Show DUST IN THE HOUSE The Dangers to Which We Are Constantly Exposed HOW THEY MAY BE AVOIDED Curtains Draperies Wall Hangings Lamljre quins and the Dust They Gather The Use of Ammonia For THE SUNDAY HCHAUX In Cjonucr angle whichrecently pearedin 1 TUE HeRALD columns the subjects sub-jects of dusty streets and the physiological effects of dustladen air generally were briefly treated Another topic closely allied to the one just named and certainly not below it in importance embraces the nature and effects of the dust of houses The air without being so heayily charged with solid particles much of the suspended material must of necessity find its way within doors but besides that the air of rooms contains much dust which is of a kind peculiar to the house The familiar observation and oftquoted proof is applicable appli-cable here by way of illustration note the path or a sunbeam within a partially darkened dark-ened room along the line of light innumerable innum-erable particles are seen rising sinking with ceaseless motionall made plain to our gaze by that powerful analyst thesolar beam We need not hesitate in concluding that dust particles are distributed throughout through-out the room certainly they are not brought into the room by the sunbeam and are not confined to the narrow space which forms tho temporary path of tho light A query as to what this dust consists of will probably suggest itself next The writer has on several occasions collected and examined the floating matter from the atmosphere of inhabited rooms in this regionand though experiment ivas in no way novel or original with himself he prefers pre-fers to state the results of his own tests to quoting from the records of foreign investigations investi-gations Prominent among the dust particles of our homes tho following will be found Sand and other mineral fragments doubtlessly doubt-lessly debris from the dusty streets occa sioually crystals of salt are discernible these coming perhaps from the kitchen and pantry where salt is in such common use but also originating in part from the per piratory excretions of the skins of the inmates finely divided carbon as soot lampblack and coal dust are rarely absent fibres of cotton and wool and bits of hair I from animal and human bodies and beautiful beauti-ful scales of butterilies and mothsthese probably coming from the outside broken bits of straw and epithelial scales from the skin and lung passages of the inmates i are easily found Other observers have reported re-ported in addition to these shells of diatoms dia-toms and desmidswondrously minute plantsalso starch grains of many kinds and tho spores of various kinds of mildews and moldsfungi as such tiny plants are calledas occurring in tho air of rooms A rather extensive array it is true and when we consider that these floating legions of particles are likely to be taken into the passages of our bodies through the processes pro-cesses of respiration the subject becomes one of impressive interest A well reputed authority on sanitary matters says regarding the dust of 1 rooms It is thus seen to consist of organic refuse which Is more or less putrescent its presence pres-ence in the air assists in the production of the low state of health so common to the occupants of dirty and overcrowded housesIt houses-It is of course impossible to prevent the production of dust within our homes the necessary wear of domestic operations will t constantly give rise to detached particles and as this household dust is so largely I augmented by that which comes from without with-out we cannot hopo to fine a dustless home I Our efforts would be most wisely directed toward preventing the undue accumulation I of the dust and to averting as best wecan the ill effects of its putrefactive changes I These important results are to bo attained at-tained only by thorough and systematic cleansing The construction of common rooms renders them veritable dust traps Uneven wall surfaces projecting door and window frames cornices and ceiling and wall mouldings prove most effective means of entrapping tho dust particles and of holding them secure from the broom and duster of tho most energetic house maid The floors are no less instrumental in this respect crevices between the boards will hold immeuse quantities of dust heavy and immovablo pieces of furniture render a thorough cleansing almost impossible but beyond all these carpets stand forth as the chief of dust catchers Our custom of covering every floor with woven carpets is a deplorable one Recent investigations by a number of English physicians havo done e much to prove this fact and there are today to-day many eminent medical practitioners who decline to undertake cases of illness if I the patients are kept in carpeted rooms As they are generally put down our floor coverings are securely fastened and there is little chance of them being subjected ton cleansing operation till the season of houso renovating arrives in the meantime they are mainly effectual in gathering the dust while undisturbed and in giving off portions por-tions of the same in diseaseladen clouds whenever they are agitated even by being trodden upon Curtains of thick fabrics draperies wall hangings lambrequins and the like all servo to gather and conceal dust Light materials are preferable for curtains and hangings and these should bo so arranged as to admit of ready removal and frequent cleansing Closo fitting and polished floors are most easily cleaned if carpets be used at all they should be but lightly fastened Indian matting has been recommended especially es-pecially for bed room use this material is I nonabsorbent admits of ready cleansing cleans-ing Oif clothind linoleumareROpd in dry localities if the boards boat all damphow ever ill results will follow from the devel opnftnt of rot in the wood Rough or flock wall papers should be mentioned also as holdersof dust Organic matters large quantities of which are exhaled ex-haled in the breath of the inmates of rooms are the most injurious elements of contaminated contam-inated air A very simple experiment will enlighten us upon this point Take a large bottle clean and dry one with a wide month is best a quart fruit jar will answer admirably breathe into it several times by placing the opening of tho bottle over your mouth then inhale through the nostrils and exhale through tho mouth into the bottle tightly close the vessel and keep it in a I I warm place for half an hour then open and I smell the contents A most disgusting I odor has been experienced This emanates without doubt from the decomposition of the contained organic matter Such putres ciblo material is being thrown into the air of inhabited rooms constantly and settles upon the walls and furniture in all parts of the rooms its removal if at all possible is a difficult undertaking It is upon these offensive matters that those natural and i necessary scavengers the greatly abused I house flies largely feed and but for these useful little creatures we would be in a far worse plight Ordinary detergents if frequently and vigorously applied willanswer all purposes or common cleansing Of these soap the alkalies and especially ammonia water are the chief The last named is not so generally gener-ally used as its merits would warrant Good water ammonia can now be procured in this city at 25 or 30 cents per pound this should be diluted before using with from ten to fifteen times its own volume of water the mixture is then of sufficient strength for tho washing of wood work and walls J E TAUIAQC |