Lifestyle Choices

It is equally important that every home be provided with adequate facilities for the proper disposal of wastes. Those who live in large cities usually have this provided for them unless some emergency intervenes. But people who live in more isolated areas may have to provide their own facilities. How they handle this problem may determine in a large measure the kind of health they and their families will enjoy.

Proper sanitary disposal of body wastes is one of the first laws of health. Wherever human beings live, there are flies. And flies flourish on waste materials. They often carry dangerous germs and bring misery into many homes because of the diseases they continually spread around.

In large modern cities there are usually adequate facilities to meet these needs. In villages and smaller towns, whatever system is available may be woefully inadequate. People living on farms and those who own mountain cabins and beach cottages are often in need of advice as to how to meet these particular needs. The same is true on campgrounds and other places where people may stay for a few days or weeks at a time. Usually, the more isolated the area, the greater the need.

There is no sense in carefully guarding your water and milk supply and then neglecting this other equally important phase of healthful living. The dangers of disease due to the improper disposal of sewage have been recognized from earliest times.

But despite all of this excellent instruction, the problem has remained. It is a serious menace to health in many parts of the world, even today.

As modern cities began to expand and double their populations, it became necessary to find more suitable methods of sewage disposal. Water systems were developed, and the individual home itself became safer. But when these human wastes were conveyed to the rivers and lakes, something serious began to happen. Wholesale epidemics began to spread on a gigantic scale. Most of these have now been brought under control.

But there are still large areas of the world where the danger is acute. Hookworm infections abound in some parts, and many other intestinal diseases are continually spread through whole communities. Hookworm disease is a major challenge to all who are interested in health. Many millions of people are infected with this disease. Yet it can readily be stamped out by proper sanitary measures.

Today many more people are introducing running water into their homes. This is a great convenience and an aid to better living. Indoor plumbing is rapidly expanding as modern flush toilets replace the older, more primitive types. But this naturally raises new problems. How shall this waste water be carried away? What steps must be taken to control the possibility of infection?

Obviously, some means must be devised for this purpose. Sometimes the waste water is run off into some nearby stream. This is not a wise thing to do. Many people have the mistaken idea that running water purifies itself. This is only partly true. It is never safe to depend on this too much. Some germs can live after traveling a long way over many waterfalls and rapids.

One of the best ways to solve this problem is to construct some type of receptacle, such as a cesspool, or better still a septic tank. Cesspools should never be located near wells or other sources of drinking water. Nor should cows be allowed to graze near them. There should be at least fifty feet between the cesspool and the well. However, this depends to some extent upon the type of soil. Clay soil is less likely to allow the transmission of contaminated material to other areas. On the other hand, limestone allows a great deal of seepage. Harmful germs may be found a quarter to half a mile away if there is water present to carry the contaminated material through the limestone.

A much better method for the proper disposal of body wastes is a well-constructed septic tank. Actually this method of sewage disposal was in use in India many centuries ago. Today it has been somewhat modified to meet the demands of modern living. In principle it consists of three compartments in a large concrete tank which is well covered to keep flies out and to control the odors. As the waste materials slowly flow through these chambers, the bacteria break up the materials, producing certain chemical changes and thus removing all danger of infection or contamination. The water flowing away from a well-constructed septic tank should be clear and odorless. However, it is seldom harmless. It is wise to pass the water into a cesspool or leaching pit. A grease trap is advisable if the kitchen water is allowed to flow through the septic tank.

If no running water is available in your home, some other method must be used in disposing of body wastes. Chemical toilets are useful, but sometimes they tend to be rather expensive. Some families must still depend upon the old-fashioned privy or outhouse. This is really a small shed which stands over a pit in the ground. The pit should be at least five or six feet deep. It should be located as far away from the family well as possible. It should also be well ventilated and carefully screened against flies. Every few days the fecal materials should be covered with chloride of lime. This will reduce the number of flies.

Clean living is one of the most important steps in human progress. This has been true from the very dawn of history. Wherever people have paid close attention to the principles of good living, they have remained strong and vigorous. When these principles are neglected, the health and vitality of the nation or family have always declined. Each head of the family must be responsible for the health and safety of his own household. It is his duty to see that each member of his family is protected and that his home will be a safe and happy place in which to live.

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