No. 6. DEPAKTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 423 



REPORT OF THE MICROSCOPIST AND HYGIENIST 



By PROF. J. W. KELLOGG. 



The subject matter of the report of your Hygienist and Micros- 

 copist should be, so far as possible, in keeping^ with the title; and as 

 the outward appearance of our dwellinirs and other buildings, which 

 should ever be pleasing to the eye, is in the nature of "hygiene for 

 buildings," it seems fitting at tiiis meeting of the Board' to report 

 what has thus far been accomplished in the way of properly caring 

 for and prolonging the life of our buildings. As our bodies are in 

 danger of destruction from disease, if not properly cared for and 

 protected, so are the structures in which we live, house our stock 

 and store our goods subject to a like destruction by the continual 

 tearing down processes of nature, — if they are not kept in repair 

 and protected by a combination of materials which we call Paint. 

 We are all familiar with the splendid appearance of those farm 

 buildings which are kept in repair and painted from time to time as 

 required, as compared with those structures which are neglected in 

 this respect and which have fallen into ruin and decay. Some build- 

 ings which are not cared for soon become in a wretched and dilapi- 

 dated condition where decay has started and provide a breeding 

 place for germs and the collection of dirt. It behooves us, therefore, 

 to keep our buildings in repair and to protect them from the ele-* 

 ments, if we would wish to give to our farms the appearance of 

 cleanliness, thrift and prosperity. This is especially true in the case 

 of our dairy and stock barns. 



At the last session of the Legislature, Pennsylvania's first Paint 

 Law was enacted which regulates the sale of Paint, Putty and Turp- 

 entine. This law became effective the first of last December ; and as 

 we have had for a number of years a good Linseed Oil Law, the Secre- 

 tary of Agriculture is now authorized to keep his watchful eye on 

 the character of all paints, oils, putties, and turpentines which are 

 sold in the State. A few years ago one of our Specialists, in his 

 report to this body, described the character of paints, going somewhat 

 into detail as to their composition and advocated that steps be taken 

 to have such a law adopted. After a number of unsuccessful at- 

 tempts, we are now gratified to report that the Department of Agri- 

 culture can have something to say as to how these painting materials 

 shall be labeled and sold in Pennsylvania. Only a few other states 

 have paint laws at the present time, and while our law is not as strong 

 in its requirements as it might be, it is a step forward in constructive 

 and necessary legislation. The law does not require the formula 

 label or chemical composition to be placed on each can of paint, but 

 it does require that nothing shall be placed on the label which "shall 

 bear any statement, design or device regarding the ingredients or the 

 substances contained therein — which shall be false or misleading in 

 any particular." This means that hereafter mixtures of a small 

 percentage of white lead and the balance clay,barytes or sUch inert 



