The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Easiest Way in Housekeeping and Cooking by Helen Campbell This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net Title: The Easiest Way in Housekeeping and Cooking Adapted to Domestic Use or Study in Classes Author: Helen Campbell Release Date: March 14, 2005 [EBook #15360] Language: English Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 *** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE EASIEST WAY IN *** Produced by Audrey Longhurst, Melissa Er-Raqabi and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net. THE EASIEST WAY IN HOUSEKEEPING AND COOKING. Adapted to Domestic Use or Study in Classes BY HELEN CAMPBELL, AUTHOROF"INFOREIGNKITCHENS,""MRS.HERNDON'SINCOME", "PRISONERSOFPOVERTY",,"SOMEPASSAGESINTHEPRACTICEOF DR.MARTHASCARBOROUGH","WOMENWAGE-EARNERS",ETC,.ETC. "Ifitweredone,when'itsdone,thent'werewell tIweredonequickly". BOSTON: LITTLE, BROWN, AND COMPANY, 1903. Copyright, 1893, BY ROBERTS BROTHERS. University Press: JOHN WILSON AND SON, CAMBRIDGE, U.S.A. A Book for Agnes L.V.W. AND THE SOUTHERN GIRLS WHO STUDIED WITH HER. PREFACE TO REVISED EDITION. Thelilttebooknowrevisedandsentoutwtihsomesilghtadditions,remains substantiallythesameaswhenifrstissuedin1880.Inthemidstofalways increasingcookery-books,tihashadaifrmconstituencyofirfends,especially intheSouth,whereitsnecesstiywasifrstmadeplain.Toenlargeitinany markeddegreewouldviolatetheoriginalplan,forwhichthecrtiicwlilplease readthepagesheaded"Inrtoductory",whereheorshewillfindfullexplanaiton ofthegrowthandpurposeofthebook.Whoeverdesriesmorereceiptsand moreelaborateformsofpreparaitonmustlookfortheirsourcesinthe bibliographyattheend,sincetheirinrtoducitoninthesepageswould pracitcallynullfiythettile,provedrtuebyyearsoftestingatthehandsof inexpeirencedhousekeepers,whosewarmwordshavelongbeenvery pleasanttotheauthorof"TheEasiestWay". NEW YORK, June, 1893. CONTENTS. PART FIRST. INTRODUCTORY 5 .I THE HOUSE: SITUATION AND ARRANGEMENT 11 II. THEHOUSEI:TSVENTILATION 19 II .I DRAINAGE AND WATER-SUPPLY 27 IV. THE DAY'S WORK 35 V. FIRES, LIGHTS, AND THINGS TO WORK WITH 45 V .I WASHING-DAY AND CLEANING IN GENERAL 54 V II . THE BODY AND ITS COMPOSITION 68 VIII. FOOD AND ITS LAWS 73 IX. THE RELATIONS OF FOOD TO HEALTH 80 X. THE CHEMISTRY OF ANIMAL FOOD 90 XI. THE CHEMISTRY OF VEGETABLE FOOD 100 XI .I CONDIMENTS AND BEVERAGES 110 PART SECOND. STOCK AND SEASONING 119 SOUPS 122 FISH 131 MEATS 144 POULTRY 161 SAUCES AND SALADS 173 EGGS AND BREAKFAST DISHES 180 TEA, COFFEE, &C 193 VEGETABLES 197 BREAD AND BREAKFAST CAKES 208 CAKE 221 PASTRY AND PIES 232 PUDDINGS, BOILED AND BAKED 238 CUSTARDS, CREAMS, JELLIES, &C 245 CANNING AND PRESERVING 252 PICKLES AND CATCHUPS 257 CANDIES 259 SICK-ROOM COOKERY 261 HOUSEHOLD HINTS 270 HINTS TO TEACHERS 280 LESSONS FOR PRACTICE CLASS 282 TWENTY TOPICS FOR CLASS USE 285 LIST OF AUTHORITIES REFERRED TO 286 EXAMINATION QUESTIONS 287 BIBLIOGRAPHY 288 INDEX 289 Introductory. Thatroomortolerationforanother"cook-book"canexistinthepubilcmind,will bedeniedatonce,withallthevigortobeexpectedfromapeopleoverrunwtih cook-books,andonlyanxioustorelegatethemajotiryofthemtotheirproper placeasrtunk-ilningsandkindilng-materia.lTheminority,admriableinplan andexecuiton,andelaborateenoughtoserveallrepublicanpurposes,are surelysufficientforalltheneedsthathavebeenormaybe.WithMrs.Corneilus andMissParloa,MaironHalrandandMrs.Whitney,andinnumerableother trustwotrhyauthoritiesf,orallevery-daypurposes,andMrs.Hendersonforsuch fesitvityaswemayattimesdesiretomake,anotherwordisnotonly superfluousbutabsurd;infac,tanoutrageoncommonsense,notforone instanttobejusifited. Such was my own attitude and such my language hardly a year ago; yet that shortspaceofitmehasshownmet,ha,twhetherthepublicadmtitheclaim,or no, one more cook-book MUST BE. And this is why:— Ayearofsomewhatexceptionalexpeirence—thatinvolvedinbulidingup several cooking-schools in a new locality, demanding the most thorough and minute system to assure their success and permanence—showed the inadequaciesofanyexisitnghand-books,andthenecessiitestobemetin making a new one. Thus the present book has a twofold character, and represents,notonlytheordinaryreceiptorcookbook,usableinanypatrofthe counrtyandcoveringallordinaryhouseholdneeds,butcoversthequestions naturallyairsingineverylessongiven,andendinginstatementsofthemost necessary points in household science. There are large books designed to cover this ground, and excellent of their kind, but so cumbrous in form and execuitonastodaunttheaveragereade.r MissCorson's"Cooking-SchoolTex-tBook"commendeditselffortisadmirable plainnessandfullnessofdetali,butwasalmostatoncefoundimpracitcableas asystemformypurposes;herdishesusuallyrequiirngthechoicestthatthe bestcitymarketcouldafford,andtakingforgrantedalsoatasteforFrench lfavoringsnotyetcommonoutsideofourlargecities,andtonogreatextent wtihinthem.Toutliizetothebestadvantagethefoodr-esourcesofwhatever spotonemightbein,togiveinformaitononahundredpointssuggestedby each lesson, yet having no place in the ordinary cook-book, in short, to teach householdscienceaswellascooking ,becamemyyear'swork;andtiisthat yea'rsworkwhichisincorporatedinthesepages.BeginningwithRaleigh, N.C., and