and no manufacturer who appeared was able to submit satisfactory proof that the permitted dyes had been used.

In the case of vinegars the offenses consisted largely of mislabeling. In numerous instances it was found that cheap spirit or distilled vinegars were labeled "Malt" or "Cider," the latter being regarded as higher grade and better selling vinegars.

It may be said, however, that in the case of every person or firm represented, a desire to comply with the law was forcibly expressed, and faithful promises were made by all to do so henceforth. It seemed to be the unanimous opinion of all that the law is a good one, and that its enforcement will result in great benefit, not only to the consumers, but also to all manufacturers who desire to place on the market legitimate goods under truthful labels.

In many instances the offense appeared to have been committed more through ignorance than design, and especially strong pleas were made upon the part of such persons. The law, however, invests the Board with no discretion. If the analysis made by the Director of the State Laboratory is found to be incorrect, the case must be dismissed. If his analysis is sustained, the matter must be referred to the district attorney of the proper county for prosecution. The Board is determined to follow the mandate of the law in this as well as in all other respects, and such a course, while it may work apparent hardships in individual cases, will assure every one of exactly the same treatment.

In view of the fact that when a sample has been taken it must take its regular course, and if found to be misbranded or adulterated, the matter must be referred to the district attorney for prosecution, and in view of the further fact that as soon as a complaint is filed by the district attorney, the matter becomes one of public record, it is extremely important to every dealer and manufacturer that he make, or have his attorney make, a study of the act, and at once take vigorous measures to comply with it.

It is feared that too many manufacturers and dealers have regarded this law as one passed in response to a public demand and then intended to be allowed to become a dead letter. Such is not the case. Approximately sixty criminal prosecutions will be instituted under this law during the present week. As many more will begin during the month of June, and unless there is marked improvement in the grade of samples received, the monthly output of complaints will be greater thereafter.

By reason of a small appropriation, the Board is limited in its capacity to carry on inspection, and for the same reason the laboratory is not able to accomplish the analysis of so great a quantity of samples as would be necessary if the whole State were covered at once; but with such means as it has, the Board is determined actively to prosecute the work to the end that adulteration and mislabeling of foods and drugs shall be unknown.

effort to obey Reduced to its this: foods and

The manufacturer or dealer who really makes an the law will find no particular difficulty in doing so. lowest terms, the provisions of the act amount only to drugs must be pure, and the labels placed on them must speak the truth. Certainly there is nothing unreasonable in these requirements; and certainly the people, consumers, and others, are entitled to have these requirements enforced without fear or favor.

DEPARTMENT OF VITAL STATISTICS.

GEORGE D. LESLIE, STATISTICIAN.

VITAL STATISTICS FOR APRIL.

Births. The living births registered in April number 2,110, as compared with 2,135 for March. For an estimated State population of 2,019,519 the April total represents an annual birth-rate of 12.7 against 12.5 for March.

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The April totals were highest for the following counties: Angeles, 478; San Francisco, 363; Alameda, 299; Santa Clara, 114; Fresno, 84; San Bernardino, 62; San Joaquin, 53; and San Diego, 50.

The births registered in the leading freeholders' charter cities for April were as follows: San Francisco, 363; Los Angeles, 333; Oakland, 179; Berkeley and Fresno, each 46; San José, 36; Alameda and Sacramento, each 35; Stockton, 33; San Diego, 30; and Pasadena, 27.

Marriages. The marriages reported for April number 1,618 against 1,470 for March, and represent an annual rate of 9.8, as compared with 8.6 for the preceding month.

The April totals were greatest for the following counties: Los Angeles, 331; San Francisco, 294; Alameda, 190; Sacramento, 68; Santa Clara, 66; Fresno, 58; Orange, 57; and Marin, 53.

Deaths. Altogether 2,525 deaths, exclusive of stillbirths, were reported for April against 2,866 for March. The annual death-rate for April is 15.3, as compared with 16.8 for March.

The April death totals were highest for the following counties: Los Angeles, 507; San Francisco, 482; Alameda, 303; Santa Clara, 93; Sacramento, 79; San Bernardino, 75; San Joaquin, 66; San Diego, 57; Napa and Sonoma, each 56; and Fresno, 55.

Deaths for April were reported as follows for the leading cities: San Francisco, 482; Los Angeles, 305; Oakland, 164; Sacramento, 55; San Diego, 47; Alameda, 46; Berkeley, 45; San José, 36; Stockton, 34; Fresno, 31; and Pasadena, 27.

Causes of Death.-In April there were altogether 423 deaths, or 16.8 per cent of all, from tuberculosis, and 364, or 14.4 per cent, from diseases of the circulatory system.

Other notable causes of death in April were diseases of the respiratory and nervous systems, violence, diseases of the digestive system, Bright's disease, cancer, and epidemic diseases.

The leading epidemic diseases in April were diphtheria and croup, 33; typhoid fever, 28; whooping-cough, 16; scarlet fever, 15; measles, 9; and all others, 21.

Further details appear in the following table, which gives the number of deaths from certain principal causes reported for April, as well as the proportions from each cause per 1,000 total deaths for both April and March.

