A Civic Biology, Presented in ProblemsHunter, George W. (George William)
Science
A Civic Biology, Presented in Problems
Hunter, George W. (George William)
Biology; Sanitation
Care of the Bedroom.--Since sunlight cannot always be obtained for a
bedroom, we must so care for and furnish the room that it will be difficult
for germs to grow there. Bedroom furniture should be light and easy to
clean, the bedstead of iron, the floors painted or of hardwood. No hangings
should be allowed at the windows to collect dust, nor should carpets be
allowed for the same reason. Rugs on the floor may easily be removed when
cleaning is done. The furniture and woodwork should be wiped with a damp
cloth every day. Why a _damp_ cloth? In certain tenements in New York City,
tuberculosis is believed to have been spread by people occupying rooms in
which a previous tenant has had tuberculosis. A new tenant should insist on
a thorough cleaning of the bedrooms and removal of old wall paper before
occupancy.
Sunlight Important.--In choosing a house in the country we would take a
location in which the sunlight was abundant. A shaded location might be too
damp for health. Sunlight should enter at least some of the rooms. In
choosing an apartment we should have this matter in mind, for, as we know,
germs cannot long exist in sunlight.
[Illustration: This map shows how cases of tuberculosis are found recurring
in the same locality and in the same houses year after year. Each black dot
is one case of tuberculosis.]
Heating.--Houses in the country are often heated by open fires, stoves or
hot-air furnaces, all of which make use of heated currents of air to warm
the rooms. But in the city apartments, usually pipes conduct steam or hot
water from a central plant to our rooms. The difficulty with this system is
that it does not give us fresh air, but warms over the stale air in a room.
Steam causes our rooms to be too warm part of the time, and not warm enough
part of the time. Thus we become overheated and then take cold by becoming
chilled. Steam heat is thus responsible for much sickness.
Lighting.--Lighting our rooms is a matter of much importance. A student
lamp, or shaded incandescent light, should be used for reading. Shades must
be provided so that the eyes are protected from direct light. Gas is a
dangerous servant, because it contains a very poisonous substance, carbon
monoxide. "It is estimated that 14 per cent of the total product of the gas
plant leaks into the streets and houses of the cities supplied." This forms
an unseen menace to the health in cities. Gas pipes, and especially gas
cocks, should be watched carefully for escaping gas. Rubber tubing should
not be used to conduct gas to movable gas lamps, because it becomes worn
and allows gas to escape.
[Illustration: During the summer all food should be protected from flies.
Why?]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
A Civic Biology, Presented in Problems — John Shaqi
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