The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1882-09-29
THE DISEASES OF FARMERS.

The Springfield Mass Republican
gives some interesting facts on this sub
ject and indirectly suggests how some of
the causes of disease may be prevented
or diminished. The more common dis
eases among farmers are First, pull
monaTy affection in various forms sec
ond, rheumatism third, dyspepsia
fourth, fevers, especially of the typhoid
class. Every possible precaution should
be employed to guard against these in
sidiOus enemies. The farmer, with his
active, outdoor life, can digest almost
anything, and often thrives on a very
wretched diet but the wife and daugh-
teTs, living too much indoors, grow pale
and dyspeptic on the same fare. They
need to learn and practice the habits of
the pedestrian women of England. 1t
is largely because they exercise in the
open air daily that the latter retain so
long the bloom and vigor of youth
More outdoor exercise would promote
the health and prolong the lives of Am
erican woman, Though dyspepsia ranks
third in the list OF diseases among far
mers it is the first in prevalence among
the wives and daughters. In many cases
farmers wives suffer from overwork.
and sometimes 1t is true of their chill
dren. The duties of the farmers wife
are excessive, when to the bearing and
rearing OF children is added general
housewOrk, including the cooking for
farm labOrers, besides her own family,
and the care of a dairy. The location
of a farmers home is often in a low,
damp and unhealthy spot.
Low ground is preferred as more ac-
cessible, more shielded from winds,
nearer spTiRgs, or more convenient for
dInnInn vuallE Tho =,
New England sought the hills and
mountain sides to escape malaria. and
when that danger disappeared the ten
dency OF their defendants were to the
valleys, and many now suffer from wet
and damp locations, near wet meadows
and little above the water level or on
hardpan, 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 affirmed that
farmhouses are more likely to be badly
located than the houses in our cities or
villages, but in the latter there is little
or no choice. FaTmhOuSes may be and
ought TO be better located than city
houses. Low sites, where the house
drains, are sluggish, the fogs frequent,
the air stagnaIt, and the effluvia from
the outbuildings confined, should no. be
dNoiuCu N6AC III Importance 10 lOCd-
ton is cleanliness in the surroundings
OF the farm houses. Pulmonary affec-
tiOns stands first among the four most
common disease of farmers. and indeed,
of the community at large. Two causes
are assigned for this result. One is need
lessly exposing yourself, to wet and cold,
especially cold feet. and another is bad
posture. Some kinds of work, like set
ting out plants, spading, hoeing, now
ing and wedding. favor cramped posi-
tion, but none of them necessitate it.
Indeed, one can better bear any work if
he keeps his chest expanded and his
lungs well inflated. He can do any kind
of farm work better by bending at the
hip than by curving the spine and con-
tracing the chest. The French, Swiss
and German farm labOTers are far more
erect than American farmers.