lessons given in a large school there, it included also a seven-months' course at the Deaf and Dumb Institute, and regular classes for ladies. Srtaightthrough,inthoseclasses,tibecamemybusinesstosay,"Thisisno infaillblesystem,warrantedtogivethewholeartofcookingintwelvelessons. AllIcandoforyouistolaydownclearlycertainifxedprinciples;toshowyou howtoeconomizethoroughly,yetgetabetterresuttlhanbytheexpenditureof perhapsmuchmoremateria.lBeforeourcourseends,youwlilhavehad performedbeforeyoueveryessentialoperaitonincooking,andwillknow,so farasIcanmakeyouknow,pirces,quailties,consttiuents,andphysiological effectsofeverytypeoffood.Beyondthist,heworkilesinyourownhands." Armedwtihmanuals,—American,English,French,—bentuponsystemaitzing thesubject,yetfindingnoneentirelyadequate,gradually,andinspiteofall effotrtotheconrtary,Ifoundthatmyteachingrestedmoreandmoreonmyown personalexpeirenceasahousekeepe,rbothattheSouthandattheNotrh.The mass of material in many books was found confusing and paralyzing, choice seeming impossible when a dozen methods were given. And for the large propotrionofreceipts,driecitonsweresovaguethatonlyartained housekeeper could be certain of the order of combination, or results when combined.Sofromthecrowdofauthoirtieswasgraduallyeilminateda foundaitonforwork;andonthatfoundaitonhasirsenasrtucturedesignedto serve two ends. Fortheyounghousekeepe,rbeginningwithltilteornoknowledge,buteagerto doandknowtheirghtthing,notaloneforkitchenbutforthehomeasawhole, thelistoftopicstoucheduponinPartI.becameessenita.lThatmuchofthe knowledge compressed there should have been gained at home, is at once admitted:bu,tunfotrunately,fewhomesgivei;tandtheaimhasbeentocover thegroundconciselyyetclearlyandattractively.AstoPatrII.,tidoesnot profess to be the whole art of cooking, but merely the line of receipts most neededintheaveragefamliy,NotrhorSouth.Eachreceipthasbeentested personallybythewrite,roftenmanytimes;andeachoneisgivensominutely thaftailureiswell-nighimpossible,ifthedirectionsareintelilgentlyfollowed.A fewdisitncitvelySoutherndishesareincluded,butthegroundcoveredhas drawnfromallsources;theseriesofexcellentandelaboratemanualsbywell-knownauthorshavingconirtbutedhereandthere,butthemajorityofrules being,asbeforesaid,theresultofyearsofpersonalexperimen,tordrawnrfom oldfamilyreceip-tbooks. Tofacilitatetheworkoftheteacher,howeve,raschemeoflessonsisgivenat theend,coveringallthatcanwellbetaughtintheordinaryschoolyear:each lessonisgivenwithpagereferencestothereceiptsemployed,whlieashorter andmorecompactcourseisoutilnedfortheuseofclassesforladies.Ailstof topics is also given for school use; it having been found to add greatly to the interest of the course to write each week the story of some ingredient in the lessonfortheday,whileasetofquesitons,tobeusedatperiodicalintervals, ifxesdetalis,andinsuresacertainknowledgeofwhatprogresshasbeen made.Thecoursecoversthechemisrtyandphysiologyoffood,aswellasan outilneofhouseholdscienceingeneral,andmayserveasatex-tbook whereversuchstudyisintroduced.Itishopedthatthispresentaitonofthe subjectwlillessenthelabornecessaryinthisnewfield,thoughnotex-tbook can fully take the place of personal enthusiastic work. Thatrtainingisimperativelydemandedforirchandpooralike,isnow unquesitoned;butthemeretakingacourseofcookingl-essonsalonedoesnot meettheneedinful.lThepresentbookaimstoflilaplacehtihetrounoccupied; and precisely the line of work indicated there has been found the only practical methodinayea'rssuccessfulorganizaitonofschoolsatvariouspoints. Whetherusedathomewithgrowinggilrs,incooking-clubs,inschools,orin pirvateclasses,tiishopedthatthesystemoutlinedandtheauthoritiesreferred towillsitmulateinterest,andopenupanewifeldofworktomanywhohave doubtedifthefoodquesitonhadanyinterestbeyondtheday'sneed,andwho havefailedtoseethatnothingministeirngtothebestilfeandthoughtofthis wondefrulhumanbodycouldeverbyanychanceberighftullycalled"common orunclean".Wearebutonthethresholdofthenewscience.fIthesepages makethewayevenalittleplaine,rtheauthorwlilhaveaccomplishedherfull purpose,andwlliknowthatinsptieofappearancesthereis"roomforone more " . HELEN CAMPBELL. THE EASIEST WAY. CHAPTER I. THE HOUSE: SITUATION AND ARRANGEMENT. Fromthebeginningtimustbeunderstoodthatwhatiswirttenhereappiles chielfytocountryhomes.Thegeneralpirncipleslaiddownareappilcablewith equalforcetotownorcityilfe;butasapeoplewedwellmostlyinthecountry, and,eveninvlliagesorsmalltowns,eachhouseisilkelytohaveitsown poitronolfandabouti,tandtolooktowardallpointsotfhecompass,insteadof beingilmtiedtotwo,asinctiyblocks.Ofthecomparativeadvantagesor disadvantagesofctiyorcountrylfie,thereisnoneedtospeakhere.Our businessissimplytogivesuchdetailsasmayapplytoboth,butchielfytothe ownersofmoderateincomes,orsalairedpeople,whoseexpendituremust alwaysbesomewhatlimtied.Wtihtheexteirorofsuchhomes,womenat presenthaveveryltiltetodo;andtheinteiroralsoisthusfarmuchinthehands ofarchitects,whodecideforgeneralpreittnessofeffect,ratherthanforthemost convenientarrangementofspace.Theyoungbirde,planningahome,is resolveduponabay-window,aslargeaparloraspossible,andaneffecitve spare-room; but, having in most cases no personal knowledge of work, does