The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1875-12-25

If farmers can only I've awakened to
thc fact that, hy proper and intelligent
care of their health. ht careful com
pliantc with sanitary law, and 4 reason
able regard for bodily comfort, they
can ~ old much of the sickness to which
they arc now liable. can retain their Wig
or TO a LATER period III life, and in fact
rrolong thciI lives hv many wears, the
good Judgment and appreciation of sub
eldncial benefits for which. As class,
they are famous, will lead them to act
at once upon thcii knowlcdgc; and, as
they comprise scvcntv-iivc per cent. OF
effect upon our longevity and health as
a people Will be highly beneficial.
\ few hints a. TO those points III
which farmers most frequently offend
the laWs of health. and which may Lc
more fully presented at auothe, time,
wili. perhaps, he of benefit
Probably the most frequent causes of
sickness in families residing in the cnun
trv are, a lack of sufficient variety OF
food, and too great Indulgence III such
articles of diet Is arc rich in carbon and
starch and deficient in albumcn and
other musclc-producing elements. Les
pork lard, butter, potatoes, &C., AMI
more beef. mutton oatmeal. cracked
wheat aud Graham flour would hc i
vast improvement in this respect.
Damp cellars, and the dccaving vcgc-
table matter III them, are productive of
much i'll health. lfcclars could be en-
tirclv dispensed with in dwelling
houses. ii would be an excellent change
from the present system; but SO radical
IN innovation will hardly meet with
much favor; especially from those whom
it would benefit most farmers wives.
II the cellar, however, is Il necessary
evil. il can lc rendered much less of an
evil than it is al present, hv careful attcn
ton to it, freedom from dccaying sub
stances. and hy making it perfectly dry
all vcntilaing it thoroughly. Dryncss
may I've secured hv thorough system
oi id.ainLgc, and ventilation by M open
ing into the chimney (Which should in
all clec- I've built from the cellar up),
and bV other openings into t'c outer
air, connected with the cellar nnor Ey
pipes Of sufficient ,capacit, to keep up a
thorough circulation and frequent
change Of the atmosphere.
The subjects of drain, for conveying
liquid waste from dwellings, and of the
proper disposition of all offensive solids,
are of vast Importance, and have ic-
ccivod but little attention. The limits
Of this article will not admit of their
proper presentation, bit it should be
borne in mind that no liquid waste can
safely be left in Il vault or Cistcrn where
it Will soak into the soil; as it will be
sure to find its way to any lower well or
cavity within Il distance of five hundred
feet; and has been known to Contami-
nate wells of water at a distance of one
hundred rods, whSn the intervening
Land was of porous character.
The terrible results ofsuch contami-
nation are brought frequently to our no
ticc by the deaths from typhoid fever
and IiarrhTa which arc SO 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 he most valuable fertilizer, and
benefit, instead of Il source of danger, to
the agiiculturalist The neglect Of this
simple and easily performed duty may
not, apparently, produce any evil effects
for a long time. Perhaps, for years,
orc may live with Il fever breeding
vault close by his dwelling and still cs
cape. through the sanitary influence of
the sun and winds, from pestilcncc;
but the danger Is there; and is all the
greater because unrecognizcd and un
feared; and at time when all the cir
crlmstduccs are favorable for its dcvcl-
opmcnt. Il dcNa>lat'n'' plague will carry
Woclul mise --.IJNf and death INTO
Whai might have remained a happy and
healthy home, by the exercise OF rca-
sonablc caution and due regard to the
necessity OF proper provision foi dis
posing Of waste mattcr.-IcM mt l'tOU