The Hickman courier., 1882-10-27
Health OF Farmers.

That farmers may be the most ROBUST
and healthy of laborers cannot be
doubted Washington said that .'sgri-
culture is the most healthful, most use
full, most ennobling employment OF
man. The wide range of exercise on
the farm is one favorable element OF
physical development. While the me-
chanic, as the shoemaker. the jeweler,
ETC., have occasion to employ but few of
the muscles-more particularly thOse OF
the upper limbs-the farmer calls al into
activity, more or less, each day of labor.
While the proper action of the mu@les
gives strength, Incidence or undutor
violent exercise destroy it. The weak
ness of the muscles, therefore, of the
mechanic, induced by exercise, Just
to that extent must destroy the eqUihb-
rium-so to ospeak-of the health, destiny
ing the poise of the body. The uneqHal
development of the body, therefore,
must impair the proper action of the
various functions of the system. But
not so with the farmer His body is
rounded into its right proportions by&
harmonious development of all of .
muscles. The action of each mRsCF
invites the life-giving blood to it. Har-
solidity and firmness of fibre, musteVei
form an important basis of healthful
activity-stamina.
The farmer, also, has an abundanee Of
pure air, at least by day. if not in his
sleeping-rooni. He has it as pure as il
can be found, particularly when among
the vegetation, where he has it at first
hand" just as it is restored to thevol-
ume of air, after having passed through
the wonderful transformation of purl-
fication by the leaves, etc. As 1t passes
through the grand vegetable laborstory
he has the first use of the life-impaHing
oxygen, developed from that deadly
gas-the carbonic acid. Breathing
freely, his chest unfettered by the tram
mels of fashion, his lungs amply devel-
oped, each breath purifies the blood
the ''life''-and sends it rapidly and
ioyously coursing through the system,
imparting vigor and health.
In these respects, he has the advan-
tage over all others. Being his own
..master," if economical, wise and Judi
cious, he need not labor more than his
strength will permit-need not waste his
energies. He also has the same abun-
dance of sunlight, which IS as needfu
to the best development of the health a;
it is to vegetable growth and the ripen-
ing of the fruits. Regularly accustomed
to it, he need not fear ''sun-stroke' pro
vided he is reasonably judicious in the
care of himself in all respects.
Again, as the producer of all foodi
actually needed in our climate, he has
the right to select the very best. His
early garden-sauce is not spoilt by wilt
ing, age and chemical changes, or fer
mentation, but are as fresh and welt
grown as he may desire. If he is WIS,
he will have all as nearly developed as
possible, so that, if plucked up and drled
they would grow. while an hour need
not elapse after gathering before they
are cooking. While the purchaser a
the market know but little of the condl-
ton of his articles, the farmer may know
as much as is necessary. He need no
use rancid butter, tainted meats. inferio
grains and vegetables, since it is hi
business to know all that IS know1r
their quality
With the farmers freedom-whil
about his work-from the entanglement
of fashion. allowing every muscle an
organ free movement, with still otl
er advantages which need not b
enumerated, he has superior means 2
preserving his health and of developin
a vigorous frame. But, he is not tn
healthiest in the community, and ba
not an average of life to compare favor
ably with the average of mechanics AM
artisans. HannafOrd.