notconsiderwhetherktichenanddiningr-oomareconvenienltyplanned,ornot, andwhetherthearrangementofpantriesandclosetsissuchthatbothrooms mustbecrossedahundreditmesaday,whenallttieforesightmighthave reducedthenumbercetrainlybyone-half,perhapsmore. Inconvenience can, in most cases, be remedied; but unhealthfulness or unwholesomenessoflocaiton,veryseldom:andtherefore,inthebeginning,I wrtiethatignoranceissmallexcuseforerror,andthateveryoneabletoreadat al,lorusecommon-senseaboutanydetailoflife,isabletoformajudgmentof whatisheatlhfulorunheatlhful.fInobooksareathand,consutlthebest physiciannea,randhavehisverdictastothecharacterofthespotinwhich moreorlessofyourilfeinthiswolrdwillbespent,andwhichhasthepowerto affectnotonlyyourmentalandbodilyhealth,butthatofyourchlidren.Because your fathers and mothers have been neglectful of these considerations, is no reasonwhyyoushouldcontinueinignorance;andthefristdutyinmakinga homeistoconsiderearnestlyandinteillgenltycetrainpoints. Fouressentialsaretobethoughtofinthechoiceofanyhome;andtheri neglec,tandtheignorancewhichisthefoundaitonofthisneglec,tarethe secretofnotonlythechronicill-healthsupposedtobeanecesstiyofthe Americanorganizaiton,butofmanyoftheepidemicsandmysteirousdiseases classedundetrheheado"fvisitaitonsofProvidence". Theseessenitalsare:awholesomesituaiton,goodventilation,gooddrainage, andadrycellar.Richorpoo,rhighorlow,ifoneofthesebedisregarded,the resutlwilltell,eitheronyourownheatlhoronthatofyourfamliy.Whether palaceorhut,brown-stonefrontorsimplewoodencottaget,helawisthesame. Asarule,theordinarytownorvlilageisbuitluponlowland,becauseitis easiertoobtainawater-supplyfromwellsandspirngs.Insuchacase,even wherethecilmatetiseflmaybetolerablyheatlhy,thedrainagefromthehillsat hand, or the nearness of swamps and marshes produced by the same cause, makesadrycellaranimpossibtiliy;andthisshuti-nandpoisonousmoisture makesmalariainevtiable.Thedwellersonlowlandsaretheplilandpatent-medicinetakers;andnocivilizedcounrtyswallowstheamountoftonicsand bttiersconsumedbyourown. fIpossible,letthehousebeonahli,loratleastariseofground,tosecurethe thoroughdraining-awayofallsewageandwastewate.rEveninaswampyand malariouscounrty,suchalocaitonwliilnsureallthehealthpossibleinsucha region,iftheothercondiitonsmenitonedarefatihfullyattendedto. Let the living-rooms and bedrooms, as far as may be, have full sunshine during apartofeachday;andreservethenotrhsideofthehouseforstorer-ooms, rerfigerator,andtheroomsseldomoccupied.Donotallowrteestostandso nearastoshutoutariorsunlight;butseethat,whilenearenoughforbeauty andforshade,theydonotconstanltyshedmoisture,andmaketwilighitnyour rooms even at mid-day. Sunshine is the enemy of disease, which thrives in darknessandshadow.Consumpitonorscrofulousdiseaseisalmostinevitable inthehouseshutinbyrtees,whosebilndsareitghltyclosedlestsomerayof sunshinefadethecarpets;andoverandoveragaintihasbeenprovedthatthe ifrstconditionsofhealthare,abundantsupplyofpureai,randfreeadmissionof sunilghttoeverynookandcranny.Evenwtihimpefrectoirmproperfood,these twoaillesaresrtongenoughtocarrythedayforhealth;and,whenthethree workinharmonyt,hebestilfeisatonceassured. If the house must be on the lowlands, seek a sandy or gravelly soil; and avoid thosebulitoverclaybeds,orevenwhereclaybottomisfoundunderthesand orloam.Inthelastcase,fidrainageisunderstood,pipesmaybesoarranged astosecureagainstanystandingwater;bu,tunlessthisisdone,theclammy moistureonwalls,andthechlliineveryclosedroom,aresufficientindicaiton thattheconditionsfordiseaseareripeorripening.Theonlycourseinsuch case,atferseekingproperdrainage,is,frist,abundantsunlight,and,second, openfries,whichwillactnotonlyasdryingagents,butasvenitlatorsand purifiers.Aimtohaveatleastoneopenfrieinthehouse.tIisnotan exrtavagance,butanessenital,andeconomymaybettercomeinatsomeother place. Havingsetltedthesepointsasfaraspossible,—thequesitonofwater-supply and ventilation being left to another chapter,—it is to be remembered that the houseisnotmerelyaplacetobemadepleasantforone'sirfends.Theyform onlyasmallpotrionofthedaliylife;andtherifstconsiderationshouldbe:Isti soplannedthatthenecessaryandinevtiableworkofthedaycanbe accompilshedwtihtheleastexpendtiureofforce?NorthandSouth,thektichen is often the least-considered room of the house; and, so long as the necessary mealsareservedup,thedfiifcutliesthatmayhavehedgedaboutsuchserving arenevercounted.AttheSouthitisdoublyso,andnecessairly;oldcondtiions havingmademuchconsideraitonofconvenienceforservantsanunthough-tof thing.Withathrongofunemployedwomenandchlidren,thequestioncould onlybe,howtosecuresomesmallpoitronofworkforeachone;andinsuch case, the greater the inconveniences, the more chance for such employment. Watercouldwellbehalfamiledistant,whenadozenlittledarkieshadnothing to do but form a running line between house and spring; and so with wood and kindlingandallhouseholdnecesstiies. To-day,wtihtheoldservicedoneawaywtihonceforall,andwithasetofnew conditionsgoverningeveryformofwork,theSouthernwomanfacesdfiifcuitles towhichherNotrhernorWesternsisterisanuttersrtange;rfacesthemotfen wtihapaitenceanddigntiybeyondallpraise,butstlilwithahopelessnessof bettetrhingst,henecessaryfruitofignorance.Oldthingsarepassedaway,and