Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1892-09-13
HGAlrnFulNsss or THE FARM

W all the false charges that were ever
made, Providence has had 10 bear the
most. There Il class of people Who,
when sickness or death visit their house
holds, lind great comfort In thinking the
sfi'lction WAS a special visitation for
some wise and hidden purpose, whereas
Providence has nothing to do with u.
Through their own stupidity, careless
ness aud dizziness, they invited disease
right Into their midst. Many an oblt-
uary notice, had Il been truthfully word
ei, would have read: "Dicd of fever.
produced by foul condition Of h,uc
drains" or "Dlei from drinking we'll
water imprcgnaici With polson from n
iilthy vault.r
I believe ther h le.s attention given
To the sanitary condition of the farm
home than tn any other place Really
u, Of all places, should be kept Ia the
most heslthful condition. IL IL unfet-
ter~l by the restrictions of the city
homes, the air i purer, aud A. all waste
matter can b. turned to profitable ac-
count In fertiliIing. there IL no excuse
for the farm home not being Ideally
healthful. Hut where one farmer IL
careful to keep Il In this condition there
arr ten Who give no attention To it at sll.
Weeds are allowed Ia grow tall and
rank near the house, aud are often the
receptacle of slop water and other waste
matters, creating foul odors and vet
plscc.. Wooden we'll curbing remains
until II decays In pieces, aud the water
become. unhcalihful from IL. Vaults
go for year. without receiving any at
tention but q little surface care. Barns
and harnyar,is, some ~ which are near
the dwelling houses, are kept In so foul
q condition a. To- be breeding holes for
disease. Many case ot diphtheria or
fewer might have been traced directly To
some on. NJ these causes.
>eyeral wears ago We bought farm
from a man Who had occupied u many
years. We had been on the place but q
few week. when membrrs of our family
commenced To - sick. First cue snd
then another, aud at times several of "a.
would suffer simultaneously from very
sick stomach.. We became much alarm
III aud an Investigation was made 10 dl.-
cover the cause that produced our III
ness. The well had wooden cufbing,
and the lower half Vas found To BE- la a
came into contact with the water u had
wholly rotted. aud was covered With
thick. filthy slime. that had been accu-
mulatlng for years. Hut that wa. not
th. worst thing Ne found. The vault
to the ouibuilding was not over twenty
yards from the we'll. Upon inquiry wc
learned that II MAS dug years before.
IL Was slx feet deep, and as the well
was twenty-four, aud the earth almos,
clear sand, poisonous matter had no
doubt drained through to the water.
Upon examination the water was found
In he In q dangerously unheal,hful con-
dliiou. just Why our Predecessor. on
the farm had not died from using u !.
certainly strange. Probably an cN-
planation would I've In the idea that their
sy.tsm. had become gradually Injured Ia
the poison. IL hardly seems possible
that human being could use 80 little
intelligence In the management of such
q vital matter. And u u through just
such stupid carcle..ne.s that disease
aud death have entered many home.
while living In New England farmer
Of nv Acquaintance Who was In the
prime % fife. strong aud robust, va.
taken dangerously III With fever, aud
In two weeks he Was dead. scarcely
had his burial taken placc when his sew
.utsen-yesr-old son-and what noble
boy d. vas. too'-was taken just a. the
father had been. and after suffering for
fortnight va. laid by the aide of his
parent. Then the doctor aud com
muniiy generally hccame excited, and
an Investigation of the home took place
Ia ferret out the cause of the sickness.
The house stood on an elevated spot,
but In order to reach water at q shallow
depth the we'll had b-en located NJ the
foot Of the incline on a level With aud
very near to the barn. There Vas
hassmsnt To the harm. which MAS the ~
Ccpiacleof the farms nth and waste
matter. Thi. place had been greatly neg
lcctel, aud as II was deep and 80 near
the we'll the water had become imPreg'
uAicd with the poison. There ~ss
thorough cleansing aud reconstruction
of the place, but IL was too lat. to -sNe
the PRECIOUS lives that had bccn .acri-
feed.
Mhen we arv sick ourselves, or when
We see our friend. wasting With disease.
or lying at death. door, Ne are willing
to make every possible effort Ia lurr
health back. Money Ia spent un.tiutei-
IN aud without complaint, for doctor.
and medicines. I. u not better Ia take
some precaution aud try to prevent sick
ne.. aud suffering wherr Il 1. possible a.
do .ot-Cor. CultiSator and Country
Gentleman.