p. 57 | BANKING UP THE HOUSE

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Nov 27, 1893

BANKING UP THE HOUSE.

In many districts it is a common custom to bank up the underpinning of the house, to keep out the cold drafts of winter. While, from the construction of the house, this may be necessary, yet the greatest care should be exercised in selecting the material used. Dry earth, clean sawdust, or clean straw may be used, but never the decaying refuse from the stable, which is almost sure to bring disease of some sort before spring. With a bank of decaying animal and vegetable matter surrounding our dwellings, poisoning the very air we breathe, how can it be otherwise than that disease must follow? If the cesspool could be cleaned out, the back yard renovated, and things cleaned up generally before cold weather begins, much of the trouble arising from colds, croup, scarlet fever, diphtheria, and kindred diseases might be avoided.