Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1874-05-08
A Few XNor,ia In Onr Fnrmsrx

If there is any one opinion more
thoroughly grounded in the general mind
than another it is that the healthiest, the
pleasantest, and the most Independent life
is that of the farmer, the reason being,
doubtless, that it ought to be. The infer
ence is correct enough, but when one looks
the facts in the face, and calls TO mind the
faces and forms OF many agricnl.urists with
whom no has come in contact during bis
bucolc experiences, he will be constrained
to admit that those who drove fat oxen
were not always fat, and that those who
breathed the fresh air of heaven twelve
and sometimes fourteen hours a day were
not always models of health. In fact, not
withstauding the advantages of exercise,
pure air and pure water, statistics go 10
show that the farmer has his full share Of
ills, aud often more than those OF certain
other classes whose peculiar vocations have,
by popular consent, come TO be look ed up
on as unhealthy" And yet there is no
reason why the farmer should not be in
reality, in the particular instance of health,
all that popular imagination has supposed
him to be. The average New Eogland
farmer, though knowing exactly how his
cattle should be treated, the kind and quail
ity of the food they should eat, and how
they should be housed and taken care Of
generally, is either wofully ignorant OF the
conmonest rules of health as applicable to
himself, or else wofully careless. II OF
what is known as the thrifty" class, he
very often rises at an hour when he should
be sleeping; bolts his breakfas of fried
pork and potato and hastens 10 the field
works without intcrmlssion ill noon then
more fried pork then another live or six
hours work with the scythe, the pillow or
the hoe and after that the "chores," which
not unfrequsntly includes milking from
six 10 fifteen cows. This is frequently per-
formed after dark in the hurried season,
the farmer or workmen sitting In the cool
night air in their shirt-seeves after having
swsated profusely all day in the field.
Hundreds Of cases OF consumption, rheu-
matism and score of other diseases are
thus induced, while the general diet and
the hasty manner in which food Is dispos-
ed OF have made the farmers of New Eng
Jand race of dyspeptlcs. Eggs In any
form are rarely seen upon the table OF the
market. In thousands of families beef
steak is an unknown article OF diet. When
an OK or cow is killed, that goes to mar
ket, too. Once in a while a sheep is sacri-
feed 10 the wants Of its owner, but rarely.
The great staple is pork, salt, nine-tenths
OF the year, and fresh fol few meals al tho
killing season. AS rule, very little milk
Is consumed by the adults of farmers
family. That goes for butter and cheese.
1t is a lamentable truth, but 1t is a truth,
nevertheless, that there is no class OF peo-
pie in the country capable of living so we'll
who live so poorly.
Sometime during the past year The Board
of Health wishing TO obtain statistics upon
the subject, addressed a large number of
circulars to prominent physicians in varl-
Gus parts OF the State. One OF the Ques-
lions asked was What causes tend to iu-
Jure the health OF farmers and their fam
iliesf" That our agricultural readers NAV
Lave some idea OF what professional men
say in regard to the matter, beyond the in
dividuAl opinion expressed in this article.
we quote one or two OF the answers made;
Exposure; too protracted hard work:
excessive fatigue, especially in hot wealth
err"
"overwork; want of recreation; lack OF
bathing"
"Insuficlent and badly-cooked food
damp cellars small bedrooms opening
from the kitchen improper drainage"
"Aonotonous hard work; insufficient
variety In the kind Of food inferior cook
ing; too little attention to the ventilation
OF sleeping apartments"
All the answers received by the Board
are but repetitions Of the above. The same
report shows that dyspepsia exists, rs a
rule, in a great majority Of farmers fam
lilies that OF other diseases, rheumatism is
the most common, pneumonia, pulmonary
affections and consumption coming next
in order. This is a sad showing, but It will
doubtless have little effect. Eight farmers
out OF every ten will insist upon finishing