THE RESPIRATION 83 



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 pre- 

 vent it from accumulating in the house. The chief' pur- 

 pose 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- 

 a-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 cur- 

 tains 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 ordi- 

 nary dust is one of the chief causes of lung diseases, and prepares a fertile 

 soil for the consumptive germ. The sputum coughed up by consump- 

 tives 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 