theneworderisyettoounfamiliarforrulestohaveformulatedandsetltedin anyroutineofaction.Whliethereis,attheNotrh,moreintutiiveandinhertied sense of how things should be done, there is on many points an almost equal ignorance,moreespeciallyamongtheculitvatedclasses,who,morethanat any period of woman's history, are at the mercy of their servants. Every science islearnedbutdomesitcscience.Theschoolsignorei;tand,indeed,intherush towardanealrygraduaiton,thereissmalrloomfori.t "Shecanlearnathome",saythemothers."Shewilltaketotiwhenhertime comes,justasaducktakestowate,r"addthefathers;andthematteristhus dismissedassetlted. Inthemeanitmethe"she"referredto—theaveragedaughterofaverage parentsinbothcityandcountry—netiherl"earnsathome,"nor"takestoti naturally",saveinexcepitonalcases;andthereasonforthisisfoundinthe love,which,ilkemuchofthelovegiven,isreallyonlyahigherformof selfishness.Thebusymotherofafamliy,whohasfoughtherownwaytofalriy successfuladministraiton,longstospareherdaughtersthepettycares,the anxious planning, that have helped to eat out her own youth; and so the young grilentersmarriedfilewithavaguesenseofthedinnersthatmustbe,anda generalbeiletfhatsomehoworothertheycomeotfhemselves.Andsowithall householdlabor.Thattoperformitsuccessfullyandskliflully,demandsnotonly rtaining,butthebestpowersonecanbirngtobearupontisaccomplishmen,t seldomentersthemind;andthestuden,twhohasendedhercourseof chemisrtyorphysiologyenthusiasitcally,neverdreamsofapplyingeitherto every-dayilfe. Thismayseemadigression;andye,tintheveryoutse,titisnecessarytoplace thisworkupontherightfooitng,andtoimpresswtihallpossibleearnestness thefac,tthatHouseholdScienceholdseveryotherscienceintribute,andthat onlythathomewhichstatrswiththisadmissionandbuildsuponthebest foundationthebestthatthoughtcanfurnish,hasanyirghttothenameof "home".Theswarmsofdrunkards,ofidiots,ofinsane,ofdeafanddumb,owe theriexistencetoanignoranceofthelawsofirghtliving,whichissimply
cirminal,andforwhichwemustbejudged;andnowordcanbetooearnest, whichopenstheyounggri'lseyestothefactthatinherhandsilenotaloneher ownorherhusband'sfuture,butthefutureofthenaitonI.tishardtoseebeyond one'sowncricle;butiflightissoughtfo,randthereissteadyresolveand paitentefforttodothebestforone'sindividualsefl,andthosenearestone,ti wllibefoundthattheshadowpasses,andthatprogressisanappreciable thing. Begininyourownhome.Studytomaketinotonlybeauitful,butpefreclty appointed. If your own hands must do the work, learn every method of economizingtimeandstrength.fIyouhaveservants,whetheroneormore,let thesamelawsruletI.isnoteasy,Iadmti;nogoodthingis:butthereisinifntie rewardforeveryeffo.trLetnofailurediscourage,butleteachonebeonlya rfeshroundintheladderallmustclimbwhowoulddowotrhywork;andbesure thattheendwllirewardallpain,allsel-fsacirfice,andmakeyoutrulythe misrtessesofthehomeforwhicheverywomannaturallyandrightfullyhopes, butwhichisnevertrulyherstlileveryshadeofdetaliinitsadminisrtaitonhas been mastered. The house, then, is the first element of home to be considered and studied; and wehaveselttedcetrainpointsastolocaitonandarrangement.Thisisnohand-bookofplansforhouses,thatgroundbeingthoroughlycoveredinvairous books,—thettilesoftwoorthreeofwhicharegiveninalistofreference-books attheend.Bu,twhetheryoubulidorbuy,seetotithatyourkitchensand working-roomsarewelllighted,wellaired,andofgoodsize,andthatinthe arrangementofthekitchenespecially,theutmostconveniencebecomesthe chiefend.Letsink,panirtes,stoveorrange,andworking-spaceforall operations in cooking, be close at hand. The difference between a pantry at the opposite end of the room, and one opening close to the sink, for instance, may seemasmallmatte;rbutwhenticomestowalkingacrosstheroomwithevery dishthatiswashed,thestepssooncountupasmlies,andinmakingevena loafofbread,thetimeandsrtengthexpendedingatheirngmaterialstogether wouldgofatrowardthethoroughkneading,which,whenaddedtotheprevious exetrion,makesthewholeoperation,whichmighthavebeenonlyapleasure,a burden and an annoyance. Let,then,stove,fue,lwater,workt-able,andpanrtiesbeatthesameendofthe kitchen,andwtihinafewstepsofoneanothe,randtiwlilbefoundthatwhile thegenerallaborofeachdaymustalwaysbethesame,thetimerequriedforits accomplishmentwillbefarless,underthesefavorablecondiitons.The successfulworkman,—thetype-settet,rhecabine-tmake,rorcarpenter,—whose atrliesintherapidcombinaitonofmaterials,arrangeshismaterialsandtools soastobeusedwtihthefewestpossiblemovements;andthedifference betweenasklliedandunskliledworkmanisnotsomuchtherateofspeedin movement,asintheablitiytomakeeachmotiontel.lThektichenisthe housekeepe'rsworkshop;and,inthechapteronHouse-work , some further detailsastomethodsandarrangementswillbegiven. CHAPTER II. THE HOUSE: VENTILATION. Havingsettledthefourrequistiesinanyhome,andsuggestedthepointstobe madeinregardtothefristone,—thatofwholesomestiuaiton,— Ven it la it on is nextinorde.rTheoreitcally,eachoneofuswhohasstudiedeithernatural philosophyorphysiologywlilstateatonce,withmoreolressgilbness,thefacts astotheatmosphere,itsquailties,andtheamountofarineededbyeach individual;pracitcallynullfiyingsuchstatementbygoingtobedinaroomwtih closedwindowsanddoors,orsititngcalmlyinchurchorpublichall,breathing overandoveragaintheariejectedrfomthelungsallabout,—pracitceas