scarlet fever, was discontinued in Providence, Rhode Island, in recent years; and the results, judging by the number of recurrences in that city since that time, indicate that terminal disinfection is of no appreciable value. In other places, disinfection after measles and cerebro-spinal meningitis has been without effect in checking these diseases. There are many factors involved in accomplishing the destruction of germs, such as the amount of disin- fectant used, the amount of time spent in the process, the humidity, leakage, wind, and rapidity of evolution of the gas used. One need only remember these facts to see that almost any result or even no result at all may be obtained from ordinary or even fairly skillful attempts at disinfection. It has been truly said that "present con- ditions and practices are farcical." IO2 ^ITOySE ^SANITATION Attention should, of course, be directed to the actual infective material, and this means constant, scrupulous attention to the cleanliness of the patient and of the objects with which he comes in immediate contact. This attention should be given during the progress of the disease, not afterwards. Soap and water should be used every day in abundance. All bed linen and everything in use by the sick person should be kept thoroughly clean. Boiling is the best means of accomplishing this result. Free exposure to direct sunlight is likewise effective. Dr. Porter, the health officer of Florida, after declaring that if such processes of daily cleansing are carried out when the patient gets well the house will be clean, goes on to say: "Then, if it will give you a little comfort, or if it will appease the neighbors, or if for any other good reason you wish to do it as a sort of celebration of the termination of the disease, burn a little sulphur or use a little formalin, saying at the same time whatever little incantation you like best ; but, above all things, don't rely on the sulphur or incantation, but upon keeping things clean." Of course, there are many kinds of infected material which may properly be destroyed. This may be by fire (burning), as in the case of worthless clothing or maga- zines, or by strong chemicals, like chloride of lime, as with body discharges. Disinfection and destruction here are synonymous, and they are the only household proc- esses on which complete reliance may be placed for re- moving danger from infection. The use of deodorants is valueless in this regard. It is indeed a tacit avowal that cleanliness is not maintained. HOUSEHOLD CO^TRO^ ;OT> J INpEGl I- IO$ In "The New Public Health," by Dr. H. W. Hill, the following rules prepared for use in the public schools are quoted. They indicate not only the main points to be taught concerning protection from infectious diseases in the schools, but also pretty closely what can be done in the home. The germs of infectious diseases are in the discharges of infectious persons. Infectious diseases are caught from infec- tious persons simply by taking into the mouth some portion, usually very small, of their infected discharges. 1. Exclude from school all infectious persons, thus exclud- ing all infectious discharges. 2. Since infectious persons may enter school at times despite the greatest vigilance, restrict, so far as possible, the scattering of any discharge of any person at any time in school. (This will also train the children to restrict their discharges out of school and in after life.) a. Mouth discharges are transferred directly to and taken directly from drinking cups, towels, pencils, chewing gum, whistles, etc. Mouth, nose, bladder, and bowel discharges are transferred directly to hands many times daily. Hands go to mouths many times daily; therefore, Provide individual drinking cups, individual towels, individual pencils, individual modeling clay, etc. There should be a sign in every school, "Wash your hands after every visit to a closet." b. Sputum (spit) or other discharges, deposited on floors, sidewalks, etc., are picked up by shoes and so carried into homes. When handling shoes (putting on, taking off, etc.), discharges are transferred to hands, which go to mouths, or touch things that go to mouths ; therefore, Avoid depositing discharges sputum, etc. on floors, side- walks, or elsewhere, where other people may step on them. c. Mouth spray is