MICHIGAN ACADK.Vn OF SCI I'.NCIv 109 



The subject of rural saiiitalioii (.uinot he discussed intelligently and 

 comprehensively without taking into full consideration the domesticated 

 animals. The ability of the farmer to heed the teachings of the sani- 

 tarian depends in great measure on the size of his bank balance although 

 his mental attitude toward the whole matter is a big factor. The farmer's 

 bank balance is frequently seriously affected by diseases of his livestock ; 

 for example, glanders may ruin a good pair of horses, tuberculosis may 

 destroy a number of valuable dairy cows, infectious abortion may inter 

 fere with the natural increase of his herd by producing sterility in 

 addition to causing abortions, or hog cholera may wipe out a fine drove 

 of hogs. These are tragic events in the life of a farmer and result not 

 only in a direct and tangible immediate loss, but i)roduce a depressing 

 and demoralizing effect on the industry in the neighborhood or in the 

 country at large. It is not such diseases as foot and mouth tliat wrong 

 the American farmer any more than it is the omnipresent, devastating 

 plagues that I have mentioned that cause the losses, just as it is tuber- 

 culosis, typhoid and the like that cause the steady toll of deatli and 

 disease in our fellowmen. From now on there will be spent millions in 

 this country for the extension of information on matters of agriculture 

 and domestic science to the rural population. One of the most influential 

 publications making an appeal to women is insistent on the point of 

 women getting a full share of this money for their particular spher^' of 

 activities. We frequently hear it said that one can get from the federal 

 and state governments most accurate information on the subject of rear- 

 ing and caring for hogs in health and in disease, but there is no govern- 

 mental department to give advice in the matter of rearing children or 

 the prevention and cure of human diseases. In other words, there are 

 "millions for the pig but not one cent for the baby. " Surely this makes 

 a strong appeal and it has a grain of truth in it, but it does not represent 

 the real situation. Personally I wish to do all possible to promote the 

 welfare of the child and the adult especially through governmental aid 

 and advice. I would much prefer to have my tax money disbursed 

 through a national or state department of health than through depart- 

 ments of the navy or army, but I must protest that the work of our 

 federal department of agriculture and of our state agricultural colleges 

 and experiment stations in the suppression of animal plagues is done in 

 large measure in behalf of the welfare of the owner of the livestock and 

 of his dependents. Who can deny that the saving of the hogs from 

 cholera may mean the very food and clothing, warmth and shelter to 

 say nothing of education and culture for the child .^ Next to the will to 

 do and the knowledge of how to do comes the wherewithal to do with. 

 We are afraid that manv of our rural dwellers have neither the will to 



