1882.] THE HOMES OF OUR FARMERS. 229 



the various aspects of this question. The Board of Health pub- 

 lished an elaborate report, embodying the conclusions and practical 

 suggestions of these competent judges. As the most authoritative 

 testimony available on this subject, I quote freely from this valu- 

 able document, summarizing its most important statements and 

 conclusions. The most reliable statistics as to the longevity of 

 farmers are contained in the Massachusetts Registration Reports. 



Thirty-seven of these annual reports have been issued, in the 

 last of which is given the following table, showing for the last 

 thirty-five years the average age at death of the citizens of Massa- 

 chusetts, who were engaged in one of the following occupations 

 and were over twenty years of age : 



All classes and occupations, 51.15 



Cultivators of the earth, {55.57 



Active mechanics abroad, 53.05 



Professional men, 51.27 



Merchants, financiers, agents, etc. , 49.06 



Active mechanics in shops, 47.97 



Laborers, no special trades, 47.91 



Employed on the ocean, 47.15 



Inactive mechanics in shops, 44.45 



Females, 39. 73 



Factors laboring abroad, 37.42 



This table shows that the average age of all classes and occupa- 

 tions at death, was 51.15, but that of the farmers was 65.57, or 

 14.42 above the general average, and 12.52 more than the next 

 highest class, namely, active mechanics abroad, that is those not 

 confined in shops. Though the replies of the medical correspon- 

 dents and other reasons slightly reduce these high figures, the 

 general conclusion is, that a farmer's chances of long life in Mas- 

 sachusetts are greater than those of any other class. 



But it does not follow that the wives and children of farmers 

 . are longer lived than those of men in other callings. That they 

 are shorter lived than the farmers themselves, was made clear. 

 Farmers' wives are too often brought under influences tending to 

 shorten life. Favorable as these statistics are, there is undoubt- 

 edly much needless sickness among farmers, and more still with 

 their wives. Every effort should be made to discover and re- 

 move the causes of disease. The science and art of sanitation 

 which are now doing so much to prolong human life, should 

 especially brighten the farmer's home. Barbaric races are com- 

 paratively puny and short-lived. Old men are seldom found 



