The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1874-08-20
The Dangers of Country Life.

Many of our readers are going or have
gone INTO country quarters for the sum-
mer, hoping and expecting to find there,
not only rest and recreation, but, through
these, comfort and health. Not few of
them, probably, suppose that simple ex-
change of scene, air and employment, to.
gether with quiet and freedom from irk-
some cares, will be sufficient to ensure
their return in September or October full
of renewed health and vigOr They do
not realize that around their summer
homes Turk for them new and unaccus-
toned sources of disease. Too many of
us are wont to regard country life as al
most synonymous with health. This is
far from the truth, however. No fact is
better settled than that life is longer and
more free from sickness in the better wards
of our cities-especially Northern cities
than in the villages and farming districts
OF the country. To large extent this de-
pendS, 1t Is true, upon the influences eX-
erted by the annual migration from such
urban localities during the hot months.
But, considered from strictly sanitary
point OF view. it cannot be doubted that
the COUNTRY has its disadvantages; that
they largely preponderate over those of
the best parts of cities; and that those who
pour out into the country, at the first hot
breath OF summer, not seldom make
change which is essentially for the worse.
Many forms of epidemic disease prevail
with greatest virulence IA the country.
Measles scarlet fever, typhoid fever, dys-
enterv, diphtheria, etc., have ragged, and do
and will rage, most furiOusly there The
most fearful epidemic which ever came I'M
der the writer's observation was one OF
HNrcnnrapv- If in, Feel
of less than one thousand inhabitants, sit
uated in Steuben county, n. Y. One in
every sixty of the population died within
a month. "a mortality which would
about equal twenty thousand in the COM
bined cities of New York and Brooklyn. J
The site seemed, and was, at least equal in
salubrity to any in the land, and, to the
casual observer, the disease appeared like
a genuine visitation from God. There
were doubtless some climatic and IRENE
diable conditions which favored its origin !;
but its spread, duration and fatality were
largely due to preventible causes in the
routine of village life Other diseases
have, at times, made equal havoc in rural
dstricts-notOriOusly ZymOtic form of
disease.
OfcOurse, when we claim that persist
ent residence in well kept cities is on the
whole most healthful, we do not mean 10
intimate that the change from city to cOun-
try summer-life is altogether a bad one,
nor preponderatingly so. Byno means
The advantages of such variety are so well
known as to need no recital here. Change
variety in air food, scene, occupation,
companions. all are stimulating, invigo-
rating, renewing to the whole man; and
such changes, even though they are es
Sentially for the worse, often for a few
months prove wonderfully beneficial.
But it is OfimpOrtanCe that those who just
now so eagerly set their faces toward
fresh fields and pastures new" should
know and learn how to avoid the unaccus-
toned dangers which will beset them dur
ing three months. OF these we can very
briefly discuss but few of the more i'm
pOrtant and remediable causes of disease.
They are foul cellars, damp walls, privies.
impure water, and excessive diurnal
changes in temperature.
Nearly all farmers and villagers Keep
through the winter a stock of fruit and
vegetables in the cellar. As spring comes
on they decay rapidly, and they are unusu-
ally thrifty hGhsekeepers who extend
their house cleaning below the kitchen
floor. Very seldom, indeed, is the cellar
efficiently ventilated. and the results need
no description. The apartment which
should be sweet and clean smells offensive
ly, and loads the atmosphere of the whole
house with piSOnOuS etf1uvia. In selecting
a summer home, therefore, take your eyes
and nose at once into the cellar. The
worst evils are generally easily remedied,
and the most ignorant householder will
appreciate the change which single days
labor will accomplish.
Next see that the caves of the house are
provided with cutters. Many farm
houses are not, and the frequent dripping
from them 20 close to the walls keeps the
latter soaked in moisture. If there be gut
tiers they are not unfrequently choked
with DEBRIS. Then they overflow and
drench the walls from above. One cannot
have been a frequent visitor in the cOun
try without having become disagreeably
conscious of the chill which especially per-
vades that portion of the house not in Or
binary use, but it is felt as well in any part
which is carefully shut in from the sun
and wind. The heated air which will creep
in is, of course, Overladen with mOiS-
ture, and as it cools deposits the excess
upon every object. The writer knows u
farm house which was, in part, thus man
aged last summer; and in the dryest part
of the heated term it was quite possible to
wiring water from the cover of the table in
the dining-rOom which was kept relig
iOuslv closed and almost cold throughout
the middle of the day. Free ventilation
should be encouraged ia all parts of
summer residence, especially in those
rooms which are most shaded from the
direct rays of the sun.
Repulsive as are rotten cellars and damp
walls, impure water is one of the worst as
it is one of the most irremediable sources
of disease in rural districts. Too often
"the old oaken bucket" OverflOws with
poisonous q rms. We do not eXaggerate
when we say that not one country well
i'm five hundred is located at sufficient
distance from filthy surroundings. They
derive their supply of water from a varla-
Bile distance, depending upon the character
of the soil, but never should they be less
than fifty feet from any possible source of
impurity.
Generally, however, they are placed, for
convenience sake, beside the kitchen door.
And hard by the "help" or thriftless
matron. after she has dutifully washefthe
dirt from the clothing of the family, week
ly empties the fOaming suds. Here are
thrown slOps from the kitchen if nothing
worse. Too near are the barn-yard, and
other sources of pollution which need not
be named, and through all these are
leached the contents of the "Old Oaken
bucket that hangs in the we'll" Careful
filtration through charcoal will remove
some of these impurities, and with g eater
care regarding the refuse do as much as
can be done from the kitchen, to remedy
possible and probable evils from this
source.
In regard to the shocking absence Of
water or earth-closets little more is neces-
saIy than reference TO the fact. 1t has
long been known to the medical prOtes-
sion that typhoid fever. dysentery, etc.
are apt to spread through entire families
in the country, while, on the contrary, in
cities such apparent cOntagiOn Is rare.
Nor is it doubtful that the sufficient reason
is the exposure which is necessary in the
absence of properly constructed closets.
This whole trouble, fortunately. is easily
disposed of by the provision OF barrel OF
dry earth, portions of which should be
used by each and every member of the
household. Thus an earth-cloSet is vir-
tually constructed.
One more fruitful cause of disease re-
mains TO be noted, VIZ, excessive diurnal
] .N