The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1884-07-25
mn. Unhealthy Humes. . n

d. IL is undoubtedly true that the most
fayorable conditions for healthfulness
oflmind and body are TO be found on
the side of country life. Sunshine, pure
air, and out door exercise are each cou-
ducive TO strength of body aud length
OF days But a. feeling seems to exist
among many who live In county
homes, that byyvirtue of their naturally
hehlthful surroundings, their outdoor
life and occupations, they may safely
set at naught the planest bygiepic and
sanitary rules. No, doubt, the pure air.
which they cannot help but breathe
wben, out of doors, and the vigorous
open-air employment, in which they,
must engage, does tend for time to
counteract the influence of unhealthful
habits and improper ways ofliving. But
the imprudent exposures, the improper
diet, the lack of clcapliness, the faint
ed, damp AIR OF sleeping rooms, bcgin
to show their effects before the prime
of life is past in many painful and dis
agreeable ways. Rheumatic and dysi
pepsia troubles and nervous affec ions,
are some Of Che methods by which ma
ture punishes these transgressors Of her
laws. 1t is "a fact that diseases coming
Under the head Of those mentioned, are
more common In the farming regions.
than anywhere else. A distinguished
medical authority has put it on record
that Insanity whichso frequently breaks
out 10 farmers families, is mainly caits-
ed by the severe and constant manual
labor with innutrtieus food, improper
ly selected or poorly cooked. .s l'"hoi
iaa In the building of country homes
generally very little attention is paid to
proper ventilation, drainage and other
health considerations The sleeping
rooms are often constructed in utter de-
fiance of the plainesti sanitary regula
tons. Their situation as respects light,
heat and ventilation are often quite as
bad as circumstances will permit. The
living rooms in winter are poorly and
constantly exposed TO Sudden drafts
and chills from open doors and case
ments., .t..t ~. .,i1, 5,.,-o.. al, E
balAud as q breeder of disease there are
fow things that excel the average farm.
house csllar. 1t underlies the whole
house with nothing to, prevent
its exhalations rising into the upper
rooms except a thin board floor. In
this cellar all manner Of things for fam
lily use are kept theseasoh round, Meat,
vegetables, milk, butter, bread, pastry,
preserves, picklesahd fruit are here stor!
red id their various receptacles. There is
very seldom anything to separate the
fruit and vegetables from other parts
of the cellar, and there il usually more
or less decaying vegetable matter to
load the air with poisonous germs. AT
various seasons of the year the cellar
walls collect dampness, or small pools
of waterilie underntheif loose board
floors, sending ap malaria iodors into
the rooms above! bool aid aspas1d ylno
1t is very frequently the case that
there isino system aof drainage at ALL,
unless the process gof nature can be
called by that. name. The rain water
fromO the 90 caves, - and uothe sslops
from. the kitchen sink and the dairy.
house, are carried ba at the most
but q few feet away and are then left
to sink intothe ground or to form fes-,
tering pools ON top, at their pleasure,
A, condition of things that would put
the inhabitants of a,city ,blockinapan
ic Of alarm, and cause the peremptory
of the 7 health officers is
suffered TO exist for years underithe'
shadow of country homes!l Water for
family use is often drawn from springs
and y&ells that cannot be otherwise
than affected by the surrounding drain,
age, and especially by their contiguilyi
to the farm yard and 81 other unsavoryr
places. % I'd l9b4o " hs.is9 sHw gl'io3u
In matters, Of diet there is the same
reckless disregard of the rules of health.
In the busy season especially, the meals
are eaten hurriedly bolted down, with
scarcely an inteyal of /, rest afterwards
ffor the digestive organs to perform
their work,,oj p,di al .emli o7g,pl
,GllAnd there is very much Less atten-
tion paid to- personal cleanliness than
Considerations OF health and comfort
would Seem to. require, This is, owing
largely TO a lack of those facilities for
the use of water that are so common in
city homes. For people who are en-
ployed in fields and around farm-yards,
toiling and sweating all day, it would
seem that frequent and general abln-
tions would be quite essential 1t
might not be an easy matter to build
country residences with a heating ap:
paratus and hot and cold water pipes,
but they might be constructed with a
view to proper ventilation and drain.
age, and it would cost but little more
in the beginning to furnish them with
bathrooms. The cellar could be ar
ranged dtwith some regard for healthful.
ness andgat least, keep free Of garbage:
The barns and other out-houses could
be placed at arespectable distance from
residences, and the surroundings of the
latte tercmight be kept pure and clean
There might be, less haste and more
manners at the family table and fewer
luucheons before retiring at night, nHoii
'''~ - ---------> - >--------7------. f...r..I-