The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1872-06-22
;Tmshe Earts+
Some Words of Advice to Farmers and
their Households.

Some Words of Advice to Farmers and
their Households.
A constant residence in the country and
work in the fresh pure air ought to be con-
ducive to long life-almost all the condi-
tions that should make the doctors visits
" few and far between are answered by
it. The lungs are well expanded; the
muscles are all brought into regular use,
and the food abundant. Why then are
not the generality of our farmers older
men at their decease? 1t is a recognized
fact that their average length is shorter
than that of men working at other and
seeming less healthful vacations. Some of
the causes which lead to this distinction
between farm and city life, we should not
have space enough to explain in the COM
pass of this article. A few words of advice
and warning is all We can give. In the
first place the muscles of the body in the
buster seasons of farm work-a season
which in many cases does not come to an
end until the depth Of winter-instead of
being judiciously exercised, are unavoida-
bly, subjected to severe and long continued
overstrain. In rain or shine the operations
of the farm must go on. There is always
something to be done. Often the work
gets behind hand, and has to be made up
by extra exertions. When night comes
the frame is utterly weary and worn out.
Supper is no sooner ended than sleep,
heavy and deep presses the eyelids. Stiff,
aching and unrested, the man rises in the
morning to go through the same exhaust
ing routine. All this work tells slowly but
surely on the physical force. The farmer
at fifty not unfrequently looks vastly older
than the city man Of the same age.
Is not this to considerable extent the
farmers own fault 1t is true that in his
occupation, of all others, there is no end
of the work to be done. Let him press
and urge it as much rs he will there is still
more to be attended to than his utmost ex-
ertions can compass. The primary reason
why this is the case, is that he almost
invariably attempts to make up in extent
of area for the lack of fertility in the soil
itself, and so does not adapt the amount
of work to be done to the force required to
do it easily and properly. We are, of
course, speaking of farmers of moderate
means, and who engage personally with
the male members of the family in doing a
large portion of the work of the farm.
Not only does this daily round of hard
labor tax the energies of the farmer and
his sons, but the wife and the daughters
also suffer incidentally from it. 1t is no easy
matter in the absence of that help which
is so much needed and so frequently not to
be had, for the VITA to board the hands, to
cook and wash, attend to the cows and
often to the garden in addition, with only
such assistance as the younger members of
the family can give her. Such onerous
duties are well calculated to break down
prematurely the stoutest and the strongest.
But apart from the injury done to the
health by overwork it may and frequently
does suffer from other causes, many of
which ere preventible. In some districts,
and often those where the soil is most fer
tile, malarious diseases prevail. In other
districts the drinking water is scarce or
impure. The water of living springs,
when kept free from noxious matter, is
invariably conductive to health. But where
wells and cisterns are used, the greatest
caution requires to be exercised to prevent
the water from becoming contaminated
either through defective drainage or the
presence of deleterious sediment Besides
this, there is danger from the decay of
vegetable matter in proximity to the house
hold, and in the heaps of refuse which but
too often are left neglected until diseases
of typhoid type and the counsel of the
physician necessitates their removal.
Dense shade near the dwelling has also
an injurious effect to the health of the
family. 1t promotes dampness, and al
though it may not be the primary cause of
disease, vet if the seeds of certain malades
are in the system, the exclusion of air and
sunshine will sensibly retard the recovery
of the patient-more especially is this the
case where there is hereditary tendency
to consumption. Give dwelling, there
fore, free access to sunshine and fresh air.
Avoid low location, and damp, compact
subsoil, which will not admit of efficient
drainage. Remove from the cellars and
vicinity of the house, all vegetable matters
that by their decay promote disease. Be
careful that tho water used for household
purposes is pure, and in the operations of
the farm, seek by high farming to produce
heavy crops from a few acres, and thus
bring the labor required to cultivate them
within the easy compass of the force to be
employed, rather than to wear out the
strength and destroy the health by attempt
ing to compensate by overwork for the
want of fertility in the soil.