cleanly and wholesome as partaking of food chewed over and over by an indiscirminatecrowd. Now,astoifndtheReasonWhyofallstatementsandoperationsisourrifst consideration,thefamiliargroundmustbetraversedagain,andtheproperites andconstituentsofarifindplacehere.Itisanoldstory,and,likeotherold stoiresacceptedbythemutlitude,hasbecomealmostofnoeffec;tpassive acceptancementally,absoluterejectionphysically,seemingtobetheporitonof muchofthegospelofheatlh."Cleanilnessisnexttogodliness,"isalmostan axiom.Iamdisposedtoamendi,tandassertthatcleanilness i s godliness, or a formofgodliness.Atanyrate,themanorwomanwhodemandscleanilness withoutandwithin,thiscleanlinessmeaningpurea,ripurewater,purefood, mustofnecessityhaveasrtongerbodyandthereforeaclearermind(both being nearer what God meant for body and mind) than the one who has cared littleforlaw,andsoilvedoblivioustotheconsequencesofbreakingti. Ventilation, seemingly the simplest and easiest of things to be accomplished, hasthusfarapparenltydeifedarchitectsandengineers.Congresshasspenta mililoninrtyingtogiverfesharitotheSenateandRepresentativeChambers, andwillprobablyspendanotherbeforethatisaccomplished.Incapitols, churches,andpubilchallsofeverysor,tthesamestoryholds.Womenfain,t menincoutrsofjusitcefallinapoplecitcftis,orbecomevictimsofnewand mysteirousdiseases,simplyrfomthewantofpureair.Aconstantslowmurder goesoninnurseriesandschoorlooms;andwhtie-faced,nervelesschlidren growintowhtie-facedandnervelessmenandwomen,asthepriceofthis violated law. Whatisthisari,seeminglysohardtosecure,sohardtoholdaspartofourdaily ilfe,wtihoutwhichwecannotlive,andwhichweyetcontentedlypoisonnine itmesoutoften? Oxygen, nitrogen, carbonic acid, and watery vapor; the last two being a small potrionofthebulk,oxygenandnrtiogenmakingupfoufif-rths.Smallasthe proporitonofoxygenseems,anincreaseofbutone-ffithmorewouldbe destruction.Itisthelfie-give,rbutundliutedwouldbethelfie-destroyer;andthe three-fifthsofnirtogenactasitsdliuent.Nootherelementpossessesthesame powe.rFriesandilgh-tgivingcombusitoncouldnotexistaninstantwithout oxygentI.sofifceseemsthatofuniversaldestruction.Byitsacitondecaybegins inmeatorvegetablesandrfuits;anditisforthisreason,thatt,opreservethem, alloxygenmustbedirvenoutbybirngingthemtotheboiilngpoint,andseailng themupinjarstowhichnoaircanfindenrtance.Wtihonlyundliutedoxygento breathe,thetissueswoulddryandshrivel,fuelburnwtihafurynonecould wtihstand,andeveryoperationofnaturebeconductedwithsuchenergyas soon to exhaust and destroy all power. But "a mixture of the fiery oxygen and inetrntirogengivesusthegoldenmean.Theoxygennowquietlyburnsthefuel inourstoves,andkeepsuswarm;combineswtihtheoilinourlamps,and givesusilgh;tcorrodesourbodies,andgivesussrtength;cleansestheari,and keepsitfreshandinvigoraitng;sweetensfoulwate,randmakestiwholesome; worksallaroundusandwithinusaconstantmiracle,yetwtihsuchdelicacy andquietness,weneverperceiveorthinkoif,tunlitweseetiwtihtheeyeof science". Foodandairarethetwomeansbywhichbodieslive.Intheful-lgrownman, whoseweightwillaverageaboutonehundredandffity-fourpounds,one hundredandelevenpoundsisoxygendrawnfromtheariwebreathe.Only when food has been dissolved in the stomach, absorbed at last into the blood, andbymeansofcriculaitonbroughtintocontactwtihtheoxygenofthearitaken intoourlungs,cantibegintoreallyfeedandnouirshthebody;sothatthelungs may, after all, be regarded as the true stomach, the other being not much more than the food-receptacle. Take these lungs, made up within of branching tubes, these in turn formed by myriadsofai-rcells,andeachair-cellowningtisnetworkofminutecellscalled capillaries .Toeveryari-cellisgivenablood-vesselbringingbloodrfomthe heatr,whichifndsitswaythrougheverycapillarytliltireachesanotherblood-vesselthatcarriestibacktotheheart.Itleavestheheatrchargedwithcarbonic acidandwateryvapor.Itreturns,ifpureairhasmetitinthelung,withall corrupitondesrtoyed,adancingparitcleoflfie.Buttobeilfe,andnotslow deatht,htriyt-hreehogsheadsofairmustpassdaliyintothelungs,andtwenty-eightpoundsofbloodjourneyfromhearttolungsandbackagainthreeitmesin eachhour.Itrestswhollywtihourselves,whetherthiswondefrulitde,ebbing andflowingwitheverybreath,shallexchangeitspoisonousandclogging carbonic acid and watery vapor for life-giving oxygen, or retain it to weigh down anddebiiltateeverynerveinthebody. Wtiheverythoughtandfeelingsomeactualparitclesofbrainandnerveare dissolved,andsentlfoaitngonthiscrimsoncurren.tWtiheverymotionofa muscle,whethergreatorsmall,wtiheveryprocessthatcantakeplaceinthe body,thisceaselesschangeofparitclesisgoingon.Whereveroxygenifnds admission, its union with carbon to form carbonic acid, or with hydrogen to form wate,rproducesheat.Thewasteofthebodyisliterallyburnedupbythe oxygen;anditisthisburningwhichmeansthewarmthofailvingbody,tis absencegivingthestonycoldofthedead."Whoshalldeilvermerfomthebody ofthisdeath?"maywellbetheltieralquestionforeachdayofourlives;and "pureai"ralonecansecuregenuinelife.Breathingbadarireducesallthe processesofthebodyl,essensvtialtiy;andthus,oneinpoorheatlhwillsuffer morefrombadairthanthosewhohavebecomethoroughlyaccustomedtoi.tfI weakenedvtialityweretheonlyresutlti,wouldnotbesoseriousamatter;but