416 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc. 



The CHAIRMAN: The first paper in order, under the head of 

 Microseopists and Hygienists, is by Prof. ('. B. Cochran, of West 

 Chester. 



Prof. Cochran was absent. 



The CHAIRMAN: The next paper is by Dr. George G. Groff, of 

 Lewisburg, Pa. Is Dr. Groff present? 



The SECRETARY: Mr. Chairman, Dr. Groff will not be here. The 

 report can be read, or filed, just as you please. 



MR. HUTCHISON: Mr. Chairman, I move that it be received and 

 published in the proceedings. 



Motion being seconded, it was agreed to. 



The report of Dr. Groff is as follows: 



THE FARMER AND PUBLIC HEALTH. 



By Dr. George G. Groff, Microscopist and Hyrjienist. 



The farmer, from his location along and at the head of public 

 water supplies, and from his being the producer of the largest portion 

 of the national food supply, exerts a considerable influence upon the 

 public health. It may be of value to refer to some of the more im- 

 portant points of contact. 



I. WATER SUPPLIES. 



These should be contaminated as little as possible. Animal waste 

 of all kinds is of too much value to be thrown into streams, and be- 

 sides, no one has any moral right to pollute and impair, for human 

 use, a natural resource, given for the good of all. Buildings should 

 not be drained into streams, and especially no privy, cesspool or 

 sink should be allowed to empty into a stream. Privies should not 

 be erected over streams. Farm sewers should not discharge into 

 streams. The most harmful of all waste is that from human bodies 

 and this we should keep out of streams. Night-soil should not be 

 thrown into streams, nor should it be placed on fields near streams 

 into which it may be carried by rains. 



II. FOOD SUPPLIES. 



Fortunately, most disease germs seem, with ordinary exposure to 

 air and light, to be short-lived. Yet, it is possible for some food pro- 

 ducts to be contaminated on the farm, and to reach consumers in 

 time to reproduce the disease. This is especially true of milk, a 

 material which serves as a breeding ground for the germs of a num- 

 ber of contagious diseases, as typhoid fever, diphtheria and scarlet 

 fever, and possibly for other germs. So certain are the above state- 

 ments, that no person suffering from any disease recognized as con- 

 tagious in any degree, should work among cows or handle the pro- 