thrown out in talking, singing, coughing, sneezing, etc. ; therefore, 104 /, ] \ \ Avoid throwing mouth spray into other people's faces by avoiding close face-to-face conversations, recitations, singing exercises, etc. Cough, sneeze, etc., into a handkerchief always. d. The air of a schoolroom in use necessarily receives mouth spray into it in talking, reciting, etc. e. Bladder and bowel discharges are carried by flies when flies can get at them. During early autumn and late spring or summer sessions, flies may carry these discharges from toilets to children's lunches, etc. ; therefore, Make toilet vaults fly-proof. Provide springs or weights to automatically close toilet doors, and fly screens for toilet windows. /. Three things destroy comfort and success in school work : Temperature too high; atmosphere too dry; air not in motion. Also, no child can work well in a poorly lighted room; but do not imagine that good lighting, good heating, and good ventila- tion will prevent spread of infection if infectious persons gain entrance. No school is a sanitary school if the children exchange their discharges without restriction; but only those schools where infectious persons are watched for and excluded are safe schools ; therefore, Note daily the general state of health of each child. No child who shows any decided change from the usual for that child, especially fever, headache, sore throat, stomachache, or general dumpishness, should attend school until seen by a physi- cian. This rule permits early detection of infectious children. It also excludes children who should be excluded for their own good, even if non-infectious. g. Children showing defective vision, hearing, breathing, etc., should be referred to the principal, superintendent, or school board for action. The picture which has been drawn in the preceding pages has dark shadows of uncertainty, of positive error, of danger, but the reader must see the light in it as well. Day by day, through the devotion and skill of scientific HOUSEHOLD CONTROL OF INFECTION IO5 men and women the world over, mankind is learning to understand the various infectious diseases and, what is still more encouraging, to control them and to fortify himself against them. The part which women in the household have to play in using this knowledge is steadily increasing in importance and in happy results. QUESTIONS 1. Is each member of the household provided with individual toilet articles, soap, towels, brushes, etc.? 2. Are toothbrushes kept separate from each other and not put in a common mug ? 3. Are the children trained early to brush their teeth night and morning and to keep their mouths clean? 4. Are the children taught not to use the clothing and especially the handkerchiefs of other people? 5. Is there a washstand with running water, both hot and colei, in every bedroom? 6. Has each member of the household, including the employees, access to a bathtub with plenty of hot and cold water? 7. Is each person careful to scrub the bathtub thor- oughly every time after using it? 8. Is each member of the household provided with a separate bed ? 9. Is the linen always changed when a person other than the usual occupant is to use a bed ? 10. Are the children and babies shielded from people who would kiss them on the mouth? 11. Are the hands of each member of the household thoroughly washed before each meal ? IO6 .... . HOUSE SANITATION 12. Are there facilities for washing the hands so that the kitchen sink need not be used for the purpose? 13. Are the persons who handle and prepare the food and dishes of the household known to be free from in- fectious disease, including colds? 14. Are they, as well as every member of the family, careful to wash their hands after using the toilet? 15. Are the dishes washed in plenty of clean, soapy, hot water and rinsed with much clean, scalding water? 1 6. Is care taken to prevent two persons from using the same dishes, forks, spoons, etc., without washing between times ? 17. Are the hands not only washed but disinfected each time after caring for or handling any person ill of an infectious disease? 18. Are all places for the deposit of excretions, as privies and cesspools, screened to exclude flies ? 19. Are the pet animals of the household known to be clean and healthy ? 