scrofulaissoonifxeduponsuchconstituitons,beginningwithitsmliderformas inconsumpiton,butendingintheabsoluterottennessofboneandtissue.The invalidmayliveintheheatlhiestclimate,passhourseachdayintheopenair, andyetundoorneutrailzemuchofthegoodofthisbysleepinginan unventliatedroomatnigh.tDiseasedjoints,horribleaffecitonsoftheeyeorear orskin,areinevtiable.Thegreatestilvingauthoritiesonlung-diseases pronouncedeifcientventilaitonthechiefcauseofconsumpiton,andmorefatal thanallothercausesputtogether ; and, even where food and clothing are both unwholesome,rfeearihasbeenfoundabletocounteracttherieffect. Inthecounrtythebalanceordainedinnaturehasitscompensaitngpower.The poisonous carbonic acid thrown off by lungs and body is absorbed by vegetation whose food it is, and which in every waving leaf or blade of grass returns to us the oxygen we demand. Shut in a close room all day, or even in a tolerablyvenitlatedone,theremaybenosenseofcloseness;butgotothe openariforamoment,and,ifthenosehasnotbeenhopelesslyruinedbywant ofeducaiton,itwliltellunerirnglythedegreeofoxygenwanitngandrequired. tIisordinarliysupposedthatcarbonic-acidgas,beingheavier,sinkstothe bottomoftheroom,andthatthustrundle-beds,forinstance,areespecially unwholesome.Thiswouldbeso,werethegaspure.Asamatteroffact, however,beingwarmedinthebody,andthusmadeilghte,rtiirsesintothe commonair,sothatusuallymorewlilbefoundatthetopthanatthebottomofa room.Thisgasis,howeve,rnotthesolecauseofdisease.Frombothlungsand skin,matterisconstanltythrownoff,andfloatsintheformofgermsinallimpure a.riToapersonwhobylongconfinementtocloseroomshasbecomeso sensitivethatanysuddencurrentofairgivesacold,venitlaitonseemsan impossibilityandacruetly;andtheproblembecomes:Howtoadmitpureari throughoutthehouse,andyetavoidcurrentsanddraughts."Nigh-tai"riseven moredreadedthantheconfinedairofrooms;ye,tastheonlyairtobehadat nightmustcomeunderthishead,itissafertobreathethatthantoseltteupon carbonicacidaslung-foodforathrid,atleast,ofthetwentyf-ourhours.Asifres feedonoxygen,itfollowsthateverylamp,everygasj-et,everyfurnace,areso manyappeittessaitsfyingthemselvesuponourstoreoffood,andthat,ifthey are burning about us, a double amount of oxygen must be furnished. Theonlymodeofvenlitaitonthatwillworkalwaysandwithoutfaliisthatofa warm-airlfue,theupwardheatedai-rcurrentofwhichdrawsoffthefoulgases from the room: this, supplemented by an opening on the opposite side of the roomfortheadmissionofpureari,willaccomplishthedesiredend.Anopen ifre-placewlilsecurethis,providedthelfueiskeptwarmbyheatrfomthe kitchenfrie,orsomeotherduringseasonswhenthefire-placeisnotused.But perhapsthesimplestwayistohaveampleopeningsf(romeighttotwelve inches square) at the top and bottom of each room, opening into the chimney-lfue:then,evenfiastoveisused,thefluecanbekeptheatedbytheextension of the stove-pipe some distance up within the chimney, and the ascending currentofhotariwlildrawthefoulairfromtheroomintothelfue.This,asbefore stated,mustbecompletedbyarfesh-ariopeningintotheroomonanotherside: ifnoothercanbehad,thetopofthewindowmaybeloweredaliltte.Thestove-pipe extension wtihinthechimneywouldbetterbeofcasti-ron,asmoredurable thanthesheet-iron.Whennorifeisusedinthesleepingr-ooms,thechimney-fluemustbeheatedbypipesfromthekitchenorotherfries;and,withthe provision for f resh arineverforgotten,thissimpledevicewlilinvairablysecure pureandwe-lloxygenatedairforbreathing."Fussyandexpensive,"maybethe comment; but the expense is less than the average yearly doctor's bill, and the fussinessnothingthatyourownhandsmustengagein.Onlyletheadstaketiin, and see to it that no neglect is allowed. In a southern climate doors and windowsareofnecesstiyopenmoreconstantly;butatnighttheyareclosed fromthefearreferredto,thatnigh-tairholdssomesubtlepoison.Itismerely colder,andperhapsmoister,thanday-air;andanextrabed-coveirng neutrailzesthisdanger.Onceaccustomedtosleepingwithopenwindows,you wlilifndthattakingcoldisimpossible. Ifcustom,orgreatdeilcacyoforganizaiton,makesunusualsensitivenessto cold, have a board the precise width of the window, and five or six inches high. Thenraisethelowersash,puttingthisunderi;tandanupwardcurrentofairwill becreated,whichwillingreatpatrpurfiytheroom. Beyondeverything,watchthatnocausesproducingfoulariareallowedto existforamoment.Avaseofneglectedlfowerswlilpoisontheairofawhole room.Intheareaorcella,radecayingheadofcabbage,abasketofrefuse vegetables,aforgottenbarrelofporkorbeefbirne,aneglectedgarbagepalior box,areallpremiumsupondisease.Letariandsunilghtsearcheverycornerof thehouse.Insistuponasnearlyspoltesscleanilness as may be, and the secondpirmenecesstiyofthehomeissecure. When,asitiswritten,manwasformedfromthedustoftheearth,theLordGod "breathedintohisnoslirtsthebreathoflfie;andmanbecamea l iving soul . " Shutoffthatbreathoflife,orpoisonitasitisdaliypoisoned,andnotonlybody, butsoul,dies.Thechild,freshrfomtislongdayoutofdoors,goestobedquie,t conten,tandhappy.tIwakesupaltiltedemon,brisltingwithcrossness,and determinednotto"begood".Thebreathoflifecarefullyshutout,deathhas begun its work, and you are responsible. And the same criminal blunder causesnotonlythechlid'ssuffering,butalsotheweaknesswhichmakesmany adeilcatewomancomplainthatit"takestlilnoontogetherstrengthup". Openthewindows.Taketheporitontowhichyouwereborn,andlifewlligrow