The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1881-11-05
SEWERAGE AND VENTILATION

SEWERAGE AND VENTILATION.
At the last meeting of the Chadd' S
! Ford Farmers Club. Alfred SharpiesS o f
| West Chester read the following paper on
Sewerage and Nentilation. 1t is of deep
interest to all. and we cannot commend
it too earnestly to the attention of the
readers of the Wing:
Amongst the innumerabe duties of Il
farmer none are more imperative than
that of looking after the health of his
family as we'll as that of his live stock.
Without general good health there is but
little pleasure or satisfaction in farming.
1t has long been believed and conceded
that farming was one of the most healthy
modes of life for man to follow, if he
wished to regain strength and could be
satisfied with Il rugged existence. | very
much doubt the truth of this accepted
theory. The farmer is exposed to far
more risk from frequent and sudden
changes in the weather than the lawyer
tradesman or mechanic. 1t matters not
how cold or how hot the weather may be.
how violently the storm may rage, he is
forced to expose himself more or less to
it. 1t would seem to us that the weak
and delicate soon die off under the severe
labor and exposure. while Only the more
robust survive. Severe accidents, and a
large proportion of them of fatal char
acter, are constantly noticed in the daily
papers. and as further evidence of the
insecurity of life amongst agricuturists,
lool, at the number of widows to be
found i'll our towns, villages and
boroughs. who have come from their
farm homesteads in search of less labor
ious means of life, after losing their care
takers and protectors. We have noticed
within the past past year Or two a seri-
Gus source of disease and death in farm
houses that we think might be. under
proper care, greatly curta:led of its pro-
portions. 1t comes from the want of ven
tilation and more careful disposition of
the sewerage in and around farm build
ings. But few farmers have given this
matter the intelligent care and attention
that it's Importance would seem to require
at their hands. 1t is well known to
scientists that the neglect of sanitary
measures in this respect has in many
cases been the source of diseases that
have swept whole families out of exist
ence, in this our enlightened county with
in year. AS general thing our house.
wives keep their homes neat. clean and
sweet within, but too frequently, through
neglect or want of thought upon the part
81 the good man, we find the sewerage
of the kitchen discharged just outside
the walls of the same. or through the
few feet of the well from whence all of
the drinking water is obtained The
cesspool may also be found within easy
drainage into the same. Although we
may not be able to see, taste or smell
anything wrong with the water, or dis
cover any deleterious matter i'll the waste
water and Stops thrown out into the
drains, an analysis. after its having been
for an hour or two under the influence of
hot sun, shows it to be filled with germs
growing and spreading, carrying with
them the seeds of disease and death
wherever the wind or drafts may carry
them. Hence, come what are called
zymodc diseases such as diytherie and
typhoid fever Once established upon
the premises. the whole family are liable
to an attack by the same dangerous NAL
ady from the same causes. The eNhala-
tons from these fostering sinks of putrid
matter may seldom be noticeable about
the house. the wind whisking them away
in different directions, but occasionally 4
Whit of all carries unnoticed spores into
the damp. unventilated, seldom used par
lors ami best rooms. Here they grow
and increase to perfection. and from
then spread over the house as doors are
left open. Or perhaps the tidy house
wife, who. with excessive care and labor
keeps her kitchen floor scrubbed white
and clean as her baking board. does not
notice the little cracks in the floor, that
although 81 small us not to be easily seen
contain thin layers of filth that are con-
stantiy kept moistened. thus forming 4
rich bed for growing germs of which she
can have no knowledge, except under the
powers of good microscope, an unnec-
essary instrument in her estimation
where visible dirt is so plenty as it gen
orally is in farm house where careless
men are employed. Her parlors too sell
dom in use for want of time to look after
them. are left unopened and unventilated
for days or even weeks together. They
become damp and musty and are thus an
admirable place for the growth of various
forms of fungi, which in its decay be-
comes q source OF danger to the house
hold. The farmer may think it desirable
to have his pig pens near the kitchen
door, or to that of his spring house. as
his father had before him.
lie has become accustomed to them
and does not notice the foul gases that
arise from the garbage thrown to the oc-
cupants. and a portion of which must
necessarily enter the doors and windows
of his dwelling. nor those which enter
his spring house that are absorbed by
the milk and cream to the ruin of his
butter. And he still wonders why he
cannot make gilt-edge butter like that
which his neighbor sends to market and
while he must be content with the lowest
rate for his own inferior article, made
with what he thinks equal care and
labor.
We often see barns built with such a
low basement that there is insufficient
head room for horses when cleaned out,
and all the worse when piles of manure
are allowed to accumulate in them. and
these are generally devoid of all ventila-
ton, except perhaps that which is afford
ed through one or two hay tunnels which
carry a part of the foul gases that accu-
mulate in the stables up and distribute
them over and through the food intended
for the use of stock during the Winter
months. Every farmer must in the
course of his experience have noticed
7. >,,. J;st,sfof,1 food taiutnI in tbiS WOW