From the Library of Sir Andrew Clark, Bart. Presented by Lady Clark. 9 Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2015 https://archive.org/details/b24756246 HELPS TO HEALTH THE HABITATION, THE NURSERY, THE SCHOOL-ROOM, AND THE PERSON, WITH A CHAPTER ON PLEASURE AND HEALTH RESORTS BT HENRY C. ^URDETT, FOUNDER OF THE HOME HOSPITALS ASSOCIATION FOR PAYING PATIENTS. " " AUTUOR OF "pay HOSPITALS OP THE WORLD ; "HOSPITALS AND THE STATE; "COTTAGK HOSPITALS, GENER,VL, FEVER AND CONVALESCENT, WITH FIFTT BEDS AND UNDERJ "THE RELATIVE MORTALITY OF LARGE AND SMALL HOSPITALS "hospitals with fifty BEDS AND UPWARDS, THF.IRy^ V~f. ORIGIN, construction, AND MANAGEMENT.'' / " HINTS IN SICKNESS," / etc., etc. WITH NINETEEN ILLUSTRATION^^'^i London kegan paul, trench & co., 1 patehnoster square 1885 ; " (§0, iittk book, ®xrji emh thtc Qooi> i^assagc ^iti s\szcuU^ Id this bz tlt^ pnx^txt, Winto ihtm nil that tltce toill veab hear, SSEhcM thott art torong, after their htl^p to call, %hzz to mrect in ans ?art err all." dhauccr. 1 80i.-r? — CONTENTS. PAGES Introduction ..... ix, x CHAPTER I.—THE NURSERY. Arrangfement—Floors—Walls—Choice of Colours for Walls—Ventila- tion — Wanning — Cubic Space — Lighting — Furniture — Play - things — Rules for Nursery — Sleep — Exercise — Baths and Bathing—Teething—Diseases of Children—Vaccination and Re-Vaccination—Dress in the Nursery—Cleanliness in Cloth- ing—Diet of Infants and Young Children—Artificial Human Milk—General Remarks on Children's Food—Times of Meals Cleanliness in Feeding—Other General Rules—Mr Ruskin on Nurseries . , , . 1 to 36 CHAPTER It.—THE SCHOOL. I'rinciples of Education'— School Hours — Dress — Food — Play — Sleep—Eyesight—School Desk." and Seats—Schoolroom—Medical Hints— Evils of Cramming . , . 37 to 47 CHAPTER. III. —CARE OF THE PERSON. Necessity for Cleanliness—Soap—Cosmetics—Cold Bath—Warm and Tepid Baths—Hot Bath— Douche Bath—Shower Bath—Needle Bath—Vapour Bath—Hot Air Bath—Turkish Bath—Russian I'ath—Sea Bathing—Bath Room—Public Baths—The Hair Essentials of Clothing—Materials for Clothing—Colour and — vi CONTENTS. PACKS Shape of Clothing—The Corset—Boots—Garters—Petticoats- Comforters—Poisonous Colours in Clothing—Infection—General Rules in Clothing—The Ear—The Eye—Respirators—The Voice—The Teeth . 48 to 73 CHAPTER IV.—FOOD AND DRINK. Object of Food—Quantity necessary—Digestion—Animal Foods Vegetable Foods—Cooking—Times of Meals—General Hints on Food—Action of Alcohol—Is the Habitual Use of Alcohol desirable—Quantity of Alcohol pei-missible—Beer and Stout Wines—Spirits— Liqueurs—Tea—Coffee—Cocoa—Tobacco 74 to 95 CHAPTER V.-WORK, REST, EXERCISE, AND RECREATION. Effects of Overwork—Excitement and Worry—Recreation—Effects of Exercise— Necessity for Exercise—Amoimt of Exercise re- quired—Rules on Exercise—Sleep— Amo ant required—Rules on Sleep—Relative Healthiness of Professions and Occupations Sea-Side Holidays , . 96 to 109 CHAPTER VI.—THE CHOICE OF A HOUSE. Importance of Care in selection—Locality—Situation -Neighbour to be avoided—Aspect—Soil—Water Supply in Town and Country—Wells—Rain Water—Warnings to intending House- holders 110 to 118 CHAPTER VII.—THE STRUCTURE OF THE HOUSE. Dangers of Unwholesome Houses—Law as to Stability and Sanitary Condition of Houses—Sub-soil—Prevention of Dry Rot—Pre- vention of Damp Walls—Roof—Drainage—Disposal of Sewage —Cesspools—Ventilation of Drains—Disconnection of House Drains from Sewers and Cesspools—Ventilation of Soil-pipes and 18".) . to Waste-pipes-Evils of Jerry Building . 119 CONTENTS. vii CHAPTER VIII.-THE INTERIOR ARRANGEMENTS OF THE HOUSE. PAGR Distribution of Rooms—Windows—Stoves—Grates— Hot "Water Seryice—Baths—Sinks—Water-Closets—Cisterns—Filters 140 to 151 . pages 2-4. Choice of Colonrs for Walls, . HAPTER IX.—VENTILATION, WARMING, AND LIGHTING. V'entilation—Objects to be aimed at—Carbonic Acid—Tests of Impure Aii- in Rooms—Admission and Distribution of Fresh Air in Rooms—Situation of Fi-eshand Foul Air Flues —Draughts in Chimneys—Smoky Chimneys—Cubic and Supei'ficial Space —Open Fires—Hot Air Furnaces—Steam Heating— Hot Water Heating—Ventilation Appliances—Gas—Electric Lighting 152 to 172 CHAPTER X.—MATTE IN THE WRONG PLACE. Dust in Living Rooms—Dust-Bins—Removal of Refuse—Dry Methods of Disposal of Excreta—Dry Earth System—Pail System—Middens—Slop Water—Disinfection . 173 to 179 CHAPTER XL—HEALTH RESORTS. Bracing Climates—Exciting Climates—Relaxing Climates—Sedative Climates—Mineral Waters—Chalybeate Waters—Saline Aperient Waters—Sulphurous Waters—Allialine Waters—Places suitable for particular Ailments—The Water Cure—Theory of Hydro- pathy—Miaeral Baths -The Milk Cure—The Grape Cure 180 to 204 CHAPTER XII.—SANITARY POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE CITIZEN. Niiisances—Inspectors of Nuisances—Duties of Local Authority as to Nuisances—Powers of Entry on Premises—Defaulting Authority—Special Insanitary Conditions and their Remedies —Infectious Diseases—Other Nuisances—Exceptions and Ex- l->lanationg ....... 