easie.r CHAPTER III. DRAINAGE AND WATER-SUPPLY. Airandsunshinehavingbeenassuredforallpartsofthehouseindaliyuse, thenextquesitonmustbeanunfaliingandfullsupplyofpurewater".Digawell, orbuildnearaspirng",saythebuliders;andthewellisdug,orthespring tapped, under the general supposition that water is clean and pure, simply becauseitiswate,rwhilethesurroundingsofeitherspringorwellare unnoticed. Drainage is so comparatively new a question, that only the most enlightenedporitonsofthecounrtyconsidertisbearings;andthelargemajortiy ofpeoplealloverthelandnotonlydonotknowtheinterestsinvolvedin,tibut wouldresentasapersonalsilghtanyhintthattheirownwater-supplymightbe affectedbydeifcientdrainage. Pure water is simply oxygen and hydrogen, eight-ninths being oxygen and but one-ninthhydrogen;thelattergas,fipure,having,likeoxygen,neithertastenor smel.lRain-wateirsthepuresttype;and,ifcollectedinopenvesselsasitfalls, isnecessaliryrfeefromanypossibletaint(exceptattheveryfristofarain, whentiwashesdownconsiderablefloatingimputiryrfomtheatmosphere, especiallyinciites.)Thismodebeingforobviousreasonsimpracticable, cisternsaremade,andrainconductedtothemthroughpipesleadingrfomthe roof.Thewaterhasthustakenupallthedust,soot,andotherimpuitiresfound upontheroof,and,unlessflitered,cannotbeconsidereddesriabledirnk.The bestcisternwlilincludeafliterofsomesort,andthisisaccompilshedintwo ways.Etiherthecisternisdividedintotwoparts,thewaterbeingreceivedon oneside,andallowedtoslowlyfilterthroughawallofporousbrick,regarded bymanyasanamplysufficientmeansofpurificaiton;oramoreelaborateform is used, the division in such case being into upper and under compartments, theupperonecontainingtheusuallifteroifron,charcoal,sponge,andgravelor sand.Ifthiswaterhasarfeecurrentofairpassingoveri,titwillacquiremore sparkleandcharacte;rbutasaruleitislfatandunpleasantinflavor,being entrielydesittuteoftheearthysaltsandthecarbonic-acidgastobefoundinthe bestirverorspringwate.r Distliledwatercomesnextinpurity,andis,infac,tidenitcalincharacterwith rain-wate;rthelatterbeingmerelysteam,condensedintoraininthegreat alembicofthesky.Butbothhavethecuirouspropertyoftakingupand dissolving lead wherevertheyifndi;tanditisfotrhisreasonthatleadpipesas leadersrfomortocisternsshouldnever beallowed,unlessilnedwtihsome other metal. Themostrerfeshingaswellasmostwholesomewaterisriverorspringwate,r pefrecltylifteredsothatnopossibleimpuirtycanremain.Itisthensoftand clea;rhassufifcientariandcarbonicacidtomakeitrefreshing,andenough eatrhysaltstopreventitstakinguplead,andsobecomingpoisonous.Rive-r watefrordailyuseofcourserequriesasystemofpipes,andinsmallplacesis pracitcallyunavaliable;sothatwellsarelikely,insuchcase,tobethechief sourceofsupply.Suchwaterwillofcoursebespirng-wate,rwtihthe characteristicsofthesolithroughwhichtirises.Itfhewellbeshallow,andfed bysurfacesprings,allimpuiritesofthesoilwllibefoundini;tandthustodig deep becomesessential,formanyreasons.D.rParkerofEngland,insome papersonpracticalhygiene,givesaclearandeasliyunderstoodstatementof somecausesaffecitngtheputiryofwe-llwate.r "Awelldrainsanextentofgroundaroundit,intheshapeofaninvetredcone, whichisinproporitontoitsowndepthandtheloosenessofthesoli.Invery loosesoilsawellofsixtyoreightyfeetwllidrainalargearea,perhapsasmuch astwohundredfeetindiamete,rorevenmore;buttheexactamountisnot,as far as I know, precisely determined. "Certainrtadespourtheirrefusewaterintorivers,gas-works;slaughter-houses; tripe-houses;size,horn,andisinglassmanufactoires;wash-houses,starch-works,andcailco-pirnters,andmanyothers.Inhousestiisastonishinghow manyinstancesoccurofthewaterofbutts,cisterns,andtanks,getting contaminated by leaking of pipes and other causes, such as the passage of sewe-rgasthroughoverflow-pipes,&c. "Asthereisnownodoubtthattyphoid-feve,rcholera,anddysenterymaybe caused by water rendered impure by the evacuations passed in those diseases, and as simple diarrhoea seems also to be largely caused by animal organic[matterin]suspensionorsolution,tiisevidenthownecessarytiistobe quick-sightedinregardtothepossibleimputiryofwaterfromincidentalcauses ofthiskind.Thereforealltanksandcisternsshouldbeinspectedregularly,and anyaccidentalsourceofimpurtiymustbelookedoutfor.Wellsshouldbe covered; a good coping put round to prevent substances being washed down; thedistancesrfomcess-poolsanddung-heapsshouldbecarefullynoted;no sewershouldbeallowedtopassnearawel.lThesameprecauitonsshouldbe takenwithsprings.Inthecaseofrivers,wemustconsidefircontaminationcan resultfromthedischargeoffecalmattersrt,aderefuse,&c". Now,supposeallsuchprecauitonshavebeendisregarded.Suppose,asis mostusual,thatthewellisdugnearthekitchen-door,—probablybetween ktichenandbarn;thedrain,fithereisadrainfromthektichen,pouirngoutthe dirtywaterofwash-dayandallotherdays,whichsinksthroughtheground,and actsasfeedertothewaiitngwel.lSupposethemanure-pileinthebarnyard alsosendsdowntissupply,andthepriviesconirtbutetheris.Thewatermaybe unchanged in color or odor: yet none the less you are drinking a foul and horriblepoison;slowinaction,itisrtue,butmakingyoureadyfordiphtheira andtyphoid-fever,andconsumpiton,andothernamelessills.Itissoeasyto