make-believe by the sign they show. You can't always tell by the bunk they throw, either.

The title of "professor" has been usurped by ignoramuses, also. If you want to flatter a man, just call him "doctor" or "professor," and he will promptly wear a cheerful smile at the compliment you pay him, no matter how ill deserved.

Years ago the colored man who whitewashed your cellar was a "professor." I remember seeing a sign like this:

Prof. E. Tilegrove Whitewashing and Calcimining.

And in the south at one time I believe there was a bright "professor" who placed under his name this:

Going out to do whitewashing
done here

These "professors" and "doctors" are the junk piles of our civilization.

The optometrists are another bunch of pseudo-doctors.

These half taught or less-than-half taught practitioners should not be allowed to wear, carry or display a "doctor" on their names or signs. Their education is inadequate to justify any such title. It is not of "doctor" quality. The educational schools could well object to the titles bestowed on such. They remind me of the old story of "How We Apples Float." It is said that an apple and a rotund specimen of horse manure were floating down a river, and the horse excretum said, familiarly and brotherlylike, to the apple: "How we apples float!" Thus the fakers endeavor to place themselves alongside doctors and assume a title and an equality to which they are in no sense entitled. Their borrowed plumes should be removed from them.

We have nothing to fear from those outside the profession. They remind me of the little, insignificant man who went down the street striking a big man in the back. He turned around and the little fellow shouted in a rage: "I'm fighting; I am!" "Oh, are you?" he answered, "amuse yourself!" and went on his way unconcerned.

The greatest enemies the medical profession has to contend with are within the profession itself. They are the ones

1

who, thinking they have "arrived" at the state of perfection, get themselves into public print by denouncing the remainder of the profession as incompetent. It is recognized as a principle of philosophy that it is a small man who tries to build himself up by pulling others down. Yet no matter what college or institution with which he is connected, the man so inclined will do so, and beget for himself and his institution discredit and enemies. However, he fails in his purpose, as he deserves, to a great extent. The public that reads his tirade does not recognize him as a god in medicine or surgery, but only as one, who may be slightly more ex- ! pert than the younger practitioners. It may get him some patients who think that if they don't go to him they will die (see paragraph numbered 9), but it is a shallow and empty reward. These parasites: on the profession do get some students from the profession who come to kneel at the great man's feet and learn some of his mighty wisdom. But I have seen one graduate from a class A university of proud and ancient lineage and a pupil of such a knocker, of "forty per cent." fame, who knew about as much as a graduate of any class C school in existence he was not so classy! Perhaps it was hoped he would come back for a post-graduate course and learn the things he should have been taught in his undergraduate days.

And now we learn of an eminent surgeon who says that four-fifths of the surgeons are incompetent. The American College of Surgeons had better look into this. They may be included in that large fraction. Does that eminent surgeon forget the day when he was a beginner in surgery? And how many years did he do surgery before he emerged from the fourfifths class? And how many of his understudies in surgery are in the fourfifths class? Possibly the patients going to his clinic had better watch their step. They may not get the attention or expert service that they expect.

I have never known that to happen in Philadelphia. They say that the medical profession in this city does not lead in research work in medicine; that little that is new emanates from this city. But whatever it is, we are proud of it, and have no regrets to make. They do admit

that we are first-class practitioners and know our business as physicians and surgeons. But we also know how to behave toward each other. We have always had leading physicians and surgeons here. And they were and are true gentlemen and would scorn to "knock" their fellows. At least one city in the east is not so fortunate, and the middle west is worse off. When our profession gets a code of ethics that binds the detractors to constructive criticism and from destructive criticism the profession will be united and occupy the position in civilization that it craves, but only views now as a distant promised land.

The University of Pennsylvania is giving courses of instruction to physicians in the treatment of diabetes by insulin. The various tests to determine the condi tion of the patient and the dose of insulin to be administered are taught. It is a strictly scientific treatment, and permits of exact determinations. And no charge is made for this instruction. Neither have the teachers blatantly thundered that the general practitioner does not know how to use it and must come there to learn. They don't do things that way. That institution is fulfilling its functions as a medical teaching center. It is conducting a postgraduate course for general practitioners along other lines, also. It has given a long course on clinical radiology and now is branching out in other subjects.

Dr. John B. Deaver, formerly Professor of Surgery in the University of Pennsylvania, well known and universally liked, has often been quoted in newspapers for his achievements and addresses; but never to my knowledge has he berated the medical profession or attempted to belittle it or give out an impression that it was incompetent.

