DOMESTIC HYGIENE

Evening Star, Issue 20608, 7 October 1930, Page 2

DOMESTIC HYGIENE

PROGRESS THROUGH THE CENTURIES HOME LIFE IH OTHER DAYS [By R, G. Meldkum, A.M.R.i San. 1., Loud.] (Part II.) It would bo quite unnecessary and without value from the viewpoint of progress in the hygienic principles of house construction to give a complete description of all types of dwellings of tho various races during the centuries of tho historical period which has now passed. Only a low examples of some of tho more important types of dwellings indicating hero and there a slight progress in hygienic principles of house planning will bo necessary to indicate the very slow progress which had been made up to within fifty years of the present time. Of the actual dwellings of people between 4000 n.c. and 1500 A.d. wo in reality know’ very little. The ruins of ordinary dwellings erected during these centuries are very few and incomplete. Of tho poorest dwellings the majority must have collapsed on account of their inferior construction. Even few examples of the houses of tho rich built during tho first fifty centuries of historical times are so very scarce that in most countries no examples of them can be found. Our knowledge of these dwellings has been obtained from descriptions fix historical papers or in literature. It is no doubt a loss to tho study of architecture that so few examples of these former dwellings exist to-day, but it is of little value to the study of the achievements of former peoples in matters of hygiene and actual comfort in dwellings. HOUSES IN EGYPT. Except for the ruins of one or two palaces, there is very little in existence to-day which reminds us of tho dwellings of the various classes among the people of old Egypt. Most of xvbat we do know has been gleaned from manuscripts, pictures, and inscriptions on monuments. Tho majority of people had only the simplest type of dwellings built of wood, of palms or sycamores, and later an inferior quality of brick made out of Nile clay with cut straw. As time progressed stone and lime were used more in construction. Tho dwellings were of poor construction, generally built on fiat ground near the river, and lasted but a short tunc. When this primitive*dwelling collapsed the debris was not removed; it may have required too much labour—who knows ? Using tho debris of the first dwelling as a foundation, the second dwelling was built, and when it collapsed a third was erected. Gradually a kind of terrace Avas formed by those ruins of the previous houses, which, being higher than the surrounding ground, ensured tho safety of the third or fourth dwelling from tho overflowing waters of the Nile. The later dwellings on these terraces wore far more sanitary on account of being built on dry ground above tho wet strata. This method of construction may have been accidental carelessness, or, on tho other hand, on example of the high intelligence of these people. There wore three types of Egyptian houses—namely, tho houses of tho poor, tho middle class, and tho rich. HOUSES OF THE POOR. Tho houses of the poor were merely huts about 10ft by 12ft to 18ft in size, usually constructed with a framework of timber and a clay and straw' filling for walls, which usually did not exceed Cffc in height. There was a very small doorway, but no window’s. Even those small dwellings were divided off into two or three parts by low partitions. There was no paving of any kind, no fireplace or chimney, but in some cases an opening was left in tho roof for ventilation, but this Avas only rarely found. These dwellings were used only as a place of rest, their work being chiefly in tho open. Tho wonderful climate no doubt made up for the unhealthy and deficient dwellings. EGYPT’S BETTER-CLASS HOMES. The dwellings of tho better classes were built of selected wood properly framed and constructed, or of brick and sometimes stone. They always had a court and small garden, around which tho rooms wore located, sometimes on three, sides of, or behind the court with a portico in front. The windows were few in number, small and placed high up above tho floor level. Living in the open was also a custom with the bettor classes, tho courts being used for daily life and for tho taking of meals. In some cases tho dwellings were two stories in height On tho ground floor Avcro located tho stables, kitchen, provision rooms, and servants quarters. Tho second floor was used by the family for bedrooms, access to same being obtained by a small staircase usually in tho corner of tlio court. The upper door rooms wore poorly constructed, tho flooring consisting of wood with a clay filling, tho Avails wore crudely finished and in n manner painted or decorated. Window's were again few’, as on tho lower floor, and were protected by a wood or metal grille. Rooms Avhich had no window depended for their ventilation and light on the doorway, which opened on to tlw corridor running along tho court Avails. These dwellings, although showing a very great improvement in plan, worn very unsanitary, though being dark and unvontilated, and tho poor material used in construction. Tho Egyptians desired toshut out tho light as much as possible, inasmuch as cloudy skies Avcro very rare, and tho continuous bright and glaring sunlight in this humid atmosphere aviis very objectionable and painful to the eyes. A roof garden on top of the upper floor, protected by a light roof on small Avootlen columns Avas used for social gatherings, and as a sleeping place. The genera] practice of sleeping in tho open air must have been of great beneficial effect and must have partly offset tho results through tho use of dark ami unvcntilatcd rooms. THE RICH MAN’S HOME. Tho third typo of Egyptian houses, those of the rich, varied in plan very little from tho houses of the bettor

'classes. The entrance door was the !maiu feature of the building, its size and elaborate decoration showing, the j importance of tho owner, very often I resembling a temple entrance. Although the houses of tho rich showed improvement over the first-mentioned typos in respect to size and number of rooms, very little or no real improvement from a hygienic or sanitary standpoint was . found. INTRODUCTION OF GLASS. It may be advisable to mention boro tho uso of glass in buildings, Eor ornamental purposes, coloured glass bad been used to a, greater or lesser extent from the oldest times recorded in Egypt, and later in Greece, and by tho Homans. We do not know definitely whether tho Western world used glass in windows .for the purpose of light, but it is certain that in the east coloured glass was used to a great extent. Tu most instances they were small pieces of glass set in mortar, plaster, or stucco, highly decorated and letting through a subdued light. Glass for protection against cold was not icquiml in the dwelling houses in Eastern countries, ami consequently very seldom used. Most windows were open except for lattice work or a grille, and sometimes curtains. SUBDUED LIGHTING SYSTEM. Glass, however, was used to a groat extent by tho Egyptians, Greeks, Homans, and Byzantines in temples and tombs. Tu tho middle ages coloured glass was used everywhere in churches and monumental buildings; during the twelfth and thirteenth centuries the art of making decorated coloured glass was at its height, Tho Renaissance abandoned the subdiud lighting system, and clear glass came Into vogue. Wo may assume that up to tho latter part of tbo sixteenth century glass was too costly to ho used by any but tiic rich in house construction. Where economy was tho first consideration, tho windows had no glass; even in tho northern countries they were left open, consequently reducing the openings to a minimum size.