The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1874-05-08

In the last report OF the Massachu.
sets Board of Health, Dr. j. +. A
Adams, OF Pittsfeld, one of the mos
accom- pliahpd physicians in tho State
has presented long and valuable re-
port upon the health of farmers, in
which he combines his own experience
with that OF the leading physicians in
the State, to whom be sent circulars
containing twenty questions. to which
they responded. DR.. Adams concludes
that the following are the diseases to
which farmers are most liable, and the
liability is in the order named: First,
rheumatism second, dyspepsia; third,
fever; fourth, acute lung affections ;
fifth, consumption. In answer to the
question: What causes tend to iDjure
the health of farmers and their iami-
lies p overwork is mentioned as the
first, i'm proper diet the second, expo
sure the third; sanitary defects in
barn-ysrda, hog-pens, prlvles, drains.
cellars, etc rank as the fourth cause
want of ventilation the fl tn +; want OF
recreation, cleanliness, and other
causes are mentioned, but the first four
are the principal.
Upon the euhject OF farmers diet Dr.
Adams com es to several conclusions, the
full orce of which our Western fsrm-
ers will probably appreciate fully. 1t
is not insinuated that the wives OF
Western farmers are interior to their
sisters at the East in the practice oil
the culinary arts, but they have been
30 long in the habit of preparing the
family meals in just euch way that
it is difficult to make change. As to
farmers diet, Dr.. Adams arrives al
these eight conclusions
|, Good bread is scarce, and ls toe
often made with some unwholesomt
substitute for yeast. :,
. There is too little variety in food.
3 Meat is too apt to be fried.
4. Baked beans and salt pork, al
though highly nutritious dish, are to-
generally used, being indlgestible To-
many persons.
5. Pastry and cakes are nsed to
highly injurious extent.
G. Too little time is allotted TO
meals.
7. Coffee and tea, especially the lat
ter, are too freely used as beverages.
s. Water is used in excess.
DR.. Psddock's remarks on this poin
are these: THE food Of farmers i
usually soaked in fat. Beefsteak i
fried to a crisp in fat; nearly all othe
meats are fried, and l think a large
propotion OF farmers are dyspeptic tina
anv other class. They need bette
bread, rare cooked meats, less lat an
grease" To the frying OF meats, 8
fashionable among farmers, the testl
mony OF the physicians ia unanlmousl
opposed. Beet and mutton ar
recommended as the best meat
and veal and pork are condemned q
unfi, Tor staqle articles Of diet. d.
Adams thus Gums up the testimony o.
this matter OF diet: more fresh an
less salt meat; less frying aud NOR
boiling, broiling and roasting; q great
er variety of vegetables and fruits; lee
pies and cakes more wholesome we
kueaded bread raised with yeast; lee
tea" We have space only to refer !
one more point, and that Is the badi
ventilated rooms in which many farm
ers sleep, aud the feather beds on who
tney lie. On this point DR.. Lawreuc
tells the story ia few words: las
general thing farmers sleep in the poo
est rooms in their houses, which ar
are very often small aud poorly ver
tilated Feathers are an abomination.