205 to 220 vm CONTENTS. CHAPTER XIII.- -URBAN SANITARY OFFICIALS. PAGE Names and Addresses of Sanitary Officials in Metropolis, and of the Sanitary Inspectors of every Urban Sanitary District in England and Wale» 221 to 243 to 24S» Alphabetical Index . 245 APPENDIX, Containing Detailed Particulars as to certain Hospitals, Institutions, Foods, and other Articles ..... 251 to 273 INTRODUCTION. Only a few words appear to be necessary in introducing this little book to the public. In the course of a pretty long experience in a variety of capacities, it has often happened to the author to require some plain and simple handbook in which the main principles of hygiene could be found, unen- cumbered with the technicalities by which professed sanitarians too often obscure their meaning. Nor, despite the flood of literature upon the subject of health, which has been provoked by the recent International Exhibition at South Kensington, has the admitted desideratum been quite met of a comprehensive and yet easUy understandable text- book on the general laws of personal and public health. It may scarcely be credited, but it is none the less un- doubtedly a fact, that no book yet published contains, in a handy form, the information which an ordinary person can desire to know about health and all that affects it. The aim of this book, therefore, is to give, with sufficient amplitude, but in the fewest possible words, precise information concern- ing matters which afifect the health and comfort of every class, from childhood to old age. The classification and arrange- ment of the various subjects treated have been carefully thought out, and, for further help to the reader, an exhaustive index has been added. It is believed that anyone who desires to know what he can do to promote his own and his family's health, as well as that of his neighbour, will find that this, X INTRODUCTION. the second volume of the "Help Series," contains just the kind of information he requires, in the briefest and simplest language. At any rate this has been the aim of its author, and if experience proves that this object has been attained, he will be more than satisfied. To be useful, interesting, and rehable is the mission which this volume is published to fulfil. In the compilation of the present work, the author has enjoyed the co-operation of several friends, experts in their difierent departments. Amongst these willing helpers he desires especially to name Mr G. H. Percival, M.B. Lond., Senior Surgeon to the Northampton General Infirmary, who has contributed many of the medical details which appear in the course of the book; Mr Keith D. Young, Archi- tect to the London Fever Hospital, who has written upon matters dealing with the structure and internal fittings of houses; Surgeon- General Moore, O.S.I., who has collected together many interesting and valuable particulars on the subject of Health Eesorts ; and Surgeon-Major Billings, M.D., of the United States Army, from whose published utterances most of the information concerning ventilation and steam and hot-water heating has been derived. It remains only to add that the author's object has been throughout to make the book as concise and practical as possible, and that any suggestions for improvement will be at all times gratefully welcomed by him. The Lodge, Poechestbr Squabe, London, W. CHAPTER I. THE NURSERY. This part of the work is intended to deal only with such points as may conduce to the health and well-being of the child Avithout reference to illness, which has no proper place in this book. At the very commencement we are met with the difficulty that it is very easy indeed to say what ought to be, but in many cases impossible to carry out the advice given. Thus, taking as a model the most recent work on home hygiene that has appeared, it might be said : — " The day- room should be a quiet cheerful room apart . , with double doors ... a sunny aspect, large low windows, a cheerful prospect, and possibly a separate entrance or ready means of going out of doors. The bed-rooms near together, and near to the chief family room, should make a system of their own, with clothes-room or nurse's-room, dressing-room, bath-room, and closet or scullery attached, A separate staircase is always a convenience, &c., &c." Or again, quoting from another recent work:—"Gas lights should never be admitted into a nursery or play room. The typical light would be the incandescent electric light of Edison." The writer, however, acknowledges the impracticability of his plan, and allows for the present the use of Colza oil or candles. Surely there is too much nonsense talked about these things now-a-days. Has any one ever entered a nursery which would fulfil all the above requirements 1 The best arrangements should certainly be indicated, but it ought further to be shown how far A ; 2 HELPS TO HEALTH, the different details were essential, and what modifications conld be permitted to suit the numerous and varied circum- stances of each case.