cases where discharge is purulent a microscopic examination should be made to determine presence or absence of gonococci, tubercle bacilli or other important septic organisms. 3. All cases of excessive flowing, intermenstrual hemorrhage or prolonged menstruation should be thoroughly examined. 4. In all cases where amenorrhea exists every effort should be made to find the cause. 5. In young girls subjects of neurotic symptoms which develop at puberty or occur with each menstrual epoch, a careful and thorough examination of the pelvis will often reveal the cause. 6. If menstrual pain, irregularity, leucorrhea and neurotic disturbances follow the exanthemata, a pelvic examination is imperatively demanded. 7. In all virgins the recto-bimanual examination should be used the vaginal touch only being used when absolutely necessary. THE WOODS COUNTY MEDICAL ASSOCIATION met at Alva, Oklahoma, October 27th, 1903, under the presidency of Dr. A. S. Cloud. Some very good papers were read at the meeting, which was quite well attended. THE PATHOLOGY OF THE TYPHOID ULCER is the title of a brochure with colored plates published by the Arlington Chenical Company, of Yonkers, New York, which they are sending gratis to physicians on application. The colored plates are beautifully executed, and pathologically accurate. THE MEDICAL WOMAN'S CLUB, of Chicago, will give a banquet in honor of Dr. Sarah Hackett Stephenson, at De Jonghe's Restaurant, on Saturday evening, November 14th, at 7 o'clock, Dr. Nicholas Senn will act as toastmaster, and a number of well-known physicians will respond to toasts. Memphis Medical Monthly Memphis Medical Monthly, established as the Mississippi Valley Medical Monthly, 1880 Memphis Lancet, established 1898. LYCEUM BUILDING, MEMPHIS, TENN. Subscription Per Annum, One Dollar in Advance. Official Organ of the Tri-State Medical Association of Mississippi, Arkansas and Tennessee, Memphis Medical Society, and Yazoo Delta Medical Association. C. H. BRIGHT, BUSINESS MANAGER. RICHMOND MCKINNEY, M.D., EDITOR DEPARTMENT EDITORS. W. B. ROGERS, M.D. A. G. SINCLAIR, M.D. T. J. CROFFORD, M.D. W. D. HAGGARD, M.D., Nashville. B. F. TURNER, M.D. THE YELLOW FEVER SITUATION IN THE SOUTHWEST. ALTHOUGH there is no occasion for great apprehension over the state of affairs in the yellow fever afflicted localities of the Southwest, yet we cannot with equanimity regard the fever's rather rapid spread along the course of the Southern Pacific Railway toward the East. The development of several cases in San Antonio presents a decidedly unfavorable aspect, and shows that but little is being accomplished in the way of the prevention of the spread of the disease. Almost every kind of measure for this purpose seems to be in use in the infected localities, for it would seem that the Texas health authorities have not as yet fully accepted the mosquito theory of the transmission of yellow fever, and still invoke the drastic measure of shotgun quarantine, while the United States authorities, with the coöperation to a certain extent of the local health boards, are fighting the stegomyia with coal oil, mosquito netting and insecticides. We hope that no community will be satisfied with any one measure exclusively, and that they will not put their trust entirely in either coal oil or shotguns, but will combine a rigid quarantine with the most careful and thorough exercise of the more recent measures for the prevention and elimination of epidemic yellow fever. To the cities which in previous years have been so destructively visited by yellow fever, the question of the thorough eradication of the present epidemic is an exceedingly vital one. While we are confident that Memphis will never again be invaded by this devastating yellow peril, yet a long, hot, sultry summer, with numerous foci springing up at various points in the Southwest along much traveled roads, would give an exceedingly grave turn to affairs. It is true that the present outbreak of fever has come quite late in the season, and the approach of cold weather will possibly witness its speedy subsidence, but we trust that apprehension will not then readily be lulled, for this disease has a tendency to spring up anew on the approach of warm weather, even after a protracted cold spell, which latter will hardly be likely to visit the regions now infected, and every precaution should be taken to destroy every possible host of the yellow fever organism. As to the type of fever now prevailing in Laredo, San Antonio and other points, it seems to be spreading with considerable rapidity, and the mortality appears to be quite large— from 12 to 14 per cent. There should be no difficulty in controlling the spread of the fever in San Antonio, the majority of whose inhabitants are Americans, and therefore of cleanly person, and where modern sanitary conditions prevail to large extent, but in contrast is seen the filthy character of the poorer classes of the