No. 7. DEPARTMENT OF AGRlCtlLTtJRE. 382 



served in the eye and salivary glands of the cow, and in trout in pro- 

 pagating tanks, and in rats and mice, in the latter in the mammary 

 glands. 



From studies recently made in the State Cancer Hospital, Buffalo, 

 New York, it would seem that beyond a doubt, rat and mice cages 

 may become infected with cancer, healthy animals placed in such 

 cages cantracting the cancer. This would lead to the inference that 

 rooms in which cancerous patients live may become infected, and 

 so the disease may be spread. It would be well in all these cases 

 to thoroughly disinfect all articles used by such patients, and on 

 their death to most thoroughly cleanse and fumigate the room. A 

 point brought out in the studies of cancer in rats, was, that one cage 

 remained infected for a period of three years, no rats having been 

 in it in all that time. 



No germ has yet been discovered for cancer, but it is generally 

 thought to be caused by a minute animal germ. 



It is now generally recognized that the Grippe and ordinary "colds" 

 are "catching." In the writer's family it has been noted now for a 

 good many years, that if one member of the family has a "cold," 

 one after another "catch" it. Sometimes, however, one or two 

 members of the household escape. At the State Sanitaria for Tuber- 

 culosis, it has been observed that colds become epidemic. The 

 same is frequently seen in schools. By exercising care with the 

 sputa, these diseases may be restricted, possibly to those who first 

 contract them. 



The CHAIRMAN: Prof. Surface is next on the program. We shall 

 now have the pleasure of listening to him. 



PROF. SURFACE: Mr. Chairman, by a mistake I made this even- 

 ing, I brought the report of the Ornithologist to-night. I have pre- 

 pared some specimens of insects which I wish to use in the report 

 on Entomology, and which I have not with me. If, therefore, there 

 is no objection, I will give the report of the Ornithologist at this 

 time instead of the report of the Entomologist. 



The CHAIRMAN: If there is no objection on the part of the 

 members present, we will listen to the report on Ornithology to- 

 night, instead of the report on Entomology. 



No objection being made, Prof. Surface read his report as follows: 



REPORT OF THE ORNITHOLOGIST. 



By Prof. H. a. Surface, Harruhurg, Pa. 



The past year has been one of unusual interest in certain features 

 of bird life in Pennsylvania. In the beginning of the season for 

 migration the Blue Bird came north early, and after their arrival 

 snow came and remained on the ground until thousands of Blue 

 Birds were starved, and the dead or dying remains of many were 



