The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1870-04-21
[From the Practical Farmer.
FARMERS WIVES.
Need They Have Poor Health

| lACo4ln VI AmGIlCdHa III BChCAoA9 NAO
farmers wives in particular. The sub
ject is one of surprising Importance ;
one which ''cOmes home" to the busi-
ness and bosom of each member of the
great guild of the tillers of the soil ;
aud not to US alone, but to all the
dwellers in houses built after the style
prevailing in this cycle of the nine
teenth century; Ishal therefore make
no apology for continuation OF the
subject, by discussing the query-Aeed
we women have poor health?
Decidedly we need Motif there is
any means by which we can be brought
to realize that we are destroying our
'Own health, and that of our families,
by spending our lives in an artificial,
unwhOIesome atmosphere; totally diff
ferent from the pure, vitalizing fluid
which the wise and benignant Creator
formed for our use, and provided in
unlimited and inexhaustible profusion
-"enough for each, enough for all,
enough for ever more" And by the
wonderful balance of forces, it is pro-
vided that animal and vegetable exs-
tence should each continually supply
/ the want and waste of the Other-ani-
NAL life inhaling oxygen and exhaling
carbon, and vegetation reversing the
process, inhaling carbon, and exhaling
the oxygen, the great supporter of ami
NAL life and Of all combustiOnl
Regardless of this necessity, houses
both in town and country, are made as
near hermetieally tight as possible.
Furnaces in the city keep up a supply
of pure warm air during the day, but
when closed at night, and doors and
windows tightly sealed, they are only
a little better off with their lofty cell
ings, than are the rural community,
whose windows and doors, fortunately
for them, do not close so tightly, and
hence admit a small quantity of fresh
air, thus saving the lives Of the in
mates.
But in very few farm-houses will the
windows lower from the top; school
houses in general have the same de-
feet, and an unpleasant Odor and feel
ing of oppression is observable on en-
tering them from the pure outside air.
Here are laid the foundations for much
Of the ill-health of adult life.
The only entirely healthy family I
ever knew was brought up in a house,
where by the wise and intelligent di-
rectiOn of the father, cJOSet- bedrooms
were prohibited, but all the rooms were
large and airy, all the windows rose
and fell freely as desired, and every
room had an open fire place or CRATE.
Plain, wholesome food was the rule,
with abundance of fruit, and dainties
the exception in that household. And
that large family of boys and girls
grew up in unbroken health, and are
now, though widely scattered, men and
women in perfect health, rare excep-
tiOns to the average of their compeers.
They all retain such a remarkable fond
ness for ventilating their houses, that
it has been loosely said of them:
"The - family are insane on the
subject of fresh airg' 1t would be
fortunate thing if such a form of in
sanity should become epidemic.
"Air-tight stoves" we may have, but
''air-tight houses" neUer, if we VIII re-
tain health. Cut of. the supply here,
and debility and disease are sure to
follow.
Children should be allow and en-
couraged to spend much time in the
open air. ClOthe the little girls warmly
and let them rOmp and play with their
brothers, all they will. A "TOm-boy"
girl, is tOlerably sure to grow up a
healthy woman. Climbing, skating,
snow -balling, ball-playing, these are
the sports that send the bright blood
careering through the system, bearing
health and strength to every limb.
See to it, that there is a change of
air in all sleepihg-rooms. "Night air"
is not near so dangerous as used-up
air. A window raised only half inch,
with a strip of board beneath it, will
give a large supply of the condensed |
air Of winter, through the space be-
tween the upper and lower sash.
Always keep a window open from
the top, in your kitchen; the comfort
and relief entering through it must be
to be believed. If you
sleep in rooms adjoining those used
during the day or evening, get your
family in bed, and then open the door
and windows so as to secure a thorough |
draft, and thus empty the rooms of
the impure air, the Iamp-smoke and |
all the denominations which have accu-
mulated during the day. Have no |
fear of colds being taken. Persons
up in bed are not liable to
take cold easily.
Florence Nightingale, high author
ity in all sanitary matters, says in her
'nOtes on nursing" that "none should
feel satisfied with their sleeping ar
unless the motion of the
air is felt on the face, when in bed"
No one who has not made the expert
ment can realize how sound and re-
is the sleep, when pure air is
inhaled freely.
Then let US have an improvement in |
the material, and preparing our food
less warm, yellow biscuit; more brown
bread, Graham or Indian; less "coffee
and cookies" For our children, more
bread and milk, and good old-fash-
iOned mush and milk; less fried pork,
and pork and beans; more fresh meat,
poultry and vegetables. Many phys
icians attribute the wide prevalence
of scrOfula il this country to the gel
eral use Of pork as an article of food.
ITjchiHja, let us hope, will cause a de-
crease of the consumption of an article
always of doubtful character, except as
a heater to the system.
l see you prefer your correspondents
to sign their names to their communi-
so as there are various farmers
wives on the list, I will subscribe N.Y.
self, yours to command,
DAME WRENETTA.
Advice about Hogs.
A writer in Chester County, Penn
sylvania, the original home of the