The gazette-times. [volume] (Heppner, Or.) 1912-1925, 1914-10-01
Health and Sanitation

aeterize the outdoor rural life, yet
through ignorance or indifference the
home and life on the farm may be quits
the opposite of healthful.
As = rule, little or no attention il
given to the ventilation Of the homo.
The foul air, stagnant with every vs-
riety of disease germ, is breathed and
rebreathed, and if by chance a window
remains open, it is hastily closed for
fear the inmates may "catch cold"
This is especially true during the winter
season. In summer tho humidity of the
atmosphere will readily cause doors end
windows to remain wide open. A good
ventilating system is very essential to
the health Of the farmer and his family,
especially the wife and daughters, who
are deprived of the healthful outdoor
work Of the men and boys. If there is
a fireplace in the home, it should not
be closed, as the foul air Of the room
will escape through this opening. Pro-
vision should also be made for the en-
trance of fresh air. The bedroom should
receive special attention in ventilation.
Another, and very great enemy Of
health, is personal uncleanliness. The
mistaken idea exists among some farm
ers that neatness and cleanliness give
them too much of a Getty air. There
are persons living today who have not
taken a bath since they discarded the
garments of infancy. The face and
hands of this class are the only parts
of the body that are suffered to come
in contact with soap and water, and the
face at least only on rare occasions
Soiled clothes are worn without change
till nothing but the patient skill and
needle of the mother or wife will save
them from the ragman S cart.
If there is anyone that needs bath
at least once a day, and especially in
summer (and we all do), it is the farm
er. He works out in the hot sun all
day, perspires freely, and the dust OF
the fields clings to his moist clothes;
but it does not stop there-it penetrates
to the skin and clogs up the millions Of
tiny pores of the body, causing dis
eases. Some people cannot afford an
elaborate system of bath fixtures, but
an ordinary hand-b basin will fill the re-
quirements Of bath tub If necessary.
"Cleanliness is next to Godliness. j"
1t is strange that man upon whom
all the nation depends for its food
supply should consent to "stuff" his
stomach with such indigestible matter
as some farmers eat. Probably the most
of this class are fried ham,
fried potatoes and eggs prepared in like
manner. These form very appetizing
dishes, and are all right in their way
as long as they don't find an egress
into the stomach. Why not substitute
fruit, vegetables and the like. Pota.
toes and eggs, when properly prepared,
are very nourishing, but frying renders
food unwholesome and is even less eco
nomical than boiling or stewing. Why
not keep some of the milk that is sent
TO the creamery. 1t can also be con.
yerted into butter and cheese. If tho
food we take into our bodies is un-
1ealthful, can we expect to be healthyf
Of exercise, little need be said for
most farmers have more than necessary.
4 careful observance Of the laws Of
nature will decrease the doctor bill, pro-
7ide us with health and happiness and
eventually may serve to plant within
he hearts of our boys and girls great
r love for the healthful life of the
arm as compared to that of the city.