240 DUST AND WATER. 



Wherever the expectorated matter from a consumptive's 

 lungs is allowed to dry and become pulverized and 

 mingled with the dust, you have the fruitful source of 

 contamination. The danger is enhanced ten thousand 

 fold by the fact that consumption is a slowly progressing 

 disease, and afflicted persons are suffered to mingle with 

 society, to frequent all public places, inhabit hotels, 

 occupy sleeping cars and steamboats, v^ithout any 

 limitation. 



Whenever any considerable proportion of the consump- 

 tives in the world can be aroused to a realizing sense of 

 the fact that the safety of their kinsfolk, and of the other 

 well people in the world, depends largely upon them- 

 selves, we may expect to see a material decline of the 

 ravages of this dreadful disease. 



One other serious ailment which so far has been traced 

 to dust, deserves a brief notice — I refer to the form of 

 catarrh known as '^ hay fever'''' and its twin brother 

 ^^Tose coldP 



Both of these diseases are somewhat obscure, but we 

 do know that if they are not actually caused by the in- 

 halation of dust-laden germs, they are rendered active 

 and greatly aggravated by the pollen of certain plants 

 which enters largely into the composition of the dust 

 which covers road, roadside and meadow during certain 

 seasons of the year. 



The question we have to ask is : How may the dangers 

 of dust be prevented or mitigated 1 



Briefly I answer ; first, by keeping our streets clean by 

 a liberal use of water. 



Second, by exercising greater precautions in our 

 dwellings by keeping dust out as far as possible ; by the 

 use of bare floors, covered with rugs which may frequent- 

 ly be removed and shaken ; by the use of moist dusting 

 cloths, and such articles as salt or moist bran to keep 

 down the dust during sweeping time. In a word by 



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