THE CONTROL OF HEALTH 383 



busily begin to make more like it. A quantity is thus soon 

 on hand sufficient to combat successfully the heaviest infections. 



Home and School Hygiene. Since at least one half the 

 life of each person is spent indoors, it is very essential that 

 homes, school buildings, etc., should be as conducive as pos- 

 sible to the health and general welfare of mind and body. 

 Many matters of building hygiene apply equally to dwellings 

 and school-houses, so, unless specially designated, the following 

 considerations pertain to both. 



Primarily a home should be located with reference to its 

 water supply, drainage, air supply, and light. Beauty cf 

 surroundings, freedom from noise, relation to markets and 

 transportation conveniences, and congeniality of neighbors 

 are likewise considerations of real importance. 



Location and Water Supply. Wherever one is, he cannot 

 live unless provided with pure water in unfailing quantity. 

 If wells are the only source of water, they must be carefully 

 isolated from contamination by house or barn drainage. 

 A knowledge of "the lay of the land" where the well is dug 

 should be obtained so that underlying layers of rock or imper- 

 vious earth (clay) may not lead impure water into the well 

 from a distance. The area immediately about such a well 

 should be raised decidedly above the general level, and 

 cemented over for a distance of at least six feet on all sides 

 of the opening, to prevent rains from washing surface debris 

 either directly or indirectly into the well. It should be 

 covered tightly to prevent leaves, dust, foreign matter, or 

 small animals from getting into the water. 



If one is contemplating living in any given city or village, 

 the source of its water supply, its treatment, the manner of 

 its storage and method of delivery should be investigated. 

 No portion of a water-shed affecting a supply should be a place 

 of human habitation unless all the circumstances of such a 

 house are known, and its drainage prohibited from entering 

 the waters destined for household use. 



