6 



boarders who had asked numerous questions regarding the source of 

 water, condition of soil and ventilation. These visitors had come 

 from the city to regain health, and were thinking not so muclir 

 about the danger from disease germs they liad brought with them 

 as tlie proper conditions in the country for getting rid of them. 

 The neighborhood Avas thoroughlj^ awakened upon the subject, and 

 the excitement grew greater when it was learned that scarlet fever 

 had broken out in a small village througli which the much loved 

 brook found its way. 



The father and son put their lieads together and drew one plan 

 after another without settling on Ruy, before it occurred to them 

 that it might be well to consult the women concerning this house, 

 since they occupied it most of the time. These consultations pre- 

 vented many niistakes whicli only a practical housekeeper would 

 notice. 



John explained how impurities may be transmitted by the porosity 

 of the soil and how germs of disease may float in the air. The soil 

 all tliese years had received neither tillage nor drainage. Organic 

 matter — matter once living, now dead — had been falling upon it, 

 loading it with impurities, while the house and its occupants had 

 received the disease-laden gases made from constant putrefaction. 



A.71 outside drain imjyroves the cellar and dooryard. — They 

 decided that the site must be drained. They dug a trench on all 

 sides of the house from which water flowed towards it at a depth 

 below the level of the cellar bottom. In this was laid a tile drain 

 which led to the brook. 



Then Mr. James said, " I wonder if that cellar is the cause of the 

 fever the hired man has gone home with." Mr. James knew that 

 the only way to reduce a death rate was to consider the conditions 

 for health. He was haunted by an expression he had heard, " A 

 damp cellar weaves shrouds for the upper chamber." lie was wise 

 enougii to see that he could get no richer returns for his money 

 than to secure healthful conditions at liome. 



They decided that the cellar should extend under the entire house, 

 because a greater amount of ventilation and dryness could be 

 secured, and because a larger one was needed for storing provisions. 



502 



