St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1896-09-26
FARMER AND PLANTER.
FARM SANITATION.

So0e Reasons why There = More Sack.
mess In the Coantsy than In tbs Towna In
Frepsrtiea to tie Population.
Why Is It, for It II true. that there 10
more sickness In proportion TO popula-
ton In the country than in the towns7
Certainly the natural advantages OF
the country arc superior TO those Of
towns. The pure air, the fresh and
wholesome food and the cxhilaratinR
influence of nature in her best moods
ought to promote the health and
longevity, and yet, people In the
crowded cities, surrounded with I'M.
mentionabre filth. and breathing an
atmosphere laden with the calculations
of sewers, garbage and the inevitab BILE
accumulstions of dense population
OF men and animals. ENJOY better
health than those who breathe the
pure air of the rural districts. 1t
should be known that there are other
factors Of this problem besids the air
we breath. the water we drink and the
food We eat. It should also be known
that comfort has much to do with the
health of tho body. A delicate and
costly piece of machinery must be we'll
cared for or it soons becomes eaten Of
rust. clogged with dust and unservic-
able before half its natural term Of
usefulness has expired. The human
body 10 the most fcarfully and won
derfully made of all machines, aud
should have better care than any mere
inanimate piece OF mechanism. Just
here Is where country peoplc-farmers
-are ut fault They treat their bodies
IS though they could never wear out.
They expose themselves to rain and
sun. unnecessarily; they will tramp
through tho dewy grass until wet to
the knees, and trust to time to evap-
crate the superauous moisture; they
will labor in tho hottest sun, without
even the convenient protection OF .
damp towel in the hat; on account of
inadequate provision for stock they
must be up on stormy nights to remedy
the neglect of . more suitable time;
they often 60 without clothing suited
to the exigencies Of the weather. while
umbrellas, slickers and rubber boots
arc cheaper than pills aud powders.
All farmers should have the best Of
food. prepared in the most wholesome.
appetizing and digestible manner. 1t
is equally true that many Of them do
have these things In their best con-
dition; but it Il equally true that q
large majority do not, and many live
chiefly on bacon and bread, with, per-
haps, some turnips and cabbage in
season, with strong coffee as their
chief beverage. Through q mistaken
idea Of economy they deprive them
selves of tho most salutary products Of
the orchard and garden. that they may
have an additional bale or two of cot
ton to sell SO they can settle with tho
doctor and the druggist. A large ma
jority of farm houses are constructed
apparently with the sole view Of keep
ing ont rain with the least possible
consumption Of material, often single
walls, without ceiling or plasterlng,
through which the north wind fiickers
tho kerosene lamp and chills the in
mate on one side, while the huge open
fire scorches the clothes on the other
a fruitful cause Of pneumonias, pleuri-
ries and other acute diseases of the
respiratory apparatus People who
live in towns can breathe the foul
air with apparent immunity and eat
the stale food without serious conse-
quences, because they arc comfort
ably housed and comfortably clad, and
can command . more wholesome varie-
ty Of food, which is usually better pre-
pared for the table. for hotels and res
taurants must have ut least tolerable
cooks. There are other factors that
tend in the same direction, but we did
not start out to ex haust the subject,
and in conclusion will say that farm
ers have in their power to take as good
care of their bodies rs is necessary to
perfect health. Unfavorable exposures
may be shorn of all their danger by .
little proper preparation. It is better
to build . smaller house, and have it
the orchard and garden
and poultry yard should DO literally
and in short more labor
and money should be spent for bodily
and less for drugs and doc