1882.] THE HOMES OF OUR FARMEES. 231 



spread of popular education, the diminution of wars and the pro- 

 duction of the precious metals. All these have had their influ- 

 ence, but the greatest of all causes is to be found m the better 

 average health of civilized countries and the longer average term 

 of life which is now secured to working men." The Connecticut 

 Board of Health say, "Sanitary science has proved that many of 

 the diseases which act as the principal factors in producing death, 

 are preventable and controllable by practical hygienic measures, 

 from the neglect of which, not only are many precious hves wasted 

 every year, but many also crippled and dwarfed by disease ; lucra- 

 tive enterprises abandoned, hopes blasted and poverty and want in- 

 duced, if not pauperism, vice, and crime, from the distress caused 

 by the losses resulting from unnecessary sickness and death. It 

 costs to be sick and more to die, and if we simply estimate the 

 cash value of the lives wasted each year, during the productive 

 period of life in this State, the sum would be expressed in many 

 millions of dollars." Such facts and statements clearly show that 

 there can be no investigation more important than that which dis- 

 covers the secret of health and the sources of sickness. The 

 motto "health is wealth," applies to none more than to farmers. 

 It is a good omen that they are beginning to learn that many of 

 our pestilential diseases may be prevented. Hoiv to prevent dis- 

 ease and pestilence is a question which should be carefully consid- 

 ered both in our schools and homes. 



What are the causes which tend to injure the health of farmers 

 and their families, is one of the practical questions on which the 

 report named above gives the professional opinions of many medi- 

 cal experts. The more prominent of these causes are sanitary 

 defects, pertaining to barn-yards, hog-pens, privies, cess-pools in 

 too close proximity to wells and hence impure drinking water, 

 filthy cellars, lack of ventilation, ignorance of hygienic laws, over- 

 work, and want of recreation. Much prominence is given to the 

 matter of improper diet and poor cooking. Good yeast bread is 

 too scarce, and vile compounds with cream-tartar and saleratus or 

 soda are too common, because they are so quickly and easily made. 

 There should be more fresh and less salt meat, less frying in fat 

 and more boiling, broiling, and baking. There should be no 

 ground for the complaint of Dr. Derby, of Boston, that " no im- 

 provements in the manner of preparing food for daily use, stand 

 the least chance of adoption, unless they are labor-saving." 



Every girl should learn the art of cooking, and first of all how 



