The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1882-10-26
Health of Farmers.

That farmers may be the most robust
and healthy of laborers cannot be
doubted. Washington said that .sagri-
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 all into
activity, more or less, each day of labor.
While the proper action of the muscles
gives strength, Incidence or undue or
violent exercise destroy it. The weak
ness of the muscles, therefore, of the
mechanic, induced by n~on-exercise, just
to that extent must destroy the equilib-
rium-so to speak-of the health, destroy
ing the poise of the body. The unequal
development of the body, therefore,
must impair the proper action of the
various functions of the system. But
not so with the farmer. His bodH is
rounded into its right proportions blythe
harmonious development of all of the
muscles. The action of each muscle
invites the life-giying blood to it. Har-
monious muscular development, with
solidity and firmness of fibre, must ever
form an important basis of healthful
notwithstanding.
The farmer, also, has an abundance OF
pure air, at least by day, if not in his
sleeping-room. He has it as pure as it
can be found, particularly when among
the vegetation, where he has it at ..first-
hand,h just as it is restored to the vol.
ume of air, after having passed through
the wonderful transformation of puri-
fication by the leaves, etc. AS it passes
through the grand vegetable laboratory
he has the first use of the life-imparting
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 puriies the blood
the '.life''-and sends it rapidly and
joyously 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 album
dance of sunlight, which is as needful
to the best development of the health as
it is t o 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 fooda
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 well.
grown as he may desire. If he is wist
he will have all as nearly developed as
possible, so that, if plucked up and dried
they would grow, while an hour need
not elapse after gathering before they
are cooking. While the purchaser at
the market know but little of the condi-
ton of his articles, the farmer may know
as much as is necessary He need not
use rancid butter, tainted meats, inferior
grains and vegetables, since it is his
business to know all that is known OF
their quality.
With the farmers freedom-while
about his work-from the entanglements
of fashion, allowing every muscle and
organ free movement, with still 9th
er advantages which need not be
enumerated, he has superior e OF
preserving his health and of developing
a vigorous frame. But, he is not the
healthiest in the community, and has
not an average of life to compare favor.
ably with the average of mechanics and
artisans.-Dr. Hannnford.