St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1896-09-12
FARMER AND PLANTER
FARM, SANITATION.

49,.
4 Factor In FAsms.,E' That IL Too Oftsa
Sadly Neglected.
A few months ago the writer was
visiting one Of the finest farm in Tex
-, and. was su rprised to see the farm
hands, and even the propriesors drink
heartily from = large underground
cistern in the barn yard, and within
twenty feet Of . hinge pile Of manure.
the output Of nearly one hundred
horses and mules for several months.
Is it any wonder that these were three
cases of entcric fever at one time
among the farm hands? Is it not
rather wonder that they. were not
all down with the disease? Similar
indiscretions are rather the rule than
exceptions thereto on . large ma jor.
ity Of farms in this country. II is in.
deed rare that any contrivance is
seen which is plainly intended to
promote sanitation. which is sub.
ject apparently ignored by farmers, to
their suffering and scosk The drink
ing water, being the vehicleiof infec-
tion for most of our worst diseases,
should receive careful attention. Deep
wells, if irtelliRently protected
against contamination from seepage,
are probably the safest source Of sup
ply for drinking water. OF these
bored ones are better than the wide-
mouthed wells, for the reason that
they collect less filth, and are easily
cleaned out with an ordinary sand
pump. A well. whether large or
small, can not b kept too carefully
closed. Cistern water. contrary TO
general opinion, is usually far from
the necessary degree of purity. and
should rarely be used for drinking UNI
less previously filtered. Stone or brick
and cement have been proven to DO no
safeGuards against contaminuts0n~ by
disease germs. Above-ground cisterns
are far safer and much more easily
cleaned, but should always be tightly
closed against atmospheric drift. Care
lessly-kept cisterns are actually dam
gerous. as an inspection of the roofs
and cutters from which the water is
caught will show. Usually, after pro-
longed dry weather. the cutters will
be found more than half filled with
dust from the roads or streets, vegeta-
bic debris Of every sort, dead worms
and insects, droppings of birds and
every. manner. Of filth that. rides on
the wings of tho wind, sor Is carried
by birds and insects. Can It be pre-
sumed that rain water filtered through
loose beds like this will promote health
and comfort? - 80
Among the san itary measures uni
formly neglected by farmers are de-
cent arrangements for bodily comfort.
The average privy is a standing re-
proach-worse than that, it is con-
slant danger and q perpetual nuisance.
All this could be avoided by little
cheap contrivance, such as . zinc
Mined bog under the seat, with rum
ners like sled, and . ring or hook to
which single-tree can be attacked;
then = horse can be hitched to it and
the contents removed as far and as
often as desired. A barrel Of road
dust collected during dry weather and
properly used will keep down all un.
pleasant oders aud render the con-
tents of the vault entirely sanitary.
Y Few farms have any arrangement
for regular bathing, and the boys
must go to some creek or stagnant
pool, exposed to the burning summer
sun, and take their batif fhdef the
most imprudent conditions possible.
A bath room, properly. constructed,
with q waste pipe to convey the wa
ter to the adjacent garden. would cost
less than the doctors bill incurred in
an ordinary attack of fever. ItIwbuld
seem out of place to enter upon'the
details Of bath and kitchen drainage,
until there is some necessity for them
When farmers conclude to build bath
rooms and provide a system of kitchen
water-works, it will then be proper to
treat Of these particulars. Texas Farm
and Ranch. HAY