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

done with the Chester county barn, but
on solid piers. 4 strong lattice front set
few feet back from the piers, sufficient
ly open 10 admit plenty of light and air,
should then cover the front of the whole
basement story of the barn: there need
be no fear of cold Winters. Nature pro-
vides our animals with sufficient clothing
| by the time Winter sets III for their COM
fort. if they are sheltered from storms
and not improperly exposed to draughts
when heated, and suddenly chilled. Sta
bles and pig pens should be cleansed
daily and not left, as is too frequently
done, for a rainy days jobs, and the
reeking manure piled away where it will
do the least injury while undergoing de-
composition. Hire, if properly man
aged, it will lermcnt, retaining the de-
sirable gases, making it all the more
valuable when hanled ont upon the
fields. 1t may be said that this care
and labor is expensive, yet it will in the
end be found to pay handsomely in the
value of the manure and still more so in
the health and improvement of the
stock. Drains from kitchens should be
so constructed, that they will carry all
sewerage considerable distance from
the house, and so that no wind can posi-
bly, by driving back through them force
the foul gases into the buildings. They
should be SO arranged as to be easily
flooded and washed out with clean water.
Where farm house is compelled to de-
pend upon wells for its supply of water
for all purposes, particular care should
be taken to avoid all possible drainage
into them from cess pools barn yards, or
drains of any kind
This is one of the greatest and hereto
fore least suspected sources of disease in
and around our country homes. No one
doubted the purity of the clear, cool
spring at the foot of the hill, until sci
ence produced the proof that it contained
dangerous germs, carried to it by under
drainage. Here some knowledge of the
geological formations under and around
the buildings desirable. a clay bed, say
fifteen or twenty feet below level sur
face, will probably afford an abundant
supply of water in less than that depth.
but will also hold in solution the sewer
age for some distance around. The dip
of the rock formation, where we'll is
forced deeply into it, may draw the drain
age of cesspool, which, if placed but a
few feet on the opposite side, would be
carried off in another direction. On locat-
ing new farm buildings. the first and most
important matter to be looked after is
the convenience OF sewerage, drainage,
and supply of pure air and water. With
these in perfection, as good health may
be enjoyed in the country as elsewhere
The farmer isolated and cut off from the
benefits to be derived from learned health
boards, who are supposed to look after
and care for the sanitary condition of
their towns and cities, is compelled to
take this matter of hygiene about his
home into his own hands. His success
in maintaining clean bill of health upon
his premises, will be an evidence of his
skill and knowledge we'll directed
Colonel Wilcox said the paper by Mr..
Sharpless was one of the most important
ever read before the Club, and he hoped
it would be published, and if possible let
every farmer cut it out and paste it in
his scrap-book for his children to read
and profit by, as a disregard of sanitary
rules is very prevalent.
Mr.. Hazard said an analysis of every
well was desirable, in order to test the
purity of the water, as injurious mineral
substances might be present.
Joseph Wilcox said he did not think
that mineral substances in water would
cause diseases. If in limited quantity
they are not Injurious, or would give am
pie warning if unsuitable to the human
system. If. in considerable quantity, the
water would he unpalatable. The cause
Of organic matter, that is the product of
4 living substance, either animal or vege-
table. The poison is often So subtle that
the chemist may not detect the poison
Gus matter. When asked if filtering
through charcoal would purify it, he re-
piled that filtering through charcoal
1 II
able taste from impure water, and would
probably remove also some of its poison
Gus properties. but it could not be de-
pended upon to remove all the objection
able matter, especially if the charcoal
had performed its duties for consider
BILE time, and had become saturated with
the foul Substances which it had abstract
ed from the water.