236 
THE CULTIVATOR. 
dergone quite a change in the short time of two and a 
half years. 
As a contrast between the salubrity of different occu¬ 
pations, or the influence occupation has upon the life of 
those engaged therein, it maybe well to present other re¬ 
sults gathered from the above named reports. During the 
latter period—or for the year 1850, there were reported 
the deaths of 263 shoemakers , whose lives had averaged 
only 44.37 years; and 26 tailors, who averaged only 41.33 
years,showing that those who follow these occupations, al¬ 
though they labor under shelter, unexposed to the incle¬ 
mencies of the weather,are nevertheless obnoxious to other 
causes which tend to reduce their lives to over 20 years 
less than that attained, on the average, by agriculturists. 
These comparisons might be extended to all classes 
of occupations, and without any exception, they would 
be found to produce results favorable to the longevity of 
those engaged in agriculture. 
To present the above in a different form, it may be 
proper to consider that individuals do not usually enter 
upon the active duties of any occupation, so as to be 
entitled to be classed with those who follow that for a 
livelihood, before they arrive at 18 years of age, and we 
find that the farmers work as farmers after this period, 
47 years, while shoemakers and tailors, do not on an 
average, survive beyond the time of commencing their 
their occupations, but about 25 years. 
At the commencement of this paper, it was stated that 
there are many powerful influences in operation, that 
tend to abridge the lives of those engaged in agricultural 
pursuits; yet an examination of the tables of mortality 
shows this class of people to be comparatively long-lived , 
and it is but proper to learn, if possible, what causes 
there are which counterbalance those enumerated as 
prejudicial to the health and life of farmers, and which 
insure them, on an average, a life for labor and for en¬ 
joyment, of nearly double the number of years that are 
reasonably to be expected by those of the sedentary 
habits of the tailor or the shoemaker. 
Among the most prominent causes of the great com¬ 
parative longevity of agriculturists, no doubt we should 
find the fact that their labor is performed where they can 
breathe the atmosphere in its purity, while they are en¬ 
joying the vivifying influence of the direct rays of the 
sun. With a pure atmosphere for the lungs, during la¬ 
bor, where the inspirations are deepest and most fre¬ 
quent, and with the blessed sunshine to warm the whole 
frame work, and all the fluids of the system, a man be¬ 
comes prepared to insist the ordinary injurious impres¬ 
sions that otherwise would produce a very deleterious 
effect upon him. 
The farmer’s exercise is of that kind which gives play 
to all his muscles, and not to one set alone, as is the case 
in many other occupations—therefore he is less liable to 
accumulations of effete matter lodged in some part of 
the system, that only need a small amount of foreign 
poison to produce a ferment and consequent fever. 
The farmer’s mind is free from the anxiety, and the 
turmoil and trouble attendant upon trade. He is not 
obliged, like many mechanics, to dispose of the product 
of his labor as soon as produced, to procure bread for 
himself and family, for his food is mainly produced upon 
July, 
his own land, and not subject to the changes of the money 
market; neither is he subject to those pangs of conscience 
which must at times harass those whose ‘ 1 business it is 
to cheat each other for a living.” Consequently his ap¬ 
petite and digestion are good, and his sleep undisturbed 
and refreshing. 
There is yet another cause, of no small potency, in 
producing the farmer’s great exemption from disease and 
death. It is the fact, that almost all who follow agri¬ 
cultural pursuits for a livelihood, are the offspring of 
parents of the same class, and their parents had been 
too busily occupied during their childhood to spend time 
in dosing them with tincture of rhubarb, paragoric, 
Godfrey's cordial, hot drops, soothing syrup, fyc. fyc., 
after they had crammed their stomachs with cake and 
confectionary, or half decayed fruit, which forms so large 
a part of the aliment and ailment of the children of the 
cities. Being exempt from these pestiferous influences, 
their systems have become more perfectly developed, and 
consequently they are able to endure, without material 
injury, fatigue and exposure, that would destroy persons 
of less hardy constitutions; and if they will but avoid 
the sources of injury mentioned in the commencement 
of this article, they will insure to themselves a still longer 
life of health and happiness. C. H. Cleaveland, M. D. 
Waterbury, Vt. 
Vermont Horses. 
Eds. Cultivator —The horses of Vermont have for 
many years, stood high in market, and deservedly so, I 
think. There has, in days past, been some good blood 
in the state, sufficient for a foundation to build upon. 
But care enough has not been taken among horse breed¬ 
ers, to preserve the blood of their stock animals in such 
a degree of purity as to warrant any confidence in the 
character of their progeny. Yet some good and valua¬ 
ble animals have been and still are produced, partly from 
lucky crossing, and partly from the usual manner of 
treating stallions throughout the state. As a general 
thing, stallions in Vermont, are working horses during 
the winter. They are not kept high except during the 
season for covering. Their colts, therefore, show an 
amount of muscle, and a docility of temper, actually 
surprising in some instances. Mares usually are worked 
enough, often too much, to give their muscular system 
its due and requisite tone. But in many parts of the coun¬ 
try, stallions are suffered to stand in the stable, week after 
week, and month after month, after their season is over, 
without any exercise at all, or at best with but very lit¬ 
tle. 
Without particularizing too much, or going into an 
analysis of the various points and proportions of the 
horse, I will say, in general terms, that the muscu¬ 
lar and vital system are those to which the greatest at¬ 
tention should be paid. The muscles of a horse are what 
we use, and they are dependant on the vital organs for 
their growth and power of endurance. The art of re¬ 
producing, is a vital process. But so closely are the 
muscular and vital systems connected, so mutually de¬ 
pendant are they, that one cannot, for any length of time, 
be stimulated or exercised to excess, without injury to 
the other. Want of exercise is felt first in the muscles 
