Damp Buildings And Health

At the International Health Congress, reeently held in Paris, the evil effects of damp and dirt as promotors oí discase and attendant misery were freely discussed. Speaking of dampness, a menaber of ' the Sanitarj' Institute of Great liritnin said that "incessant nioisture and driving rain make their way through the ; solidly-eonstructed walls, white persons i who inhabit cheap littlo houses are ' posed to the fatal effects of our climato. Several years ago an English company discovered a peculiar deposit of siliea, with which they prepare the petrifying liquid, the use of which may be intrusted to the most inexperienced workmen. It sinks into the walls with rapidity, and petrification takes place, so that the ' wiill is covered with a coating impenetrable as stone. The wall may be wnshed. Sliould there have been contagious diseases or other infections, the walls may be exposed to destructive fumigations, or washed with antiseptics, without aft'ecting tho surface. The j liquid is generally mixed with coloring ! inatters thai are not poisonous, or it is used in its simple state for the lirst coating, to which is added tho silicate paint, that possessos tliegrcatadvantage of not discoloring, cracking or having any ehemical action upoa metal, iendering it peculiarly suitable for buildings to be pninted white, and, being nonporous, it does not hold moisture, and its attendant livery of dust and dirt that cling to our erectione so soon after they havo beeu painted."