Notes and Comments.

A Medico-Legal Finding.—A supreme court jury has decided that a physician who took a case in a Summer resort is not under obligations to continue treatment after his return to the city for the same rate of payment.

Drunkenness Not a Disease but a Sin.-Sir Thomas Barlow, one of King Edward's physicians, has no use for drugs as cures for drunkenness, which he believes, ought to be treated as a sin and not as a disease. The doctor strongly advocates moral therapeutics.

The Army Canteen.-The evidence submitted by the War Department argues strongly in favor of the re-establishment of the army canteen; and it is to be hoped that, in the interest of public morals, the would-be reformers who caused its banishment, will cease from meddling in a matter of which the military authorities are perforce the best judges.

The Sanitary Conference of the American Republics met recently in Washington, and devoted its time quite largely to the discussion of the part played by mosquitoes in yellow fever. An International Sanitary Bureau was organized to have its permanent headquarters in Washington. The next conference will be held in Santiago de Chile during March, 1904.

A Compliment to Homeopathy. The tuberculous poor of New York City needing hospital care are received into a pavilion on Blackwell's Island. This is the only consumptive hospital belonging to the city; and it is a matter of gratification to us to know that it under the staff of Metropolitan Hospital, and that the patients will receive homeopathic treatment.

Vivisection as an Aid To Surgery.—Surgeon Keen of Philadelphia has addressed an open letter to Senator Gallinger, one of the most uncompromising opponents of vivisection, pointing out that in a concrete instance (the case of Naval Cadet Aiken who was injured in a football game), the knowledge gained by experimentation upon living animals was the only thing that saved the patient from death.

Serum Therapy.-Still another serum has been added to the list, and again it is of European origin. This time the streptococcus present in a fatal case of scarlet fever is made to furnish an universal remedy for the disease. It is interesting to know that all the while that new serums are being brought forth with more or less extravagant claims, the older ones are falling into disfavor. Serum therapy hardly seems to have come to stay.

The Regents' Examinations and the Health of the Examinees. -Dr. DeWitt G. Wilcox, of Buffalo, has sent to every physician in New York state a list of questions with respect to any observations made that would connect the Regents' examinations in the public schools with increased sickness among children. At the risk of being accused of flippancy, we suggest that a similar inquiry be made as to the effect of state board examinations upon medical practitioners.

Transportation of the Sick and Injured.-The firemen in Chicago are instructed in the best methods of caring for the sick and injured at a big fire. As a rule firemen's efforts will be confined to rescuing them from burning buildings, leaving the care of them after that to police and ambulance surgeons. The best means of transportation of the sick and wounded are thoroughly taught in the army medical service; and the ordinary trained nurse could learn much from an army orderly.

Total Abstinence as Affecting Life Insurance.—An effort is being made abroad to get insurance companies to accept healthy total abstainers as "super-standard" risks, with reduced premiums. There is no doubt that abstainers as a class are a heathier and longer-lived set of men than even moderate drinkers; and the companies will do well to recognize the fact in a substantial way, not only as a matter of justice to the insured, but as an object lesson to society as to the commercial value of total absti

nence.

The Chironian.-The first number of Vol. XIX of the Chironian, the official organ of the students of the New York Homeopathic Medical College, brings with it an entirely new form and a vastly improved make up. Great credit is due to Editor Reuel A. Benson, and his staff of assistants for producing so readable a number. The Chironian is certainly worthy of the patronage of the alumni of "the most advanced medical college in the world"-that is how Editor Benson speaks of the institution that is within a few months to be his alma mater.

The Plague in San Francisco.-The bubonic plague still has its victims in San Francisco, and the disease is now to be found in other parts of the city than Chinatown. The state and city authorities continue arrayed against the federal government as to the means to be taken to stamp out the disease; and in the meantime there is no knowing how soon it may spread throughout the country. The local authorities are pursuing a very shortsighted policy in minimizing the present condition in San Francisco and the possible danger to the rest of the country.

Some interesting public lectures on scientific subjects are being given on Wednesdays at five o'clock at the College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York. Among the subjects particularly interesting to medical men may be mentioned: The Phenomena of Cell Division in Relation to Some Problems of

Biology and Medicine; The Relation of Botany to Materia Medica; Nervous and Mental Diseases among Savage Races; and The Weather Phenomena of the Eastern United States in their Relation to Bodily Health.

American Scientific Investigations at a Discount.-The eminent Dr. Koch does not have a very high opinion of American scientific investigators. At the recent Berlin Tuberculosis Congress, at which he reiterated his belief in the non-transmissibility of tuberculosis from cattle to human beings, he declared that the evidence brought forward in America to disprove his theory was of little value, since the experiments were hasty, and not sufficient time had elapsed to draw conclusions. American literature on the subject was one-sided and often couched in terms such as might be used by a lawyer whose busines it was to suppress all points telling against his client.

Physician Heal Thyself.-Much has been said about the advisability of unity in the medical profession, by the term unity being understood some sort of an amalgamation of all the schools; but before any such harmony can be brought about, however desirable it may be, we have got to have a nearer approach to harmony in the individual schools. Among ourselves the International Hahnemannian Association ought in some way to be made one with the American Institute; and in New York state at least, our brethren of the old school must settle the differences between the New York State Medical Association and the Medical Society of New York State before overtures can be acceptably and appropriately made to us.