20. Are the children taught not to kiss animals nor to allow themselves to be licked by the tongues of animals ? CHAPTER XI CONCLUSION by one, until the number is now very consider- able, diseases have been proved to be infectious, and the end is not in sight. There seems to be little doubt, however, but that many disorders of the nervous, circulatory, and digestive systems will always have to be considered on a different basis. They are none the less important, and house sanitation will fail in its proper function of maintaining health if it ignores them. It is naturally beyond the scope of this book to enter into any discussion of pathology or therapeutics. There is, moreover, too much uncertainty as to what the effects of environment ajj and in what "vitality," or resistance to disease, consists to make many dogmatic statements concerning the relations between housing or habits of living and health. But, although sc^ice may as yet fail to give explanation or proof, experience leads us to think that certain principles in regard to living are essential to health. That house cannot be truly called sanitary which does not make provision for carrying out these principles. Several of these have been enumerated in previous chapters. In addition, the following may be briefly indicated : Accommodations for quiet, comfortable sleep in cool, fresh air. Wholesome, nourishing, and attractive food at regu- m 107 IO8 HOUSE SANITATION lar intervals, served in a pleasant environment and with agreeable company. Opportunity for rest, quiet, and privacy when needed. Facilities for exercise, recreation, and interesting occupation. Standards of pure and moral living. Such conditions will undoubtedly contribute to the upbuilding of sound bodies. A still more important factor may be mentioned, although it has to do with that subtle and mysterious problem, the effect of the mind on the body. It may be safely said that all the suggestions which have been made in the preceding pages may be conscientiously and sedu- lously carried out and yet the result may be quite unsatis- factory. The very concern of the housewife to secure health for those in her keeping may lead her to place too much stress on the machinery she employs, and thereby unduly to call the attention of her^household to the dangers from disease and to keep them in a constant state of mental anxiety as well as of bodily and spiritual dis- comfort. It may b^iifficult to decide where to draw the line, but mental impressions are so vivid and. react so seriously on the body that it seems wise to keep an atmos- phere of health rather than of disease about the house- hold. Children may be trained in right living and may be taught cleanly habits so that they will become automatic, without arousing their fears and shocking their nerves by giving them too minute particulars as to the reasons or explanations better suited to the expert ^sanitarian or pathologist. Such conditions as these prove that, as has already f CONCLUSION IO9 been pointed out, the housekeeper has an opportunity for exercising large functions, which need not only wide knowledge but keen insight, power of discrimination, and sound judgment. BIBLIOGRAPHY The New Public Health. Minnesota State Board of Health, St. Paul, Minnesota. Manual of Practical Hygiene. 4th ed., rev. and enl. by M. W. Richardson. Charles Harrington. Philadel- phia : Lea & Febiger. Principles of Sanitary Science and the Public Health. W. T. Sedgwick. New York : The Macmillan Co. The Sources and Modes of Infection. Charles V. Chapin. New York: John Wiley & Sons. Manual of Hygiene and Sanitation. Seneca Egbert. Philadelphia: Lea & Febiger. Lessons in Practical Hygiene. Alice Ravenhill. Leeds : E. J. Arnold & Son. Municipal Sanitation in the United States. Charles V. Chapin. Providence, Rhode Island: Snow & Farn- ham. 