Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1882-10-07
Health, Strength and Long Life.


1t is claimed by some that the hu-
man race, in civilized communities at
least, is degenerating. We can not
say if the claim is founded on fact, but
it is certain that no other animal will
stand so much abuse as man. We are
fearfully end wonderfully made. The
machinery of our bodies is complex
the action of bones and muscles, of ten
dons and sinews almost incomprehensi-
bic, while of the nerves and their ac-
tion we know comparatively nothing.
What are popularity called diseases we
are told are only symptoms indicating
that the human machinery is in some
way out of order and needs repairing.
Whether this is best done by leaving
nature to do her own work or assisting
her with pills, potions, drugs and doses,
has not been satisfactorily determined.
OF one thing, however, we may be
sure, There is much less care taken to
keep this human machinery in good
working order than there should be.
As rule, there is not an animal on
the farm so muh overworked as the
farmer himself. Perhaps during the
year he does no more than he should,
but his labor is not equally divided,
nor done according to time and sea-
sons. The invention OF various ma
chimes has enabled him, if he will, to
save his strength, but the way they are
usually employed is not much of a let
up to his labor after all. With a ma
chine, he is not willing to do the same
work easier, but works just as hard
and accomplishes much more. The
fresh air and exercise therein that are
50 much talked about AS giving to
pulry boz : health and strength, are
very good, but they are NOS used to the
best advantage.
In proof, we have only to turn to
the record of our late civil war, when
it WAS proved 10y actual experience that
companies recruited in cities could
stand mora hard usage and endure ia,
tiguing marches better than those
made up of country boys. Of course
this ought not to be so, but it is never
theless. What care does the farmer
take Of his health and bodily welfare
The great promoters of health anC
long life are acknowledged to be air
water, exercise and diet. Does the
average farmer do all that he might t.
insure purity in the atmosphere thai
surrounds him? Are ponds in the vi
cinity drained and filled ? Are thu
barnyard and hog pen prevented BY
proper care and treatment from filling
the all with poison? Is there prope
arrangements for carrying off th'
waste aud dirty water from the house
sufficient distance, and then giving
necessary treatment, or is it allowed t
contaminate the ground adjacent unit
it is a mass of poisonous material Ar
privies properly constructed with al
rangcuents for ordiSinfecting and deoder
zation? Are cellars clean, dry an
, well ventilated, or are ,hey generator
of poisonous gases? If the poisonssuj
r rounding most of our farmers home
could be seen, means to abolish it woul
be more readily taken. 1t is well tn
breezes spread it abroad through tn
field and forest, for if it were not ca
ried away the effect would be terribl,
J What is the water the farmer use
and how does he use itH The geOloi
ical structure of the country makes
:, hard or soft, as it does or does not CO..
IS tain lime. Hard water is an abOmin
ton IN itself. What is it, then, whe
the wells receive the water from Il
surface of the ground after it has a
sorbed the filth and nastiness wi
which it comes in contact, or that viii,
e filters through the soil filed with t
r sorts of impurities. None but rain W
la ter properly filtered should be used t
", drinking or culinary purposes.
T. But there are other uses for watC
IL The skin has millions of pores throul
ic which nature desires to throw off eft
matter. When these are closed,
~ 81, -, .,,,,-t L., q, N s.,ooNo ~ Cr loao door