farmers' institutes. 681 



along these lines, and the best of it all is there is an awakening and a 

 determination to Icnow more about these great living (luestions each 

 year. The new woman instead of being a politician will Ite a better 

 hopsekeeper. I say this in no disparagement of the past, believing that 

 as a ride the masses have always done their best under the conditions 

 of their lives, their education and environment. 



SANITARY CONDITIONS OF THE FARM HOME. 



MRS J. M. CHII.LAS, SOUTH BEND 



[Read before St. Joseph County Institute.] 



Properly speaking the sanitary condition of any locality means the 

 relations of that locality to the health of its inhabitants. The sanitary 

 condition of the farmer's home refers to its healthfulness or unhealthful- 

 ness. This subject is attracting more attention than it ever has before, 

 and it is bound to receive still more consideration in the future. In the 

 past it received almost no attention whatever. The early settler here 

 usually thought only of hurriedly furnishing a shelter for his family, and 

 without knowing whether the locality chosen would be healthful or uir- 

 healthful. The result was that too often his cabin was located where 

 the seeds of disease would germinate and grow. The farm dwelling 

 should be located on a high, dry soil with natural drainage if possible. 

 Low. level, damp locations lireed malaria and fevers, and are also pro- 

 lific causes for colds, coughs and consiimption. Great care should also be 

 taken that the house be not located where currents of air will carry the 

 poison of decayed vegetable matter from low /lands. Having selected a 

 healthful location, the construction of the house is not less important. 

 The walls of the building should be so constructed as to admit air Iietween 

 them, otherwise the rooms are likely to be damp. Windows should be 

 sufficient In niiml)er and so arranged as to furnish both light and ventila- 

 tion. A bath room should l)e considered a^ necessary part of every farm 

 home, and could be so constructed that it can be heated separately or 

 through pipes from a range or large cook stove. There is no reason why 

 every farmer could not have his own Ijathroom. A large tank could 

 be erected in the attic, and connected with a windmill and water forced 

 there liy means of hydraulic lift pumps, thereby giving plenty of pressure 

 for water. Large cesspools could be easily made to receive all the drain- 

 age from the bathroom. Some farmers might think that these ideas wei"e 

 rather exalted for farmers, but we know of one farmer, whom everyone 



