524 FARMERS' INSTITUTES. 



gists. Nature is a great physician ; do not be afraid to trust her. Kemem- 

 ber the doctor is a pillar of society. He can kill with powder, without shot, 

 and his drops are almost as dangerous as the hangman's. 



You must not trust too much to physicians. They are only mortals, and 

 not infallible. Did you ever see one assume the wise look of aa owl, and in 

 a ministerial tone, tell the dear friends that the lesion was incurable, that 

 death was inevitable, that he had done all that mortal man could do, that 

 science and skill were exhausted, and that the angels would soon claim 

 their own, and it was useless to give any more medicine, and with crocodile 

 tears on his cheeks, take his departure; and the patient got well without a 

 doctor? I did. 



If you are not well you need fresh air, perhaps, change of air, attention to 

 diet, good and appropriate food judiciously regulated. Few people possess 

 either the leisure or inclination to inquire into the merits of medical men, 

 and the bombastic charlatan captures them with an ease unknown to physi- 

 cians of finer sensibilities. You should look for capacity and select an 

 educated, trained ingenious, industrious, and in every way competent and 

 upright medical man. 



Do not be afraid of work ; it is not work, but worry, bad air, bad food, 

 rapid eating, late nights and other irregularities that cause premature old- 

 ness. 



NEEDLESS EXPOSURE. 



To offset the irregularities and unnatural life of the city, we have the 

 carelessness and indifference of the farmer to exposure. He will work all 

 day with wet feet, or for hours in the rain, or when there is a sudden change 

 of temperature in spring or fall he will not think of adding more clothing. 

 You should guard against getting wet. Supply yourself with rubber coat 

 and boots. They are cheaper than doctors' bills. Change your clothes as 

 soon as possible after getting wet. Put on flannel underclothes in early fall. 

 They are the most wholesome. They act like a sieve to permit the ready 

 escape of the poisonous emanations of the body. They should be changed 

 often, otherwise they become saturated with excretions from the body and 

 practically lock up the pores of the skin, and prevent the necessary perspira- 

 tion, and thus poison the system, aside from the offensive exhalation. 



There should enter into the education of all, the study of anatomy, physi- 

 ology and hygiene, even to the exclusion of some other branches. 



Dr. Wayland says: "All the happiness of man is derived from discharg- 

 ing, applying or obeying the laws of his Creator, and all his misery is the 

 result of ignorance or disobedience." 



CIGARETTES. 



Time forbids my attacking those two great detriments to good health, 

 tobacco and alcoholic drinks. But let me point out something that threat- 

 ens even to rival the liquor traffic in its pernicious influence on the rising 

 generation, and that is cigarette smoking. The fumes are inhaled into the 

 lungs, the blood is poisoned, the nervous system is affected, and the system 

 is a wreck. Accumulative evidence shows the evil so gigantic that proper 

 ordinances should be enacted forbidding the sale to boys. 



