The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1878-10-24

from year 10 year.
Even If there be some cIa@gcra-
ton in the calculations | have re
ferred to, no II can doubt that
the difference is many to n IN
favor of feeding stock on grass
rather than corn. AL animals and
at work could be kept IN good con-
dition without grain, and even II
when at hard work, something
more was required, very little gram
need be added to the hay.
Before discussing remedies for
this vicious or unwise mode of
agriculture, let us consider briefly
a kindred subject: In former times,
travellers would see at a roadside
inn, the word Entertainment for
man and beast" We have often
read articles suggesting the best
modes of providing food for do
nestle animals. but the welfare OF
man seldom is deemed worthy OF
consideration. A highly educated
physician of large experience has
said that dyspepsia was the nation
al disease of the United States.
When | was in Paris In 1859, Mr..
Mason, our Minister at that court,
told me that a physician OF as much
skill and of as large experience as
any in paris, SAID "that he had
never known a case OF dyspepsia
to originate in that city," Why
such a difference against the United
States: We have as good ii climate
as that of France, and a much
greater abundance of Wholesome
food.
1t has been said That the frying
pan is the great enemy to our PEG
pie. There can be no doubt but
that it has slain its thousands; bat
bad bread is the slayer of tens of
thousands. While travelling in
Europe for eight months, | saw
nothing but cold bread, nor did |,
while there, see or hear anything
that tended to induce me to be-
lieve that anybody in Europe had
ever eaten a piece of hot bread. |
invariably, however, found the
bread good, and the people | saw
appeared healthy and robust.
Some, as the English and Germans,
were especially so.
With respect to the United
States, the condition of things may
be o strictly and pointedly pre-
sented by references to individual
cases. Many years since, | stop
ped at the house of an acqurin-
lance, and on seeing him, | said:
"Iou are not looking as well as
usual" 'sNo.' he replied, Il have
the dyspepsia powerfully bad"
When dinner was ready, there was
in abundant supply of meats and
well baked corn bread. There
was also. however, something call
ed biscuit. which was in fact rath-
CT warn dough with much grease
in it. | saw that my host ate this
readily with his meats. remarked
that | did not wonder that he had
dyspepsia, for that | could not live
a month IN that way. | suggested
that if he would eat well-baked
corn bread, or better still, light
bread, he would not suffer as he
was doing. He answered vehe-
menfly, s'that he would rather die
than eat light bread" | replied
''this is a free country and you
have a have a right to die in this
mode if you choose, and have no
doubt but that you will soon die"
then referred to cases in which |
had known people to die from such
practices. My cool mode of dis
cussing the question evidently made
an impression on his wife. Next
summer, on meeting him, | said.
s'you are looking much better"
eyes, he replied, bursting into a
hearty laugh; Il followed your add
vice, and took to eating light
bread, and | am as well as | ever
was in my life"
Two or three years after this oc-
%currence, l went to the house of
another friend, and on meeting
him, remarked that he was thin
and appeared to be in bad health.
"les,' he answered, Il have been
suffering very much from dyspep-
STA for nearly a year" In a few mo-
ments his wife appeared and on his
introducing me, she extended her
hand pleasantly and said: "Is this
Tom Clingman, is this the mem
Der of Congress - "The same" |
answered. "Well." she said, Il
have often wished you were dead
because my husband used to lose SO