The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1901-08-20
Agr culture.
HARRY I-MER's TALKS.
XXXIV.

will benefit the families who suffer
more or less every year from the
scourge of fever, we shall not COM
plain.
The best of authorities tell US that
malaria, typhoid and other fevers,
etc. are taken into the system by
drinking water. During very rainy
weather the soil gets full of water
and that makes the we'll very full
and the water often colored with
CLAW or mud and bad TO drink. Per
hans this same water has soaked or
filtered through from some slop hole
near the kitchen, or perhaps hole
near the we'll where chickens, ducks,
geese or may be pigs have wallowed,
causing a very unpleasant odor to
rise. (We have seen such places so
bad thousands of earth worms could
be dug out of the soil surrounding
the hole.) This is very good place
to breed fever germs and soon after
drinking such water, we need not be
surprised to see some of the family
down with fever. The doctor is sent
for in haste, and when he comes he
advises the we'll people TO drink
boiled water. DO you know what
his reason is for wanting you to
drink boiled water? 1t is to kill the
fever germs.
The best thing to do is not to use
such well water, but have a pump or
artesian well so that it will be i'm
possible to get any surface water.
Of course, these cost a great deal,
but nothing like doctors bill, not
to say a word about the suffering
and time lost in work caused by bad
water. If you cannot get pump or
artesian we'll, then boil your water,
if it is like that described above.
Keep all around the we'll perfectly
clean, and be sure that you bank up
the ground arounk the curb so that
all the surface water will run off.
Then do not have a sink around the
kitchen, but throw the water in diff
ferent places. 1t may be more work
or trouble, but health is a great
thing, and the old saying that ian
ounce of preventive is worth more
than a pound of cure" is illustrated
in nothing palmer than in preserv-
ing health.
If you live near a swamp or other
place where you are likely to have
malaria, always take something be-
fore stirring out; drink of coffee,
tea or hot water will be helpful.
Anything to fill the stomach so that
it will not be empty is a good way to
keep the fever off.
Another thing is almost sure to
affect those who try it-getting wet
to the knees in the dew of morning
and wearing the wet shoes and socks
until they dry on the feet. This is
sure to produce headache and often
times bring on fever. If you are
compelled to go in the dew, and there
are few who work on the farm that
can avoid it, use rubber boots or
change your shoes and socks this
is easily done with no great inoOn
venience.
We would advise every family to
keep some good medicine on hand
which will act on the liver. We
knew farmer who raised raised d
large family and never had any use
for a doctor, but kept some oliver" "
medicine, and when any of the fam
ily got sick dose of the medicine
Was given, which restored them to
health. Of course, this was an ex-
ceptional case.
We hope no one will think that we
are opposing the doctor. Of all the
professional men in the world there
are none which do more charitable
work than the country doctor.
Everything in and around the
Kitchen should be carefully cleaned
and exposed to the sunshine often.
We have been in some kitchens
where scraps of vegetables and other
things were left TO decay and thus
make a hotbed for many diseases.
HARRY FARMER.
Columbus Co., N. G.
s.-~S--
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