Geographic Divisions.-The table below shows the number of deaths from main classes of diseases reported for April for the several geographic divisions of the State, including the metropolitan area, or "Greater San Francisco," in contrast with the rural counties

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DEPARTMENT OF BACTERIOLOGY.

DR. A. R. WARD, DIRECTOR.

THE CONTROL OF DIPHTHERIA.

The American Journal of Public Hygiene for November, 1907, contains an interesting article by Dr. H. W. Hill on "Time Limit versus Culture Limit in Diphtheria Release." Lack of space prevents reprinting the paper here, but his concluding paragraph presents the gist of the whole :

But wherever the truth may lie as regards the handling of convalescents from diphtheria, the fact seems to be that whether handled by time limit or by culture limit, rather less than two per cent of new cases are accounted for by failures in either method. Since diphtheria morbidity is not on the decrease, although its fatality is, every case of diphtheria now existing must give rise on the average to one new case. The settling of the question as to convalescents, however interesting, will necessarily leave 98 per cent of the reproduction of diphtheria unaccounted for. It would seem much more important to search for the methods to control the, as yet, evidently uncontrolled source of this 98 per cent than to devote all attention to search for those errors in handling convalescents which result in the reproduction of at most two per cent. If we may tentatively accept the teaching that diphtheria is chiefly reproduced by early, unrecognized and concealed cases, the ultimate control of diphtheria to the point possibly of abolition becomes a matter of early diagnosis which involves culture taking from all sore throats, with isolation until the report is received-or the prompt immunization of all sore throat cases, together with the immunization of all potential receivers or a judicious combination of both methods, "a word and a blow-the blow first," i. e., give antitoxin first and inquire about it (by means of a culture) afterwards.

The work in the control of diphtheria in schools in California and elsewhere goes a step farther than Dr. Hill has recommended to the general practitioner. It involves a search, by culture, for the mild and unrecognized cases among school children.

DEPARTMENT OF PURE FOODS AND DRUGS.

PROF. M. E. JAFFA, DIRECTOR.

FOOD AND DRUG INSPECTION.

It was the aim of Congress, by the passage of the National Pure Food Act of June 30, 1906, to insure to the consumer foods and food products honestly labeled and free from adulteration; and to the honest manufacturer, protection from undesirable competition of those who, in various ways, were sophisticating their products.

In order to best attain these ends, it is absolutely essential that there shall be active and efficient coöperation between the State and the Federal laboratories. The national law deals only with imported foods, or with foods and food products manufactured in one State and sold in another; it can not exercise any supervision with reference to foods and food products manufactured, and sold only in the same State, hence the necessity for the State law, and the establishment of the State Laboratory.

Naturally, it is not possible, during the first few months of the Laboratory's existence, to correct all the evil influences arising from food and drug adulteration. The seemingly most important infringements are first taken up, and it appears to those in charge of the work that one of the most imperative needs is to remedy the evils of the adulteration of meats and meat products. This is not only important for the protection of the consumer, but it is of vital interest to the honest manufacturer, and particularly to those who are interested in meats and meat food products intended for interstate commerce. These people are under Federal inspection, and without the coöperation of the State would be forced to submit to competition of those within the State who are not under such inspection, because the latter do not send their goods outside of the State.

Notice is therefore given to all dealers and manufacturers, and those concerned in the manufacture or sale, of meats and meat food products in California, except those to whom the Federal meat inspection law applies, that, in accordance with Section 3 of the California law, reading: "The standard of purity of food and liquor shall be that proclaimed by the Secretary of the United States Department of Agriculture"; the State Board of Health will coöperate with the Federal authorities to the extent of collecting and analyzing samples of meats, and meat food products manufactured in this State. Any infringements of the Federal law with respect to the use of preservatives or coloring matter will be considered as violations of the California law. For the guidance of those interested, the following excerpts from the Federal law may be of interest:

A meat food product, within the meaning of the meat-inspection act and of these regulations, is considered to be any article of food intended for human use which is derived or prepared in whole or in part from any edible portion of the carcass of cattle, sheep, swine, or goats, if the said edible portion so used is a considerable and definite portion of the finished food.

No meat or meat-food shall contain any substance which lessens its wholesomeness, or any drug, chemical, harmful dye, or preservative, other than the preservatives, common salt, sugar, wood smoke, vinegar, pure spices, and, pending further inquiry, saltpeter.

Regulation 39 provides that no dye, unless authorized by the Federal statute, shall be used in any meat food product until the use of such dye has been specifically authorized by the Secretary of Agriculture. It has been decided to allow the use of certain dyes on sausage and other casings when the character of the casings is such that the dye will not penetrate into the meat food product contained in the casing. Cloth casings which it is desired to color with these dyes shall first be dipped in uncolored paraffin. Permission has been granted for the use of annatto for this purpose. In addition, the dyes permitted under the Food and Drugs Act of June 30, 1906, as enumerated in Food Inspection Decision 76, may be used for dyeing casings but for no other purpose. These dyes are as follows:

The numbers preceding the names refer to the number of the dye in question as listed in A. G. Green's edition of the Schultz-Julius Systematic Survey of the Organic Coloring Matters, published in 1904.