234 DUST AND WATER. 



The following paper was presented by Mr. Edward 

 Elsworth, entitled : 



DUST AND WATER. 



I have adopted this subject, not because I have any- 

 thing new or original concerning it to offer, but princi- 

 pally because it may direct our thoughts towards some 

 sanitary questions that are of the utmost importance to 

 us as dwellers in a populous community. When I was 

 reminded of my promise to our chairman, to address the 

 Section on some evening in February, '93, clouds of dust 

 were rising in the wind swept streets, impressing its dis- 

 agreeable presence upon all the senses, and suggesting 

 the absence of the grateful andidote, water, so I decided 

 to make the subject of my remarks " Dust and Water." 



A gentle critic of my own household insinuated, "Why 

 not call it mud?" But I do not propose to speak of 

 water and dust compounded, although I may say some- 

 thing concerning their relation to each other. What I 

 particularly desire to call your attention to, is some sani- 

 tary observations in connection with each. It is safe to 

 say that if it were not for dust — if it could be elimina- 

 ted — kept under or otherwise disposed of, the health of 

 the human race would be improved 75 per cent. It is 

 however in its baleful aspect, the product of civilization, 

 and the attendant of barbarism. The very air is laden 

 with it, and nothing short of a vacuum may be entirely 

 free from it. 



What is dust ? A suggestive and quite comprehensive 

 answer to this question may be quoted from Dr. Prud- 

 den's book "Dust and its Dangers" — of which I shall 

 make free use. 



"The coarser particles of dust, such as are usually 

 swept into our faces whenever we go upon the streets, in 

 dry and windy weather, consist largely of small frag- 



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