The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1882-09-13
farm aud Gardeu.
The Diseases of Farmers.

The Springfield Republican gives some
facts on this subject and Indirectly sug
gests how some of the causes of diseas.
may be prevented or diminished. The
more common diseases among farmers
are First, pulmonary affections in va
rious forms second, rheumatism; third
dyspepsia; fourth, fevers, especially o.
the typhoid type. Every possible pre-
caution should be employed to guard
against these insidious enemies. The
farmer, with his active, outdoor life, can
digest almost anything and often thrive.
on a wretched diet; but the wife and
daughters, living too much indoors, grow
pale and dyspeptlc on the same fare.
They need to learn and practice the
pedestrian habits of the women of Eng
land 1t is largely because they exer
else daily in the open air, that the latter
retain so long the bloom and yigor OF
youth More outdoor exercise would
promote the health and prolong the lives
of American women. Though dyspepsia
stands third in the list of diseases among
farmers, it is the first in its prevalence
among their wives and daughters. In
many cases farmers wives suffer from
overwork, and sometimes it is true OF
their children. The duties of the farm
er's wife are excessive, when to the bear
ing and rearing of children is added
general homework including the cook
ing for farm laborers besides her own
family and the care of dairy. The
location of the farmers home is often IN
a low, damp, and unhealthy spot. Low
ground is preferred as more accessible
more shielded from winds, nearer springs,
or more convenient for digging wells.
The early settlers in New England
sought the hills and mountain sides to
escape malaria. When that danger dis
appeared the tendency of their descen-
dants was to the valleys, and many now
suffer from damp locations, near wet
meadows and little above the water
level, or on hard pan, which, holding the
surface water, is always wet and cold.
In such cases cellars are damp and the
drainage poor 1t is by no means af-
hrmed that farm-houses are more likely
to be badly located than houses in our
cities and villages, but in the latter there
IS little or no choice. Farm houses may
be and ought to be better located than
Ivy iC9iOSuCeS. LOW SIZES, where GQe
house drains are sluggish, the fogs fire.
quent, the air stagnant, and the etfluvia
from the out-buiIdings confined, should
always be avoided. Next in Importance
to location is cleanliness in the surround
ings of the farm-houses. Pulmonary af-
tectlons stand first among the four most
common diseases of farmers, and indeed
of the community at large. Two causes
are assigned for this result. One is need
less exposure to cold and wet, especially
wet feet, and another is bad posture.
Some kinds of work, like setting out
plants, spading, hoeing, moving, and
wedding, favor a cramped position, but
none of them necessitate it. Indeed, one
can better bear any work if he keeps his
chest expanded and his lungs well in
fated. He can do any kind of farm
work better by bending at the hip than
by curving the spine and contracting the
chest. The French, Swiss, and German
farm-laborers are far more erect than
American farmers.