'Dust and Its Dangers. T. M. Prudden. New York: G. P. Putnam's Sons. Bacteria, Yeasts and Molds in the Home. H. W. Conn. Boston: Ginn & Co. General Bacteriology. E. O. Jordan. Philadelphia: W. B. Saunders Company. Library of Home Economics. Household Bacteriology, S. M. Elliott. Household Hygiene, S. M. Elliott. Household Management, Bertha M. Terrill. Per- sonal Hygiene, Maurice Le Bosquet. Chicago: American School of Home Economics, no BIBLIOGRAPHY III The Care of a House. T. M. Clark. New York: The Macmillan Co. Plumbing and Household Sanitation. John Pickering Putnam. New York: Doubleday, Page & Co. Standard Practical Plumbing. Robert Macy Starbuck. New York : Henley & Co. Sanitary Engineering of Buildings. William Paul Ger- hard. New York: William T. Comstock. Guide to Sanitary Inspections. William Paul Gerhard. New York: J. Wiley & Sons. Air and Health. Ronald C. Macfie. New York: E. P. Button & Co. United States Department of Agriculture, Office of Ex- periment Stations. Bulletin 175, pp. 237-261. Wash- ington, District of Columbia. Microbiology. Charles E. Marshall. Philadelphia: P. Blakiston, Son & Co. Rural Hygiene. Henry N. Ogden. New York: The Macmillan Co. University of Missouri. Engineering Experiment Sta- tion. Bulletins i, 2, and 3. Columbia, Missouri. The House Fly, Disease Carrier. Leland O. Howard. - New York : F. A. Stokes Co. The Human Mechanism. Theodore Hough and W. T. Sedgwick. Boston : Ginn & Co. The Cost of Cleanness. E. H. Richards. New York: John Wiley & Sons. Euthenics. Ellen H. Richards. Boston: Whitcomb & Barrows. The Efficient Life. L. H. Gulick. New York: Double- - day, Page & Co. 112 HOUSE SANITATION The following are references to periodical literature : Science, June 2, 1911. Profitable and Fruitless Lines of Endeavor in Public Health Work, by E. O. Jordan. Archives of Internal Medicine, January, 1911. A Study of the Ventilation of Sleeping Cars (containing a summary of facts concerning ventilation), by T. C. Crowder. Journal of Medical Research, September, 1911. Organic Matter in Expired Breath, by Rosenau and Amoss. Journal of the American Medical Association, January 20, 1912. On What Do the Hygienic and Therapeutic Virtues of the Open Air Depend? by Henry Sewall. Journal of Physiology, No. 41, p. 3. Influence of Heat and Chemical Impurities of Close Air, by Leonard Hill. National Association of Master Plumbers of the United States. Report of the Sanitary Committee for 1907- 08-09. American Medicine, April, 1907. Actinophysiology and Actinotherapy, by Charles F. Woodruff, M.D. American Journal of Public Hygiene, Vol. XIX, pp. 340 and 367. Journal of the American Public Health Association, Vol. I, p. 32. American Journal of Public Health. Florida Health Notes. Dr. Joseph Y. Porter. Health Bulletins of various states and cities. INDEX Acetylene, 92 Agencies, sanitary, 8 Air, 18, 19, 4256, 92 change of, 19 circulation of, 18, 19, 92, 93 ground, 14, 15, 16 night, 15, 47 pure, n, 14, 45 variations in, 7 vitiation of, 72 Anaphylaxis, 44 Apparatus, heating, 18, 58 et seq. water supply, 19 Artificial light, 71, 76 Bacteria, 80, 93, 96, 97, 99 Bacteriology, 4 Basements, 17 Bathroom, 85 Beds, 85 Beauty, standard of, 79, 81 Board of Health, 9, 10, 28 Body discharges, 97, 99, 103 Breathing zone, 6, 43 Burners, 75 Burnt air, 62 Candles, 71, 72 Capillary attraction, 31, 38 Carbon dioxide, 7, 15, 43, 44 monoxide, 44, 48, 62 Carpets, 82, 84 Carriers, 97, 98, 101 Cast iron, objections to, 62 Ceilings, 82 Cellar, 15, 16, 18, 19, 20, 87 Central heating plant, 58 Cesspool, 88, 89 Chadwick, Sir Edwin, 3 Chapin, Dr. C. V., 5, 97 Chimneys, 52 Cisterns, 91 Clergy, attitude of, 4 Closet, earth, 90 essentials of sanitary, 33 types of, 33 Cold-air box, 18, 62, 64 Combustion, 71, 75 Conduction, 45 Conservation, i Construction, 13, 18 Contamination, chemical, of air, 45 Convection, 45 Crowder, Dr. T. R., 49 Curtains, 83, 84 Dampness, 14, 16, 17 Danger, sources of, n Darkness, 14, 17 Decay, 14, 15, 81 Deodorants, 102 Diffused light, 68, 72 Digestion, 45 Diphtheria, 96, 98 Disease and uncleanliness, 3 causation of, 2, 3 control of, 4, 5 germ theory of, 24 methods of cure, 2 Discharges, body, 97 Disinfection, 7, 68, 101, 102 Display, 79 Disposal of sewage, 33 Drains, defective, 15, 51 Drinking cup, 98 Dryness, 14 Dust, 1 8, 80 Dusts, 44, 51 Earth closet, 90 Electric light, 71, 78 Emerson, R. W., 79 Environment, 5 Evaporation in trap, 31, 38 Exclusion of light, 70 INDEX Exhalations, gaseous, 15 Factories, 13, 51 Fermentation, 81 Field, Rogers, 28 Fire, 12 Fixtures, gas, 73, 76 plumbing, 29 Flashing point, 74 Flies, 99, 100 Floors, 1 6, 82 Flush tanks, 94 Fly screens, 85, 100 Fomites, 96 Food, 97, 107 Formalin, 102 Furnace, 60 et seq. Furnishings, 79 et seq. and comfort, 79 and health, 79, 80 Garbage, 100 Gas fixtures, 73, 76 illuminating, 15, 71, 72, 73, 92 mains, leaking, 51 