The Abuse of Digestive Ferments.—In an admirable article in the Medical News (June 7, 1902), Dr. John C. Hemmeter calls attention to the use and abuse of digestive ferments. The substance of his paper is that the use of ferments is very limited indeed, the abuse of them very wide spread. This abuse arises. from lack of knowledge and failure to exercise judgment on the part of the physician, and the persistency of the meat-producing syndicates who have found a use for their by-products. The doctor protests against providing nature with crutches for more than the most temporary use. According to his view pepsin is never indicated, and pancreatin only occasionally in a case of atrophic gastritis.

A Chinese Hospital in New York.-According to newspaper reports, New York is to have a Chinese hospital, in which the poorer members of the pig-tailed colony can have their ailments. treated in strictly orthodox oriental fashion. It is not stated whether the trustees contemplate throwing the clinics open to un-queued medical men and students. We wonder how the Chinese staff will manage to comply with the laws governing the practice of medicine in New York State. Will they elect to take their examinations of the allopathic, the homeopathic, or

eclectic board? From what little we know of Chinese medicine, the school of medicine selected will have a doubtful compliment paid it, if it is to be assumed that its system is most like that obtaining in the flowery kingdom.

The Women's College. The New York Medical College and Hospital for Women has entered evidently upon an era of prosperity. The entering class is much increased in size showing the increased influence and reputation of the College and its Faculty. The new Hospital in connection with the College is practically completed and although not the largest in the city is one of the most completely equipped. The College has many friends and none more so than the members of the Hospital Guild. At the November meeting of the Guild Mr. William Zeigler stated that he would give $7,000 if before the first of January, 1993, the Guild would raise the balance of $14,000. It will gratify those interested in the college to know that this has been done. The last meeting of the Guild was held at Dr. A. R. McMichael's.

An Old Trick.-The Pacific Coast Journal of Homeopathy complains that in the Medical Brief for November marked "written for the Medical Brief" in the N. E. medical number for November and in several other journals there appeared an article entitled "Septicemia and the Curette," by a Dr. H. Plympton of Brooklyn, N. Y. The thing that troubles our esteemed contemporary is that the same article also appears in its own November issue. The ingenious Plympton did not forget the NORTH AMERICAN in his lavish distribution of Mss, but we shall hardly venture to publish until all of the medical journals in the United States and perhaps a few abroad have had opportunity to print. It is unnecessary to characterize this attempt to secure notoriety. Like some other things it speaks for itself. But the name of Plympton, M.D., will glow with a somber radiance in several editorial sanctums.

A French League Against Sea Sickness. We learn from the Lancet that France has a league against sea sickness! The league's president, a Dr. Mardeuf, has started a journal called Le Mal de Mer, and has also written and published a book on the subject which professes to be a complete hygienic guide for those who travel by water. Americans cross the herring pond in great numbers; and doubtless many doctors are asked about seasickness. Here are some sources of original information. When they have read chapter I of the book they will be convinced that there is such a thing as seasickness (if they did not know it before they opened the volume to find out how to cure it). One hardly knows whether to take the book seriously or not. Many of its statements and suggestions are almost ludicrous. The league is seeking evidence on the symptoms, causes, treatment, and complications of seasickness, and with this end in view asks all who are interested to answer a long list of questions, some of which are quite complicated.

Diseases of the Skin.-Their Symptomatology, Etiology and Diagnosis, with Special Reference to Methods of Treatment, Including Full Indications for Drug Remedies. By Henry M. Dearborn, M.D., Professor of Dermatology, New York Homeopathic Medical College; Professor of Principles of Medicine and Clinical Professor of Dermatology, New York Medical College and Hospital for Women; Visiting Physician Metropolitan Hospital, etc., etc., etc. Illustrated. Boericke & Runyon : New York, 1903. $5.50, pp. 834.

A book that is the genuine product of experience and continued study is rare. Many books are written or rather compiled not because the author had any special message to deliver but because he felt that a book was needed to bolster his reputation. Real books grow they are not compilations-and to this select class belongs Dr. Dearborn's volume. The homeopathic school has long needed a text-book on skin diseases that should be authorative, up-to-date, and present the essential facts in a clear and systematic manner. Dr. Dearborn's wide practice, his hospital clinics, and his extended experience in teaching combined to preeminently fit him to produce a volume which should freely satisfy the demands of the profession. The classification adopted is new. Instead of choosing pathological anatomy as the basis of classification, he has given great prominence to the etiological element. The plan is therefore "a simple re-arrangement designed to show as far as possible, the general pathogenesis without losing the value of the anatomico-pathological system commonly in vogue." The division into classes is as follows: Class I. Diseases of the Cutaneous Appendages. Class II. Idiopathic Affections. Class III. Diathetic Affections. Class IV. Neuropathic Affections. Class V. Parasitic Affections. Class VI. New Growths. Throughout the work etiology, symptomatology and diagnosis have been given much prominence. Besides this the important feature of the work is the space given to special therapeutics at the close of each section. All this makes the volume of great value to the general practitioner. The book is well planned and well written. The descriptions of diseased conditions are clear and the information concerning treatment may not be found elsewhere. Both Dr. Dearborn and the homeopathic profession are to be congratulated on the appearance of this handsome volume.

A Guide to the Clinical Examination of the Blood for Diagnostic Purposes. By Richard C. Cabot, M.D., with colored plates and engravings. Fourth revised edition. New York: 1902. William Wood & Co., pp. 494.

Each succeeding edition of this book becomes more valuable because, with each issue, the observations on which it is based become more numerous. In the present volume twenty-eight hundred observations in one thousand cases of typhoid fever will serve as an example of the wealth of data on which conclusions are based.