inhabitants of the cities and towns on the Mexican side of the Rio Grande, which will account for the apparent inefficacy of the efforts to control the fever in these latter. If the Mexican government will undertake the thorough measures instituted by the United States in Cuba, we shall look for equally as good results as were obtained in eradicating yellow fever from Havana and Santiago. Until this is done the Mexican border will remain a constant menace to the United States, and the Southern States in particular. THE AMERICAN PUBLIC HEALTH ASSOCIATION. THE recent meeting of the American Public Health Association, which was held in Washington during the last week in October, was one of the very best meetings from every standpoint that this body has ever held. The character of the scientific work was exceedingly high, and much good will no doubt arise from the discussions developed at this time. The topics assumed by the essayists were quite pertinent, among them being those of the question of the transmission of bovine tuberculosis to man, the army canteen in relation to its effects on the health and morals of soldiers, and the yellow fever situation. Quite a bombshell was exploded in the meeting when Dr. J. M. Lindsley, of Havana, introduced a resolution calling attention to the epidemic in Texas, and declaring that "the association has noticed the efficient work of the public health and marine hospital service in allowing yellow fever to enter the United States." This resolution, however, he subsequently withdrew. The paper of Dr. Ravenal, of Philadelphia, on the subject of the transmission of bovine tuberculosis to man, argued for the frequency of its occurrence, and the general opinion as evolved in the discussion seemed to oppose the expressed belief of Koch in the fallability of this theory. The army canteen matter was discussed with much interest, and a committee to consider this question reported in favor of the canteen, and submitted a resolution for presentation to Congress deploring the action of Congress in curtailing the operation of the canteen, and recommending in the interests of general and military sanitation its reëstablishment at the earliest possible date. This was a very commendable action on the part of the association, and we believe that general opinion is rapidly being molded to concord with this view. We trust that Congress at its next session will look at this matter from an abstract and sensible viewpoint, and will not again lend ear to the narrow views of the "white-ribboners." So much excellent work was done at this meeting of the association that we could scarcely hope to review it in detail. We know of no organization that does more to promote the sanitary interests of the nation at large than the American Public Health Association. May its good work continue to prosper. Memphis was represented at this meeting by the president of the local board of health, Dr. Heber Jones, and also its secretary, Dr. Marcus Haase. THE MEMPHIS MEETING OF THE MISSISSIPPI VALLEY MEDICAL ASSOCIATION. IT SHOULD not be assumed as exuberance of local pride for us to state that the meeting of the Mississippi Valley Medical Association recently held in Memphis was in many respects one of the most successful meetings this Association has ever held. True, the attendance was not large in the numerical sense, but the character of the men in attendance and the quality of the papers read were far above the average, and fully justify us in the conclusion which so generally was expressed concerning the success of the meeting. The arrangements for the accommodation of the sections and the exhibits, which had been consummated by the chairman of the committee of arrangements, Dr. John L. Jelks, could not have been better; and the social features, conducted under the chairmanship of Dr. B. F. Turner for the men, and his talented wife for the ladies, were delightful in the extreme, and in many respects unique. The business men of the city coöperated with the local profession to a considerable extent in providing for the entertainment of the visitors, and the combined efforts of these two interests resulted in the entertainment of the visiting members of the Association on a scale that rarely has been accorded them previously. Much good scientific work was done at this meeting, and the very full program of papers was disposed of with celerity and general satisfaction to the essayists and auditors. On the whole, we believe that those who attended this meeting of the Mississippi Valley Medical Association will always bear it in mind as a most successful one from every standpoint. EDITOR'S NOTES. THE TRI-STATE MEDICAL ASSOCIATION OF MISSISSIPPI, ARKANSAS AND TENNESSEE, as previously announced, will meet in Memphis, at the Hotel Gayoso, November 17th, 18th and 19th. This meeting undoubtedly will easily eclipse all previous meetings of this association in attendance and the completeness |