The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1896-08-15
FARMER AND PLANTER
FARM SANITATION.
Factor In Farming That Is TOO oiten
Sadly Neglected.

A Factor In Farming That is Too often
Sadly Neglected.
A few months ago the writer was
visiting one of the finest farm IN lex
as, and was surprised TO see the farm
hands, and even the proprietor, drink
heartily from q large undergoing
cistern in the barn yard, and within
twenty feet of huge 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 enteric fever at one time
among the farm hands? Is II not
rather wonder that they were not
all down with the disease? Similar
indiscretions are rather the rule than
exceptions thereto on large major
ity of farms in this country. 1t is IN
deed rare that any contrivanee Is
seen which is plainly intended to
promote sanitation, which is sub.
ject apparently ignored by farmers, to
their suffering and cost. The drink
ing water, being the vehicle OF infec-
tion for most of our worst diseases,
should receive careful attention. Deep
wells, If il diligently 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 be 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 I'M
less previously filtered. Stone or brick
and cement have been proven to be no
safeguard against contamination 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 dan
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
NC lOuuu IuOCo tildu Hall uIleo Nitii
dust from the roads or streets, vegeta-
BILE debris of every sort, dead worms
and insects, droppings of birds and
every manner of filth that rides on
the wings of the wind, or 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?
Among the sanitary measures uni
formly neglected by farmers arc de-
cent arrangements for bodily comfort.
The average privy is standing re-
proach-worse than that, 1t is con-
slant danger and a perpetual nuisance.
All this could be avoided by little
cheap continuance, such as a zinc
lined box under the seat, with run
ners like sled, and ring or hook to
which a 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
pleasant oders and render the con.
tents OF the vault entirely sanitary.
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 bath under the
most imprudent conditions possible.
A bath room, properly constructed,
with 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. 1t would
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.