1918.] NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA. 137 



zation. I am convinced, however, that you are right and am glad 

 to tell you so. " 



During the time that has elapsed since the organization of the 

 Department was fairly well launched in 190Q until the end of 1917, 

 2,640,000 birth certificates, 1,500,000 death certificates, and 840,000 

 marriage certificates have been received, catalogued, bound, filed 

 and stored in fireproof vaults of the State Capitol, where they are 

 available for all legal and statistical purposes. 



Two hundred thousand persons have been quarantined in rural 

 districts for the various communicable diseases, with subsequent 

 sanitary cleansing and disinfection of premises, and breaking the con- 

 tinuous chain of infection leacUng from farmstead to town and city 

 and back again to farm. One hundred and twenty thousand dairy 

 farm inspections have been made, and 2,500,000 school children in 

 fourth class district schools have been examined with recommenda- 

 tions to parent or guardian for correcting defects. 



Two hundred and eighty-four plans for water works and sewage 

 treatment plants have been filed, studied and approved. 2,274 de- 

 crees have been issued requiring the installation of sewage works and 

 water works, and 150 separate pollutions have been removed from 

 streams. 



One hundred and seven thousand three hundred and sixty-three 

 patients have been treated at the tuberculosis cUspensaries. 1,250,- 

 348 visits have been made to the homes of these patients for the 

 purpose of giving practical teaching and sanitary instruction. Nearly 

 30,000 poor patients have been treated and educated at the Depart- 

 ment's tuberculosis sanatoria. 



The amount of work done in the Division of Laboratories for 

 physicians of the Commonwealth was enormous, more than 20,000 

 specimens being examined monthly and scientific reports made to 

 the family doctor. 



Since the distribution of antitoxin was begun in 1905 until the 

 end of the last statistical year 300,000 packages of diphtheria anti- 

 toxin were distributed free to the poor, 2,000 persons have been 

 immunized against tetanus; nearly 50,000 against, smallpox; and 

 large numbers of persons were immunized against typhoid fever. 



During the twelve and three quarter years' period when Dr. 

 Dixon was Commissioner of Health in the Commonwealth of 

 Pennsylvania there was appropriated to his Department and 

 expended in the promotion of public health, including the treating 

 of the tuberculous sick, more than twenty million dollars of State 



