from this cause. The largest relative fatality from it is generally in the Maritime district.

Of other local diseases, the prevalence and fatality were not different from the normal of past years.

Cancer caused 4385 deaths, which is large compared with preceding years, and it is worthy of note that the number of deaths has been greater each year than the year preceding during the past 10 years.

It is is also true that the fatalities due to accidents and violence are increasing.

The number of deaths attributed to old age as a cause continues without material change about 5500 a year.

CHEMICAL WORK OF THE BOARD

During the year ending December 31, 1898 all work referred to the laboratory has received prompt attention. Fifty-eight samples of water received from time to time have been analyzed and reported upon. Seventy samples in all were received, but of these 12 were either insufficient in quantity, or otherwise unsatisfactory for purposes of analysis, and as no second samples were received in these cases, no examinations were made. Most of the samples were submitted by local boards of health and they came from the following localities: Albany, Allegany, Bloomingburgh (two samples), Caledonia, Castleton, Cattaraugus (six samples), Corning (four samples), Dansville, Elmira (eleven samples), Esperance, Green Island, Hoffman Island (Quarantine), Ilion (three samples), Iroquois, Middleport (two samples), Mount Vernon, Newark Valley (four samples), New Scotland, Niagara Falls (five samples), Norwood, Otisco, Potsdam (two samples), Rome, Sandy Hill, Ticonderoga (two samples), Weedsport (two samples). The analyses included the usual sanitary determinations and in a

few instances qualitative analyses of mineral constituents and determinations of hardness, etc., were made.

Fifty-nine samples of drugs collected in New York city, Yonkers, White Plains, Mount Vernon, Peekskill, and Sing Sing have been examined, and these included samples of tincture of iodine, ammonia water, diluted acetic acid, diluted hydrochloric acid, diluted phosphoric acid, potassium bi-tartrate, ether, compound spirit of ether, chloroform, creosote, seidlitz powders and precipitated sulphur. One sample of kerosene oil was examined, and three samples of water from the Cayadutta creek at Johnstown were analyzed and a personal inspection of the locality made with full report thereon. Advice has been given, and examinations made, in various cases in which complaints had been made to the Board of alleged nuisances, and all other matters referred to the laboratory have received prompt attention and been reported upon from time to time.

ADULTERATION OF FOOD AND DRUGS

During the past few years on account of the small appropriations made for the use of this Board, and the increasing demands made upon it by different municipalities of the state in connection with investigations as to unsanitary conditions, the work of ex amining samples of food and drugs has not received the attention its importance demands, and it is hoped that provision will be made by the present Legislature for a sufficient appropriation to carry out this important work.

DIPHTHERIA ANTITOXIN

In view of the extended use of preparations of diphtheria antitoxin, this department has under consideration, the question of providing a uniform test of samples of the various serums placed

for sale in this state by the different manufacturers, in order to overcome the placing on the market such preparations of the serum as may be of an inferior quality.

In connection with the subject of diphtheria it is gratifying to note as shown under the head of "Sanitary Condition of the State," the great decrease in mortality from this disease during the past three years from 6616 deaths in 1894 to 2612 deaths in 1898.

TUBERCULOSIS COMMITTEE

The tuberculosis committee of the Board summarize their work for the year as follows:

In reviewing the work of the tuberculosis committee for the past year, it is not possible to convey a correct estimate of the advance of our work by a mere statement in figures, of the number of cattle examined, tuberculin tested, condemned and killed, or placed in quarantine under the supervision of local boards of health, for the reason that our work has been largely educational, by the distribution of a large amount of circular literature of information and instruction, regarding tuberculosis, the characteristics of the disease, its proper management, the disinfection of stables, etc.

Besides this we have carried on a very large correspondence, also educational in its character, with cattle owners, veterinarians, dairymen and health officials, and employed a number of expert veterinarians and borne their traveling and other expenses, to go into many parts of the state, for the purpose of diagnosing tuberculosis in cattle, by the tuberculin test, and further demonstrate the disease by careful autopsies, as required by law.

Other expenses have been entailed in the disinfection of cars, stables, etc., and in the payment of fees and traveling expenses of appraisers appointed by the Comptroller, to appraise a few badly infected herds.

The committee were without funds for the prosecution.of their work, until the Legislature granted the small appropriation of ten thousand dollars ($10,000), which became available about May 1st.

During this time many herds had been reported to the committee, by owners, veterinarians and health officials, and in many instances after having received advice and instruction from the committee, owners were lead to purify their own herds, without asking aid or remuneration from the state.

Where it was impossible to bring this about, diseased cattle coming to our attention, were reported to local health departments, with instructions to maintain such cattle in quarantine, and prevent the sale or use for food of their products.

In January, 1898, the committee having no funds on hand, were obliged to slaughter a large herd of 72 registered Jerseys, belonging to the estate of the late Judge S. C. Gray near Elmira. This herd had been advertised to be sold at auction to settle the estate.

A large number of this herd showed by physical inspection, that they were in advanced stages of tuberculous disease. They were tuberculin tested, appraised and slaughtered. The autopsies verified the diagnosis of the disease, as shown by the tuberculin test. The award in this case amounted to two thousand four hundred and fifteen dollars ($2415).

We have a written agreement with the administrator of the

estate, that this award shall not be paid unless a sufficient appropriation is granted by the present Legislature.

It would have been a dangerous menace to the public to have allowed this number of badly diseased cattle to be distributed about the state.

In June, 1898, a herd of 26 swine were found tuberculous and slaughtered. The swine had all contracted the disease by eating the offal at a slaughter house, where band-box or bologna-sausage cattle had been slaughtered.

Microscopical examinations, and inoculations have been made, and the tubercle bacilli shown to exist in sections of diseased tissues, or the milk of diseased cows.

We have reported several well-authenticated cases where human tuberculosis is believed to have been contracted by the use of the milk of tuberculous cattle. The slaughter and autopsies of diseased cattle have always demonstrated the great value and accuracy of the tuberculin test as a diagnostic agent, and have never failed to convince the most skeptical, that tuberculosis existed and has been conveyed to healthy cattle, by direct infection.

The committee have made written reports each month to the State Board of Health, which show many interesting features of our work, and which we believe clearly demonstrate the urgent need of a more liberal appropriation.

Since January, 1898, the committee have reported the examination and tuberculin test of 1874 cattle of which 192 have been condemned, and 64 of that number have already been destroyed. The remaining number of those condemned, were ordered quarantined, and the local health officers charged with the duty of maintaining the quarantine.