Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1875-12-14

have rendered him burden to himself
and to his friends; and have incapacitated
him for taking either comfort or enjoy
ment in life.
If farmers can only be awakened to
the fact that, by proper and intelligent
care of their health, by a careful comPll-
ance with sanitary laws and reasonable
regard for bodily comfort, they can avoid
much of the sickness to which they are
now liable, can retain their vigor to a
later period in life, and in fact prOlong
their lives by many years, the good
judgment and appreciation of substantial
benefits for which, as class, they are
famous willllead them to act at once
upon their knowledge; and, as they
comprise seventy-fvc per cent. of the
population of the United States, the
effect upon our longevity and health as
people will be highly beneficial.
A few hints as to those points in which
farmers most frequently offend the laws
of health, and which may be more fully
presented at another time, will, perhaps,
be of benefit.
Probably the most frequent causes of
sickness in families residing in the coun-
try are, lack of sufficient variety of
food, and too great indulgence in such
articles of diet as are rich in carbon aud
starch and deficient in albumen and other
muscle-producing elements. Less pork,
lard, butter, potatoes, &c, and more beef,
mutton, oatmeal, cracked wheat and
Graham -four would be vast improve
ment in this respect.
Damp cellars, and the decaying
vegetable matter in them, are productive
Of much ill.hcalth. Ifcellars could be
entirely dispensed with in dwelling houses
it would be an excellent change from the
present system; but so radical an inno-
walton will hardly meet with much favor
especially from those whom it would
benefit most-farmers wives. If the
cellar, however, is a necessary evil, it
can be rendered much less of an evil than
it is at present, by careful attention to its
fl ecdom from decaying substances, and
by making it perfectly dry and ventilat-
ing it thoroughly. Dryness may be
secured by thorough system of drainage,
and ventilation by an opening into the
chimney should in all cases be
built from the cellar up, and by other
openings iuto the outer air, connected
with the celIar-fOOr by pipes of sufficient
capacity to keep up thorough circula-
ton and frequent change Of the atmos-
phere.
The subjects Of drains for conveying
liquid waste from dwellings and Of the
proper disposition of offensive solids, are
OF vast Importance, and have received
but little attention. The limits Of this
article will not admit of their proper
presentation but it should be borne in
mind that no liquid waste can safely be
left in q vault or cistern where IT will
soak into the soil as it will be sure to
find It's way TO any lower well or cavity
within distance of one hundred feet;
and has been known TO cOntaminate wells
Of water at 4 distance Of one hundred
rods, when the intervening land was Of l
porous character.
The terrible results O! such contam-
nation are brought frequently to our
notice By the deaths from typhoid fever
aud diarrhoea which are 50 constantly
occurring. All offensive waste matter
from every dwelling, whether solid or
liquid, should be thoroughly mixed with
dry earth, and in that condition, will be
a most valuable fertilizer, and 4 bcLeit,
Instead of a source Of danger, to the
agriculturist. The neglect Of this simple
aud easily performed daily may not, APP
parcn,ly, produce any evil effects for
long time. Perhaps, Tor years, one may
live with a fever breeding vault close by
his dwelling and still escape through the
sanitary influence Of tie sun and winds,
from pcstilence; but the danger is there;
and Is all the greater because uurecog-
nizcd and unlcared aud at 4 time when
all the circumstances are favorable for its
development, 4 devastating plague will
carry woetul misery, sorrow and death
into what might have remained happy
and healthy home, by the exercise Of
reasonable caution and due regard to
the necessity of 4 proper provision Cor
disposing of waste matter.