No. fi. t»EPARTMRNT OF ArinTriU.TTTRE. 211 



RE)PORT OF SPECIALISTS OF THK STATE 

 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE, PRFSKNTFD AT 

 THF ANNUAL MEETING HELD AT HARRIS- 

 BURG, PA., JANUARY 28 AND 29, 1903. 



KEl'ORT OF SANITARIAN. 



By Benjamix 1>ee, M.D., PhihtddphUi. 



By command of the Secretary of Agriculture I agaiu appear 

 before you to offer a few words of friendly advice on that most im- 

 portant topic, the preservation of health, or, to attack the subject 

 on its negative side, the prevention of disease. I was instructed to 

 prepare a report, but,' as the oecupant of the important position of 

 Sanitarian to this Board has no duties assigned him, he, with great 

 diligence performs no duties and has, therefore, nothing to report 

 upon. 1, therefore, -venture to style my paper an address rather 

 than a report. 



The question may be pertinently asked, whether I have had the 

 advantage of an agricultural training which would fit me to advise 

 a body of practical farmers on matters pertaining to farm aiid 

 homestead life. I am reluctantly compelled to answer this ques- 

 tion in the negative. But I Hatter myself that I possess by inherit- 

 ance certain traits which may command your confidence. My grand- 

 father ran awa}^ to sea when a boy^ and the surmise is that he cul- 

 tivated oats of the wild variety with considerable success. For 

 many years, as a sea captain, he ploughed the ocean and his keel 

 drew broad furrows across many seas. His log-books bear witness 

 to the fact that he often passed through harrowing experiences. 

 He invariably called a spade a spade and was in the habit of using 

 such expressions at ''Ho(e), there!" or "Hay, you!" when addressing 

 his mariners. I do not think he was a horse breeder, as he never — 

 well — hardly ever — said "dam," although as a naval officer, he was 

 quite familiar with the mauagjtMiienl of tlu^ horse marines, and in 

 navigating the southern seas lia<l many opportunities of studying 



