The Glasgow courier. [volume] (Glasgow, Mont.) 1913-current, 1922-02-24

dressed, but not until infection had
set in, and he would always be a trifle
lame.
A hired man stepped through a loose
board of a barn loft, and farm and
household work was delayed while he
recovered.
This latest misfortune was the worst
of the season. Johnson had been shing-
ling the barn, using the common prop
~scaffolding, made by placing wooden
brackets against the side of the build
ing and supporting them with 2 by 4
scantling, set at an angle of As degrees
and anchored at the foot with stakes
and stones. He had undertaken to
carry a bunch of shingles to the roof.
An upper rung, previously broken
from the ladder, had been replaced
with a two-inch shingle band, nailed
on with eight-penny nails. The wood
in the side Of the ladder was dozy and
the nails gave way under Johnson's
weight. The jolt as he struck the next
rung upset the ladder, and down tum-
bled johnson, ladder, s~caffolding, and
shingles, all in a heap on the ground.
"Pretty tough on Johnson" observed
Brown, when the little car struck a
piece of road smooth enough for con-
versation. "They talk about farming
being a safe and healthful pursuit;
but I bet he didn't think so when that
bunch of shingles pursued him and
smashed his ribs"
Farming is healthful," said the old
doctor, providing people would take
reasonable care of themselves. 1t
ought to be as safe as any ordinary
occupation; but the observations of the
United States department of agricul-
ture and the National Safety council
show every year hundreds of people
are manned and many killed in farm
accidents, a large part of which were
preventable."
II suppose Johnson might have
fastened that ladder rung more secure
ly," suggested Brown.
"And you might have watched your
footing when you were chopping wood
out on that log last winter. You might
not have that big x scar on your
arm"
"Ouch!" said Brown.
johnson wouldn't have had that
other tumble if he had made a habit Of
examining his harness for weak spots
and mending them; his hired man
wouldn't need have been laid up if one
rainy day had been devoted to fixing
up the barn loft; and there is no
earthly excuse for tined or bladed
tools to be left around like the rake
that injured little Tommy"
Brown said nothing. He was think
ing of the rotten old harness which
was doing duty on the milk wagon,
and of a number of scythes and other
implements insecurity hung around
his premises.
"Then there are fractions horses and
vicious field animals" continued the
doctor, who had brought most of the
young and middle-aged persons in the
township into the world and felt free
to talk to them like a Dutch uncle. 81
don't know where some farmers find
economy in keeping a horse that will
shy at anything and kick anybody
who near him. Perhaps they
like to show their mastery, but the
horse usually gets his inning in the
end. And of course there is danger
to inexperienced persons.
-"No bull above two years old should
be permitted in a pasture, even if de-
horned, as all bulls should be. Even
an ugly ram has been known to kill a
man. Savage dogs ought not to be
necessary on a farm. But you find
them-and often they find you first.
Farm machinery takes a toll of
limbs that would be prevented to q
large degree if the most ordinary
safety devices were installed and kept
in working order. You, yourself, know
of accidents which are caused by farm
hands falling in front of mowers,
reapers, and other 'sulky' machinery.
Often the fault is in bolts being ne
elected and letting the seat fall off
going over a stone. Many a finger
has been sacrificed to a feed cutter
that got clogged; the man tried to free
it without stopping it.
Gin some states the boiler-inspectior
laws do not apply to steam threshers
Every threshing machine owner ought
to have his boiler inspected once 6
year, whether there is a legal require.
ment or not. Many circular saws are
operated on farms without any sort Of
safety device.
I could talk for another hour or 81
on farm accident breeders that might
be eradicated. A country doctors prac
tice is full of them; but here we are a
the house. Come on in to dinner be
fore you go back"
"Much obliged" returned Brown, a.
he cramped his flivver around in tn
roadway. II guess I'll hurry back t.
the farm and fix up a few things be
fore the neighbors have to get up
"bee" to tide me over a broken leg"