HEALTHY HOMES.

Waikato Times, Volume III, Issue 151, 26 April 1873, Page 2

HEALTHY HOMES.

CoiutWT ideas oi*t<naiitary subjects are beginning slowly to milk* tlioir way into the minds of sorao portion of the population. What is equalh important is, that there appears to bo a dowre gradually arising to know more on such matters, and a corresponding "willingness on the pott of the omincnt men who have made sanitary allairs their study to impart the knowledge which they have gained through lengthened experience. A locturo was given to the members of the National Ilealth Society, by Mr R. Kawlmson, C.H., C.E., illustrates thescv remarks. The lecturer stuted many facts, all of which hajfbeen long enough well Xuuwn to pow»n« who have studied how homes 11103 no nnhcaltln, but winch are only just beginning to be recogni-xjd as truth* bj the gonoral public. The illness of the Trince of Wales had at least this good eirect , that it improved foneibly on many minds, the fact that no wealth, comfort, or dutinotion is sufficient to rano human beings above the necessity of obeying the laws which regulate healthy Me. Th« prmuo no iiiorc than the peasant can hvejJthe impure air with impunity. To the last-mentioned truth probably everybody would* in the abstract, agree ; b«t whon it c-omea to the question of what constitutes impure air, and how best to keep the air around us in a condition favourable to health, there is far mono iijnovaneo than knowledge abroad, and a eonsidcrablo amount ot unwillingness to allow that in our own i-peuiali casci aiij thing which could be done has beon left undone. Mr Kawlinson spoke a good many true and highly forcible words on matters which some housekeepers who think themselves very models of cleanliness and order are yet apt not unfroqiiently to forget. A " uetablo " houiowife, the term is old-fashioned in theso da.y&,.but no other will do as well— would hardly come under, the condemnation implied in fcho following words :— "Booms arc not sufficiently cleaned , carpets nro left down too long and nevec swept, windows are seldom opened from the top, beds are left unmado and shrouded by dirty hangings, and nooki, corners, and •helves are never derated." But even the best of housewives might not be aw are, w ilhout special information on the subject, that it beho^M lion U> hino an eye to the cleansing of mterns and water-butts, and the freedom from all taint of impurity of the water used lor cooking and drinking. We fear that, unless in the case of rather stronger evil smells than usual, she -would consider the condition of tho drainage as beyond her province, as also the state of the house-eaves, unless the rai» came through in a very marked manner. J3utwhat Mr Kawlinson said in his lecture implies that, unless the fundamental matter of drainage, dryness, and ventilation are attended to, all such superficial workas the ordinary housewife sees, is a mere " cleansing of the cap and platter," very useful, no doubt, but still only a clean covering over the unhealthjness within. Nor docs attention to>tho complete heulthincss of our own. dwelling-places constitute the whole of our duty in thomatter. It is incumbent on ub to consider the condition ofT our neighbours, and to sec that at least those over whom, asour dependants, we havo some control, are properly provided, with the meant* of keeping themselves in health. "It is nob true charity which gives cake and wine in fetcr cases while filth remains unremodied." That " ilth is the father o£ fever " has been, said with equal force of truth and of alliteration ; and, if the parent can bo well got rid of,,it. is evident. I that there will be no progeny 30 contend with. So strongly docs Mr Kawlinson feel the need for sanitary, intervention that he would be willing that the State shouldi assume greater powers than it lias at present taken to itselfi with regard to compulwry sanitation. "We linveno*," ho said, " made disease in a prison almost impossible, while health and > int«o ia a rural cottage are rendered almost* impracticable." Th:§- oxight not to be ; and " a wise Government would take speciaL notice of the poor and of them houses, knowing that dirty houses would breed a wretched, people, and foster immorality, diseaßC, and crime." But alii thinnust be dependent on knowledge, and "to effect human, amelioration, statesmen must learn the alphabet and tho grammar of tho la* s of human life, and logialato accordingly." We onco heard it stated by aa enthusiastic ltcturcr that " a. knowledge o£ tho laws of health wm far- wore important to ua than an acquaintance with reading, writing, and arithmetic; " and, if we consider the question, it will be found that the lecturer might have said inanj effective things in. support of his proposition. For it is not of much consequence to us what information we possess if we render ourselv«B unfit to use it by our modes of living. It is to bo hoped that when the idea has been got OTer that it is " improper" to know anything about our ewn body, and the laww of health by which they are governed, we, and women especially, may apply ourselves to the acquisition, of information of so vital a character. The means by which wo may obtain such information is in abundanoo if wo wilL only make use of them.— The Queen.