The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1876-11-23
Home aud Farm.

THE HoUsE.-The only probable source
OF danger TO health in the farm house lies
in the condition Of the cellar, or OF the
space which separates the lowest floor from
the ground. II there be q cellar, observe
whether it ia dry and free from standing
water or decayed vegetable matter (allowed
10 accumulate there through the negligence
Of Servants). II the house is built upon the
ground, The lower floor should Re at least
eighteen inches above the ground, and the
sides should be 80 open that the air can cir
culate freely through this space.
The SLoPs. How common IL IL for the
kitchen authorities In farm house 10 throw
the slops upon the ground, just outside the
kitchen door and perhaps within six feet
of the well. have known OF a boarding
house epidemic OF diarThDa which could be
traced to no other source than the contain
ination of the well water by q shallow pool
OF sun-expOsed foul-smeling slops. A
cPmented cistern should be built about
seventy-fye or one hundred feet from the
house, and at distance from the well, and
TO this all the kitchen slops, vegetable
waste, etc., should be conducted through
q suitable pipe or conduit. From the els
tern these matters may be fed to the pigs,
or thrown upon the ground at q proper dis
lance from the house.
DRAIEAGE.-This Is a more difficult sub
ject to investigate, and one concerning
which hardly venture any remarks in this
place. In a general way, however, the
statement may be made that pools of stand
ing water, or marshY flats near brooks or
streams Except perhaps at the seasde) are
not desirable neighbors. This is especially
the case If the house in which you live is
situated IN a hollow Gas in some mountain
valley, however elevated it may be above
the sea- where the air does not freely cir
culate. The prevalence of typhoid fever in
some OF the Vermont and New York noun
tain valleys, especially in the early autumn,
Is probably to be explained by the existence
OF Just such conditions. In the case OF a
large hotel, the investigation should be
practically the same as in the case of farm
house. The difficulties in the way of such
an investigation will be found, however,
TO be greater, and it would probably be
better in such case to secure the assist
ance OF aOme physician or engineer who is
familiar with the subject.
THE Ice. - The ice may be so loaded
with vegetable matter as to give rise to
quite severe disturbances OF the bowels and
stomach. II it be found free from imbed-
ded impurities, and if, when melted, it be
free from an unpleasant odor, one may
safely assume that no danger is to be an
ticipated from this source. An interesting
epidemic Of bowel troubles was traced Tn
impure ice last summer at Rye Beach.
The PRIvY.-There is little or no danger
from contamination of the air by the con-
tents Of the privy. The real danger lies in
the diffusion of these contents through the
soil and their contamination of the water
Of the we'll. To avoid such a possibility,
the privy should be placed at least sixty OF
seventy feet from the well, and-if the di.
rection of the natural drainage currents BIZ
known-in such position that contents OF
the privy will drain away from the well
Better yet, let the privy be so constructed
that its offensive contents shall simply liz
upon the surface of the ground, and lei
there be easy access to it from behind, sc
that fresh earth may be frequently added
and the entire accumulation removed once
week.
The WELL. II the water is clear anC
sweet, and free from any unpleasant odor
one may pretty safely assume that no harm
Is to be anticipated from tins source. Farm
era arc often in the habit, however, O
hanging meat in the we'll for the purpos,
OF keeping it cool. A pretty severe cpl
demic Tin 1879 of diarrhGa, In boarding
house at one OF the healthiest Long ISLAND
summer resorts, was traced to the existenc,
OF accompanying shoulder of mutton at tn,
bottom Of the well, into which it had acct
dentally fallen.
For WHOEVER IT FTTs.-There are near
ly as many bad wives as bad husbands
Many men who work hard and try to DE-
well in life are neglected and abused b,
improvident women.
They are condemned to eat the poores
dinners, when they provide the best tn,
market affords. --.-t.s .
On heavy bread, soggy vegetables, mud
dy coffee and tough pie-crust, how can
woman expect her husband to be pleasan
and lovingl
Such men often drink whisky because
their food distresses them-as it would any
one who had not a cast-iron stomach-and
the habits OF intemperance are often in this
way begun, through the fault OF his wife
Il costs more to cook poorly than to make
food good and palata1le.
ia woman runs home from a neighbori
just in time to throw pie together, baki
1t, bring IL on the dinner-table hot, she
commits great offense against her family
II man has only an hour to go home
get his dinner and return to business, j
should be ready for him promptly on time
else he will eat very hot food in the creates
haste, and start off at rapid walk, all o
which is very bad, and will soon show it
effects upon the strongest man.
When her husband gets peevish, low
spirited and forgetful of the little acts o
love and kindness he taught her to expec
in days agone, woman who is such
housekeeper need not sit in the twilight auC
wonder st cad changes -, -,-
Dyspepsia is not conducive to tende
thoughts or happiness.
Had she acted her part with half the yea
and industry of her husband. all woul,
have been well, aud she could still sit il
the sunshine Of sarlier days.--Erekaqge.