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9
rainfal of 1903 has been the prime factor in effecting this
reduction. In addition to the repeated scourings that
our streets and the back yards of our houses received
from the heavy downpours which occurred so frequently
during the summer months, there is the fact that on
very few days throughout the year were the conditions
such as to allow of the formation of dust. In this
fact is to be found the explanation of the position,
and if the lesson in sanitation which nature has given
us is to be followed up and put into practice, our aim
should be directed towards the prevention of dust as
far as is mechanically possible.
The proper cleansing and watering of streets and
roads is, of course, in this respect, of great importance,
but what is of even greater moment is the condition in
which the back yards of dwellings are kept.
It is the dust arising from this source that is the
most fruitful in producing disease. An ill-kept back
yard is the receptacle for all the refuse and rubbish
that a bad housewife finds time to throw out of her
house. Probably only a small part of this filth reaches
the dust-bin ; the rest remains to rot in the yard and
there to breed the germs of disease. In hot weather
this germ-laden rubbish is soon converted into dust,
which soon finds an easy access to the house through
the kitchen door. In the kitchen it mixes freely with
the food that is stored there; it becomes deposited
on the utensils, etc. The food made for the baby
comes in for its share, and as this is commonly
prepared in bulk in the morning, to be "warmed