268 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



be so constructed that no foul odors from it can escape into 

 the house, and this can best be done by a perfect trap be- 

 tween the cesspool and the house. The ordinary bell trap 

 at the sink is not a sufficient safeguard. Another plan is to 

 dispose of the drainage into small subsoil pipes loosely laid, 

 so that the contents may pass outward into the soil, to be 

 used by the growing crops. 



Food. — Another important element which influences the 

 health of the farmer is his food. Several years ago the 

 State Board of Health made an investigation in regard to 

 the food of the people of Massachusetts, very much of 

 which related to the food of farmers. I will quote the most 

 important of the conclusions which they published at that 

 time : — 



1. Good bread is scarce, and is too often made with some 

 unwholesome substitute for yeast. 



2. There is too little variety in food. 



3. Meat is too often fried. 



4. Pastry and cakes are used to an injurious extent. 



5. Too little time is allotted for meals. 



The quality of the beverages taken with meals is a matter 

 of no little importance. Coffee, tea and cocoa form a use- 

 ful addition to meals, when they are not taken in excess. 

 Intoxicating drinks should be banished forever from every 

 farmer's table, since no man can tell when he has passed the 

 danger line in their use, so far as the eflect upon his health 

 is concerned. 



There are certain curious fallacies in regard to the use of 

 food, beverages and drugs, which are worthy of a moment's 

 consideration. One of these is the popular belief, which 

 has prevailed for many years, which attributes to phos- 

 phorus and its compounds in food an unusual importance in 

 promoting the growth of the brain and of the intellectual 

 powers. Hence much stress is given to the eating of fish, 

 and the use of acid phosphates as beverages. That this 

 curious theory has little foundation, however, is pretty well 

 proven b}^ the following facts : — 



1 . There is no evidence to show that the brain requires 

 phosphorus more than the bones or other organs of the 

 body. 