Gases, offensive, 15 Gerhard, W. P., 13 Germ theory of disease, 24, 96 Germs, 16, 17, 97, 101 disease, 16, 80 Grease, 39, 89 trap, 39 Ground, 16, 17 Growth, 69 Hand towels, 86 Health department, 5 officers, i, 6 Healthful living, essentials of, 79 Heating, 45, 46, 57 et seq. apparatus, 10, 18, 58 et seq. Hill, Dr. H. W., 5, 103 Horrocks, Major, 25 Hot-water heating, 63, 67 House, 2, 10, u, 12, 13, 17, 97 drain, 30, 36 drainage, canons of, 28 illustration of, 34 Householder, rights of, 2 Housekeeper, 9 Humidifying air, 63, 67 Humidity, 7, 44, 45, 46, 49, 101 Illuminating gas, 15, 71, 72, 73, 92 dangers from, 73 Impurities, gaseous, 16 Index of impurity, 43 Infection, 97, 100 from sewers, 25, 26 Infectious disease, 97, 103, 107 person, 104 Insects, 97, 99 Inspector of buildings, 13 Inspectors, trained, 13 Irrigation, surface or broad, 89 Kerosene, 71 et seq. lamp, care of, 77 Kitchen, 86 Leaks, 18 Lehmann, 43 Light and growth, 69 and nerves, 70 as disinfectant, 68, 69 exclusion of, 70 hygienic significance, 68 et seq. requirement, 70 Lighting, 68 et seq. importance of, 71 of country house, 92 Location of house, 13 Malaria, 6, 47, 100 Marshes, 6, 15, 48 Master Plumbers' Association, 25 Mattings, 82 Mechanical trap, 32 Milk, 97 Moisture, 16, 20, 45, 46 Mold, 14, 18 Mosaic code of sanitation, 3 Mosquitoes, 15, 47, 48, 100 Municipal Art League, 6 Natural illumination, 75 Nerves, 70 Night air, 6 INDEX Nitrates, 90 Nitrifying organisms, 88 Nitrogenous matter, 88 Odor, sewer, 18 Odors, 7, 26, 47, 52 Offensive objects, 6 Open fires, 58, 60, 63, 66 Over-crowding, 43 Overflow pipes, 39, 40 Over-furnishing, 79, 80 Over-heating, 49, 57 Parlor, 20 Plan, drainage, 18 sun, 1 8 Peppermint test, 35 Perspiration, 45 Pet animals, 100 Plumbing, concealed, 28 construction of, 27, 28 dangers from, 24, 26 defects in, 27 essentials of, 29 inspection of, 28 inspector, 28 old views of, 24 regulations, 26, 27 right use of, 29 safety of, 27 simplicity of, 27 supervision of, 29 system, 10 Porter, Dr., 102 Pot trap, 31 Privacy, 107 Private route of infection, 97 Privy vault, 99, 100 Public route of infection, 97 Putnam, J. Pickering, 33 Questions, aim of, 27, 28 Radiation, 45 Radiators, 67, 81 Rain water, 91 leaders, 40 Recreation, 107 Refrigerator, 40, 86 Refrigerator waste pipe, 40 Residence, choice of, n Responsibility of housekeepers, i, 6, 7 Reventing, 32 Rheumatism, 14 Richardson, Dr. B. W., i Risk, 12 Rock, 87 Room lighting, 7 Rugs, 82 Sanitas trap, 32 Sanitation, 9, n new, 5, 7 old, 5 Sanitary drainage, rules of, 33 law, 2 practice, i, 4 reform, 3 theory, 6 title, 10 Seal, 30 Septic tanks, 89 Sewage, 33, 95 Sewer air, 7, 24, 25, 26, 96 construction, 17 odor, 1 8 Simplicity in furnishing, 81, 82 in plumbing, 27 Siphonage, 31 Size of windows, 70 Sleep, 107 Sleeping rooms, dark, 70 Smoke nuisance, 51 Soil, 13, 14, 18, 87, 88, 90, 92 moisture, 16 pipe, 29, 37 Soiled clothes, 84 Standards of sanitation, n Steam heating, 58, 67 Stoves, 63, 66 S trap, 32 Street, condition of, 18 Sulphur, 102 Sunlight, 7, 14, 18, 69, 93, 102 and cleanliness, 69 value of, 7 Sun plan, 18 Surroundings of house, 13 INDEX Tank, flush, 94 pneumatic, 91 septic, 89 Temperature, 45, 57, 104 Terminal disinfection, 101 Title, legal, 10 sanitary, 10 Trap, 30 Tuberculosis, 5 Typhoid fever, 16, 47, 96, 98 Uncleanliness, significance of, 4 Upholstery, 83, 84 Vapors from kerosene, 74 Ventilation, 19, 42 et seq., 104 spontaneous, 7, 50, 52, 53 Venting, 32 Vent pipe, 31, 39 Vitiation of air, 72 Vitality, 8, 107 Walls, 82, 83 Waste pipe, 29 Water, 16, 87, 91, 92, 94, 97, 98 carriage system, 29 et seq. gas, 73 ground, 16 rain, 91 Wells, 90 Welsbach burners, 72 Wesley, John, 3 Wind, direction of, 18 Windows, 18, 82 size of, 70 Winslow, C.-E. A., 25, 46 Woodwork, 38, 82, 83 Work, unnecessary, 80, 81 Yellow fever, 100 Zone, breathing, 43 RETURN TO the circulation desk of any University of California Library or to the NORTHERN REGIONAL LIBRARY FACILITY Bldg. 400, Richmond Field Station University of California Richmond, CA 94804-4698 ALL BOOKS MAY BE RECALLED AFTER 7 DAYS 2-month loans may be renewed by calling (415) 642-6753 1-year loans may be recharged by bringing books to NRLF Renewals and recharges may be made 4 days prior to due date DUE AS STAMPED BELOW 1 5 19.9f SEP 31996 UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LIBRARY