St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1904-02-27
HEALTH IN PRISONS.


to BE of Great BENEFIT to
Criminals.
When the London Punch told an in
quirer to go and steal something, 1t
was in reply to his question as to what
he should do to recover his lost health.
and all who read the advice wondered.
II the readers Of the funny paper had
read, as Punch had, the conclusions
If Sir Robert Christison, the eminent
Scotch physician, after experimenting
at the prison in Perth, Scotland, they
would have realized the wisdom of the
advics. says the New York Herald.
This eminent physician elucidated
the fact that a prison is the healthiest
place on earth, bar none. Sir Robert
Christison during period of ten years
watched the condition of the prisoners
in the prisons both at Perth and Stat
fordshire, and he found that the death
rate in these two institutions was less
than one per thousand, while among
adults outside it exceeded ten per
thousand. After reading these results
the man who is thus educated upon
this point may well ask what health
resort, what watering place, what cli-
mate can show results like this?
When it Is learned that in prisons
sanitary laws are rigidly enforced, ex-
cesses in the way Of eating and drink
ing prohibited. alcoholic beverages.
tobacco and cleanliness Of the body in
sisted upon, in addition to which are
enforced the early bed and early ris-
ing, it does not seem SO remarkable
that the death rate in prisons and
similarly conducted Institutions Is
very low.
It Is the lack Of respect for his sys-
tenn that prevents man from living
long and dying happy. The human
system is the most wonderful OF all
pieces OF mechanism and can stand
much abuse, but there is line beyond
which man may not 60 without caus-
ing severe and perhaps irreparable In
Jury to this wonderful human machine
wisely constructed to stand much
abuse, followed by suffering and per-
haps death.
It is an established fact that no per-
son can possess either pure or a con-
tented mind, or good moral charac-
ter, unless he gives due and proper
consideration to his animal organism.
A healthy system and q healthy mind
go hand in hand. A morbid mind is
the result of disease. Crime is q dis
ease. 1t may well be said there Is
nothing in which men should feel such
vital interest as in living long and dy-
ing happy.
Man owes it to his fellow man that
his system should be In perfect oroer,
that he may be cheerful as a compan-
ion, patient as the head OF house
hold and good citizen whose COM
pany is desirable. Yet 1t is q remark
able fact that men go on day by day
killing themselves by an inexcusable
neglect of the laws Of health, which
are the simplest and most easily OBJ
seryable laws. We Americans bolt our
meals In manner which astonishes
the people Of all other nations. II we
drink; with friend, we say, Here
goes" and it goes with gulp.
In prisons generally, the consump-
ton of beer, spirits, tea or tobacco is
prohibited and regular bathing Is In
sisted upon. These conditions are
worthy Of special note, and even pris-
oners who are % when admitted al
ways Improve under the regulation.
DR.. Richardson, once president OF
the Sanitary Institution OF Great
Britain, earnestly advocated an I'M
proved method of administering the
health laws Of the nation. He favored
the establishment Of q ministry OF
health which should include all exist
Ing sanitary officers and functionaries.
with q responsible minister at theiI
head.
The health statistics Of the United
States show beyond dispute that the
farmer lives longer than men OF other
occupations. The farmers occupation
is in the open air and the convict II
similarly situated. The farmer takes
his meals with rigid regularity and his
principal meal at noon, and 80 does the
prisoner. It Is agreed by physicians
and health officers that II the practice
Of the farmer regarding eating were
carried out by all the world indigestion
and its attendant miseries would be
avoided. This means that our heaviest
meal should be eaten in the middle OF
the day. Still it should be remembered
that this rule may not with safety be
observed in all climates hearty
meal at noon or any time before three
o'clock in midsummer is next to sui
cidal. The heavy meal should be taken
in the cool of the evening when the
weather Is warm.
II men would only learn the impor-
lance Of the stomach to the system
and the grand results which follow 2
proper observance Of its wants, most
Of the ills and diseases flesh is heir to
would be aver.ed and long life and
happiness, with an ever cheerful dis
position, be sure to follow.
mnNrN To RE THE LARGEST.