doubtorsetasideallthist,haItgiveonecaseasillusrtationandwarningofall the evils enumerated above. TheStateBoardofHealthforMassachusettshaslongbusiedtiselfwtih researchesonallthesepoints,andthecasemenitonedisinoneoftheri reports.ThehousedescribedisoneinHadley,buitlbyaclergyman."tIwas providedwithanopenwellandsink-drain,withitsdeposi-tboxinclose proximitythereto,affordingfactiliytodischargeitsgasesinthewellasthemost convenientplace.Thecellarwasused,ascounrtycellarscommonlyare,forthe storage of provisions of every kind, and the windows were never opened. The onlyescapeforthesoli-moistureandground-ai,rexceptthatwhichwas absorbed by the drinking-water, was through the crevices of the floors into the rooms above. After a few months' residence in the house, the clergyman's wife diedoffeve.rHesoonmarriedagain;andthesecondwifealsodiedoffever, wtihinayearfromthetimeofmarriage.Hischlidrenweresick.Heoccupiedthe houseabouttwoyears.Thewfieofhissuccessorwassoontakenill,and barelyescapedwtihherilfe.Aphysicianthentookthehouse.Hemairred,and hiswifesoonafterdiedoffeve.rAnotherphysiciantookthehouse,andwithina fewmonthscameneardyingoferysipelas.Hedeservedti.Thehouse, meanwhile,receivednorteatment;thedoctors,accordingtotheirusualwont, evenintheirownfamilies,weresatisifedtodealwtihtheconsequences,and leavethecausestodotheriwors.t "Nextafterthedoctors,aschoo-lteachertookthehouse,andmadeafew changes,forconvenienceapparenltyf,orsubstanitallytiremainedthesame;for he, too, escaped as by the skin of his teeth. Finally, after the foreclosure of manylives,thesicknessandfatailtyofthepropetrybecamesomarked,thatit becameunsalable.Whenatlastsold,everysotrofpredictionwasmadeasto theirskofoccupancy;but,byathoroughattentiontosanitarycondiitons,no suchriskshavebeenencountered". Thesedeathsweresuicides,—ignorantones,itisrtue,notonestoppingtothink whatcauseslayatthebottomofsuch"mysteriousdispensaitons."But,justas surelyascorngivesacroprfomtheseedsown,sosurelytyphoidfeverand diphtheriafollowbaddrainageorthedrinkingoifmpurewate.r Boliingsuchwaterdestroysthegermsofdisease;butnetiherboliedwaternor boiled germs are pleasant drinking. Ifmeansaretoonarrowtoadmitoftheexpenseattendantuponmakingadrain longenoughanditghtenoughtocarryoffallrefusewatertoasafedistance rfomthehouse,thenadoptanotherplan.Rememberthattothrowdirtywateron thegroundnearawell,isasdeilberatepoisoningasifyouthrewarsenicinthe wellitself.Havealargetuborbarrelstandingonawheelbarroworsmallhand-catr;andintothispoureverydropofdirtywater,wheeilngitawaytoorchardor garden,whereitwillenrichthesoi,lwhichwllirtansformit,andreturntitoyou, notindisease,butinfrutiandvegetables.Alsoseethatthewellhasaroof, and,ifpossible,alatitce-workabouti,tthatallleavesandlfyingditrmaybe preventedfromfallinginto.tiYoudonotwantyourwatertobeasoluitonor tinctureofdeadleaves,deadfrogsandinsects,orsrtaymiceorkittens;andthis itmustbe,nowandagain,ifnotcoveredsufifcientlytoexcludesuchchances, though not the air ,whichmustbegivenrfeeaccesstoit. Astohardandsoftwate,rthelatterisalwaysmostdesriable,assotfwater exrtactsthelfavorofteaandcoffeefarbettetrhanhard,andisalsobettefrorall cooking and washing purposes. Hard water results from a superabundance of ilme;andthislime"cakes"onthebottomoftea-kettles,curdlessoap,andclings toeverythingboiledini,tfromclothestomeatandvegetables(whichlastare always more tender if cooked in soft water; though, ifi t be too soft, they are apt toboiltoapoirrdge.) Washing-sodaorboraxwllisotfenhardwater,andmakeitbetterforall householdpurposes;butrain-wate,revenfinotdesriedfordrinking,willbe foundbetterthananysotfenedbyaritifcialmeans. fI,asinmanytowns,thesupplyofdrinking-waterformanyfamiliescomesfrom thetownpumporpumps,thesameprinciplesmustbeattendedto.Awellin GoldenSquare,London,wasnotedfortisespeciallybrightandsparkilngwate,r somuchsothatpeoplesenrftomlongdistancestosecureit.Thecholerabroke ou;tandallwhodrankrfomthewellbecameitsvicitms,thoughthesquare seemedaheatlhylocaiton.Analysisshowedittobenotonlyalivewtiha speciesoffungusgrowingin,tibutalsoweightedwtihdeadorganicmatterfrom aneighboirngchurchyard.Everytissueinthelivingbodieswhichhad absorbedthiswaterwasinflamed,andreadytoyieldtothefristepidemic;and cholerawasthenaturaloutcomeofsuchcondtiions.Knowledgeshouldguard againstanysuchchances.Seetoitthatnoopencesspoolpoisonsetiherairor wateraboutyourhome.Sunkataproperdistancerfomthehouse,and connectedwtihtibyadrainsoitghltyputtogetherthatnoneofthecontentscan escapet,hecesspool,whichmaybeanelaborate,brick-linedcistern,ormerely anoldhogsheadthoroughlytarredwithinandwithou,tandsunkintheground, becomesoneofthemostimpotrantadjunctsofagoodgarden.If,inaddtiionto this,apileofallthedecayingvegetablematter—leaves,weeds,&c.—ismade, alldeadcats,hens,orpuppiesfindingbuiralthere;andthewholeclosely coveredwithearthtoabsorb,asrfeshearthhasthepowertodo,alfloulgases andvapors;andfiatintervalstheplieiswetthroughwtihliquidfromthe cesspool,therichestformofferitilzerissecured,andoneofthegreat agriculturalduitesofmanfuliflled,—thatof"returningtothesoil,asfetrliizers,all thesatlsproducedbythecombusitonoffoodinthehumanbody". Wherethewater-supplyisbroughtintothehouserfomacommonreservoi,r much the same rules hold good. We can not of course control the character of