TRENTON, N. J., October 31st, 1905.

To His Excellency Edward C. Stokes, Governor of New Jersey:

SIR-In compliance with the provisions of section 3 of chapter 68 of the laws of 1887, I have the honor to transmit herewith the twenty-ninth annual report of the Board of Health of the State of New Jersey and the report of the Bureau of Vital Statistics for the year ending December 31st, 1904.

General Report.

To His Excellency Edward C. Stokes, Governor of New Jersey:

SIR-For the purpose of eliminating repetitions in the published reports of local boards of health, and to condense as much as possible the material which is presented, some modifications have been introduced in the form of the twenty-ninth annual report of this board. The names of members, officers and employes of local boards of health have been grouped in one table, and the statements forwarded by local boards are presented only when matters of general interest are received, and by this arrangement it is believed that the number of pages in this report can be considerably reduced. The work of the board during the year just closed has been conducted along the same general lines which have been followed during several years past, but especial attention has been given to the protection of the food-supply, particularly concerning milk, shellfish and meat. The three assistant inspectors of food devoted almost their entire time, from June 1st to September 15th, to the collection of samples of milk, and the analysis of these samples and giving evidence in suits instituted for the penalty in cases where the milk was found to be adulterated has occupied nearly all of the time of the analysts employed in the State laboratory of hygiene. During the year, 1,493 samples of milk and cream were sent to the laboratory by the State inspectors, and 366 samples, or 24 per cent., were found to be adulterated, either by skimming and the addition of water or by the addition of preservatives. A full statement relating to the action taken in each case where the milk was found to be sold in violation of the law will be found in the body of this report. The investigations of outbreaks of infectious diseases, inspection of creameries and dairies, inquiries concerning nuisances, prevention of the spread of infectious diseases of animals, prevention of the sale of contaminated milk, supervision of the State laboratory of hygiene, and the detection of the sale of

adulterated food and drugs have been continued, and the work has extended to every county in the State.

It will be observed, by reference to the mortality tables which are published in this volume, that the number of deaths among infants increased slightly during the year, notwithstanding the fact that the summer was comparatively cool, and this is believed to indicate that the boldness and cupidity of certain unscrupulous milk dealers has led them to return, in some degree, to the vicious practices to which they were accustomed previous to the crusade against impure milk which began in 1893, and which resulted in the immediate reduction of the mortality among infants in this State. Every milk dealer who has been caught violating the law has been prosecuted, except in a few cases where the evidence has been insufficient to secure convictions, but the legal procedure provided for is so hedged about with difficulties in securing convictions that many guilty persons have escaped, and additional legislation is required which will remove the obstacles which are now being continuously and successfully employed to prevent the imposition of penalties in cases where it is clearly shown that the milk has been adulterated.

The inspections of the sources of public water-supplies have resulted in the removal of numerous pollutions. Details of this work appear in this report. An additional enactment to more effectually prohibit swimming and bathing in streams from which waters for public supplies are taken is required to prevent these practices.

We desire to call attention to the very great advantage which we believe would attend the enactment of a law authorizing local boards of health to be represented annually in a conference concerning the practical application of the acts of the Legislature and the local ordinances which are designed to promote the public health. At present there is but little similarity in the measures which are employed by local sanitary officials in their procedures for preventing the spread of disease, and it not infrequently happens that in adjoining districts one of the local boards will adopt advanced and efficient methods in dealing with the problems which arise, while the other may be wasting its opportunities in aimless and useless efforts. To bring together the active and leading official sanitarians of the State, in order that there may be comparison of