The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1914-07-02

real dangers of u%nsanitary surround
ings are not fully realized. Then too,
there are other localities where the
people of a farm or community know
that conditions are unsanitary. but be-
cause of lack of proper information
and i~niative as how best TO proceed to
change conditions, very little progress
is made. Still other farms and ON
munities are TO be found where, from
lack Of suitable information as TO
best appliances and their installation
new buildings and surroundings are
not equal TO the demands of present
day sanitation. For these reasons it
seems TO the writer hat educationaI
work with renewed and increased vigor
along several lines is most desirable.
The Need of Sanitation
The need of sanitary conditions in
and around farm buildings needs EN-
phasis. There are still many house
wives who do not fully appreciate the
value Of fresh air and sunlight in the
home. Farmers there are, who do not
place enough importance on the loca,
ton of the other farm buildings with
reference to the house. The proper
protection of the water supply from
source to faucet requires renewed at
tention. The proper disposal of waste
requires renewed attention, especially
the disposal of sewage, garbage, and
manure. The ~far-reaChing Importance
of keeping the food supply under
proper conditions to insure against
souring, putrefaction. and bacterial
. M - b, ., ., tfan y,tIut no mazda n1nny
and dangers pointed out that are sure
to result when not so handled and
kept.
Conditions in and around the barn
must receive similar attention. Owners
must be taught to keep barns and
yards clean from a sanitary standpoint.
Their attention must be directed to
the fact that the barns must be light
and airy; that the yards must be clean
and dry. The fact that the feed must
be so handled and fed under such sani-
tary conditions as will insure the maxi
mum of comfort and thrift at all times,
must be dwelt upon. Precautions
must exist to prevent the multiplied
ton and spread of contagious diseases,
and animal PARISHES, to insure health
and working efficiency.
All these items are an old story to
some people, and some of them to
practically every me. Yet there are
still many who, while they know full
well that |unsanitary conditions are
undesirable, do not fully realize the
losses that may result if vigilence is
slackened. The time was when the
need for rural sanitation was not ap-
preciated. With our increasing know
ledge of sanitary matters. neglect
must be charged, if methods for the
improvement of existing conditions are
not suggested.
Meeting Existing Conditions
Just as fast as the country folk learn
that their sanitary surroundings may
be improved with the expenditure of a
little money and labor, they will at
once inquire how to proceed. For
this reason, education properly direct
ed along this line is of highest import
ance. When the farmer knows that
conditions around his well are unsani-
tary, he will be in a receptive frame
of mind and will profit by instruction
for needed changes as to surface drain
age, the use of concrete well curling
and floor. and such other changes as
each individual case demands.
After knowing the dangers that sur
round the use of outside toilet rooms,
as ordinarily constructed and main
tanned on many farms, the owners will
exclude flies, grade SO that drainage
will be away from the house and water
supply, and build vaults that will adj
NIT of frequent and easy cleaning. In
struction will further point out that
the generous use of deOdorants plays
an important part in the control of the
fly pest, and that excreta from patients
suffering from w~ater-bone diseases
must not be thrown out before being
first treated with antiseptics.
Instruction will point out the best
means of disposing of kitchen refuse
in a sanitary manner 1t is to be fed
to hogs, the yards must be located at
a safe distance from the house. III not
so disposed of, then other cheap but
effective means must be provided,
preferably in a creamatory constructed
by the farmer himself.
The farmer will be taught to keep
his barns light and airy, dry and com
Portable. Proper handling OF manure
must prevail to prevent the breeding
of flies and other parasites. Barnyards
and feed-lots must have ample drain
age to keep them in fit condition for
the purposes intended. The use of
antiseptics in and about the stables
must be taught to aid in the work OF
sanitation. The proper guarding of
human and animal health against all
infectious diseases is paramount, and
must be insisted on. Carcasses of all
animals must be suitably destroyed to
prevent the spread of infection.
The housewife must be informed as
to the best methods for quarantining
or isolating cases of infectious dis
eases in the farm home, so that she
may effectively guard the health of
her family and cooperate with the at
tending physician and the health au-
thorities. She will also know how to
sterilize dishes used in the sick room,
to disinfect clothing worn by the pa
tient, and comply with all the require
ments of proper sanitation in an intel
ligent manner
All of these items and many others
that canno be mentioned for lack of
time, will be presented in such man