24 THE MICHIGAN ACADEMY OF SCIENCE. 



SECTION OF SANITARY SCIENCE. 



The sessions of the Sanitary Section were well attended and the inter- 

 est good. Dr. T. B. Cooler, who was in charge of the Pastenr Institute at 

 the University, gave his report for the year. Its snccessfnl work for the 

 past jear should assure its permanency for the future. Some very useful 

 sanitary problems Avere pertinently discussed by Dr. (Juy D. Kiefer. 

 chief health officer of Detroit. ]\liss Lyford and'Miss Carpenter, both of 

 the Domestic Science Department of the Agricultural College, uttered 

 words which indicated a scientific basis for progressive home development. 

 Domestic Science is shaping itself into definite form and useful dimen- 

 sions through its introduction into schools, and it is revolutionizing the 

 attitude of women toward house-keeping and home-making. Sixteen 

 years of experience in the bacteriological analysis of water has 

 made Dr. Vaughan confident of its value as a means of safety to the 

 public. It is the only method of arriving at a definite and satisfactory 

 knowledge of a water supply. Mr. Kalston XN'illiams produced experi- 

 mental work to cast light upon the persistency of typhoid fever bacilli in 

 sewage. The significance and j>roducti<>n of Walker-Gordon milk were 

 considered by Ira O. Johnson of <irand Rajtids. Tt Avas stated that the 

 Walker-Gordon method is nothing new. yet it has made possible what 

 heretofore seemed almost impossiVd(\ Mr. Marshall gave experimental 

 data establishing the influence of some saprophytic bacteria in milk which 

 hastened the souring of milk, or in other words, favored the develojiment 

 of lactic acid bacteria. Dr. Baker, led by his studies in climatology, dis- 

 cussed the influence of constant winds from Avest to east upon the earth's 

 rotation. ^Ir. D. J. Levy discussed the retention of enzymes by filter 

 paper upon filtration. Similarly Dr. L. M. Gelston furnished experi- 

 mental evidence of the reduction in strength of virus of rabies. That 

 filter paper does exert a marked influence Avlien employed for aboA'e pur- 

 poses, Avas plainly shoAvn. The finding of intracellular toxin in the cells 

 of the liver by Messrs. Fred Munson and W. R. Spencer furnishes further 

 light ui)on the production of autogenous diseases. The close chemical 

 relation existing betAveen morphine and putrefaction products, caused 

 Mr. M. W. Clift to tell of some tests he had made. Mr. H. R. Torrey 

 exhibited a phosphorescing germ Avhicli he had isolated from some food 

 kept in an ice chest. A variation of the classic actinomyces Avas demon- 

 strated by Mr. D. J. Levy. F. W. Robison contended that fiber is 

 essential in our food stufl's. Drs. F. (j. Novy and ^IcXeal treated the 

 subject of trypanosomes from the laboratory standpoint and acquainted 

 their hearers Avith the important phases and details of their notable 

 work. The cultivation and laboratory mani]>ulation have established a 

 neAV era in the studv of this class of microbian forms. Marshall. 



