inflammation of the lungs; it prepares for consumption, by gradually weakening the lungs of those who breathe it. Intelligence and common sense are necessary to prevent it from accumulating in the house. The chief purpose of the house cleaning should be not only to remove bits of paper from the floor, which do no harm even to the shoes, but to remove impurities from the air. It does no good to stir up the dust and allow it to settle down again (Exp. 12). In many houses dust is thus allowed to accumulate for months. Experiments show that dust and germs floating in the air are not diminished to a great extent by a gentle draft through the room. The windows must be open and sweeping done in the direction of the air currents; the windows should be left open for a long while after the sweeping. A windy day is best for sweeping.
The habit some housekeepers have of buying furnishings and bric-à-brac
for the home until it looks like a retail store or junk shop, makes
it almost impossible to clean their houses. A few articles, carefully
selected, adorn a home more than many bought at random, and they do
not litter the house and serve as traps for dust. With all precautions
some dust may settle down. This should not simply be stirred up again
with a feather duster, but the dusting should be done with a damp cloth.
Ashes should be sprinkled before they are moved. Carpet sweepers,
but never brooms, should be used upon carpets. Carpets and lace curtains
are truly dust traps, in which dust will accumulate without limit.
Those who value the health will not use such uncleanly abominations,
at least in bedrooms. Though linoleum, bare floors with movable rugs,
oiled and painted floors, may not look so comfortable as a fixed carpet,
they bring far more comfort in the end. The weakening effect of ordinary dust is one of the chief causes of lung diseases, and prepares a fertile
soil for the consumptive germ. The sputum coughed up by consumptives
falls upon the floor or street, soon dries, and the germs are driven
about by the wind. In many cities there is a law against spitting in
public places, and the streets are flushed with water before they are
swept.
Ventilation presents no difficulties in the summer time
or in warm climates. The reason that it is a difficult
