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The speaker began by saying that hygiene is the science 

 and art of preserving health. From the earliest times men 

 have been impressed with the necessity of good sanitary 

 conditions. The old Mosaic and Roman laws, and ruins 

 of public aqueducts, drains and sewers, in ancient Rome, 

 gave evidence that the conviction had been forced upon 

 men that neglected conditions of cleanliness resulted in 

 suffering, disease and death. 



Not until within 75 years has there been practical ad- 

 vance in this line. He referred to the purification of 

 water, and said it would be sinning against light if a revo- 

 lution does not take place in the care and management of 

 personal and household waste. 



Dr. Page urged the farmers of the county to make a 

 study of microbe organism, and take advantage of the in- 

 formation concerning germs and their products, which are 

 so essential to success in every farm operation. During 

 the past twenty 3^ears, physicians have learned much about, 

 and put an entirely new construction upon, the theory of 

 disease, methods of treatment and means of prevention. 

 In like manner the science of agriculture is advanced. 

 Farmers should be fully informed of the operations of 

 bacteria both benignant and helpful ; should know that 

 form which is recognized as fermentation, and be fore- 

 warned of financial losses and physical disorders. Bacteria 

 exists everywhere, and unless scientific precautions are 

 taken, they find access to all organic matter. Methods of 

 preparing and preserving food are determined by the laws 

 of germ development and activity. Scalding milk and 

 fruit desti'oys the germs which naturally cause fermenta- 

 tion and chemical changes. Germs in drinking water are 

 scalded to death by boiling the water. There are vege- 

 table germs, however, wliich have certain functions to per- 

 form, and when their activities are restricted to the right 

 place they are man's best friend. It was found to be an 

 established fact that oxidation of organic matter was the 

 natural work of living bacteria in the soil, which caused 



