Domestic Economy

Domestic Economy is a tautological but convenient expression. Oikonomia, the Greek word from which economy is directly derived, means simply household management. But the reference to the household having gradually been lost, the art of managing domestic affairs in the best and thriftiest manner was, as Domestic Economy, distinguished from Political Economy. As a subject of education in schools, the term is made to cover many matters treated separately in this work—food, the value of the various kinds, the functions of food, and its preparation; clothing, its various kinds, the making and repairing of it; washing; domestic utensils; the lighting, warming, ventilation, and sanitation of houses; hygiene, the laws of health, sickness, and nursing; as well as thrift, the more especial subject of domestic economy. Information on most of these subjects will be found in very many articles throughout the work: see amongst others those on FOOD, DIET, GERM THEORY, DIGESTION, COOKERY, BREAD, HYGIENE; INDIGESTION, CONSTIPATION, CATARRH, and the other articles on ailments; NURSING, BUILDING, SEWAGE, VENTILATION, WARMING. See also the articles ANNUITIES, FRIENDLY SOCIETIES, INSURANCE, SAVINGS-BANKS.