The physicians of Long Island, N. Y., have established a postgraduate school for the physicians of that section. The Medical Society of the County of Kings (Brooklyn), and the Long Island Medical College are now conducting this work. This is the second year for it. All the hospitals there are being utilized. It is bound to put those physicians in possession of all that is new in medicine and

For full details see Long Island Medical Journal, October, 1923.

make them better able to serve their constituents. Prosperity will be theirs.

Dr. Clarence Bartlett, of Philadelphia, declared that "what are to be deplored are the occasional remarks by physicians of high standing made carelessly in reference to the inadequacy of therapeutic methods... The unfortunate impression has thus gone out to the laity that the medical profession, aside from the surgeons and the specialists, are therapeutic nihilists, and our friends and patrons have consequently in many instances given themselves over to the care of practitioners of the many types of mechanical therapy."

Not that mechanical therapy is not useful, but that it is only one means of treatment, and a person only capable of using that form should not be permitted to treat the sick except under the supervision of a physician trained in all the lines of treatment.

I suggested to a professor of therapeutics many years ago that he have taught in his department homeopathic and eclectic materia medica, and osteopathy and chiropractic. He seemed favorable to it, but said his college would lose caste with the profession if he did that. Nevertheless it should be done in all medical colleges. Then the graduates of those colleges could compete at their own games with osteopaths and chiropractics. As it is now, the medical graduates do not know what osteopathic and chiropractic treatment is. And the laity don't patronize the doctor when they learn that he is deficient when they believe they need that treatment. Some doctors have learned those methods from books and retain their patients no matter what ails them.

We are not alone in this recommendation. Dr. Arthur C. Jacobson" recommended the same as the way to "deflate the jazz cults." Meanwhile but little progress has been made.

The real thing for the medical profession to do is to join hands, unite into one harmonious band, co-operate in all things, learn that an injury to one is an injury to all and that what helps one physician also helps the entire profession, learn to treat osteopathically and chiropractically,

Jour. Amer. Med. Assoc., Nov. 14, 1908; Medical Economics, Oct., 1923.

and avoid aiding any person or agency that seeks to disparage medicine. are a long way from the desired goal and teamwork is needed to cross the line. It can be done. Will you do your part? Answer to the profession. We are looking at you.

Drug Addiction Is a Hereditament.

HREE years ago there were more than 35,000 drug addicts in New York city. Within the past ten months there have been only ten drug users arrested, most of them old men. This, according to Special Deputy Commissioner Carleton Simons, is not due to a laxity of the authorities in coralling drug addicts, but signifies that the traffic in narcoties has been steadily on the decline.

Dr. Simons asserts that most drug users are criminals and that, altho the subjects of the poppy and the coca plant are decreasing in numbers, the criminality among those remaining is on the increase. Police records show that three years ago 65 per cent. of the addicts had a history of crime. At the present time 85 per cent. of the prisoners have been previously convicted for violations ranging from pickpocketing to murder.

How the human race ever acquired the drug habit is an enigma, Dr. Simons says, but it is believed that even in the unrecorded days of the past, savages, noticing the soothing effects experienced by animals nibbling certain herbs, experimented on themselves with the same plants and with the same results. The knowledge and the diathesis for alkaloids thus acquired was transmitted to their progeny, many of whom have been using narcotics ever since.

Another medium which is supposed to have been responsible for the deleterious. use of narcotics is the censor. The Romans, it is known, used the opium plant to yield incense in their religious rituals. Worshipers, intoxicated by the fumes, gradually took to the drug which had produced their beautiful visions and hallucinations in the temple.

Narcotics have been linked with crime for centuries. Dr. John Uri Lloyd, in his recent "History of the Pharmacopeial Vegetable Drugs," says that Hasan

Sabah, celebrated chief of the Ismailians in the eighth century, notoriously made use of hasheesh to urge them on to the commission of deeds of daring and violence; so that they became known as the hashshashin or "assassins." Crusaders, in their eastern sojourns, noticed the maniacal proclivities of the habitual hashish eater and his title of "assassin." Despite the sinister import of hashish, however, many Soldiers of the Cross became addicted to its use, among them Richard the Lion-Hearted.

Altho this observation-that of attributing crime to narcotics-has been of long standing, the connection between the two was not officially recognized, according to Dr. Simons, until the New York City Police Department began its investigations of the drug evil a few years ago. At that time a group of men were sent to live among the suspected addicts. Within two years and ten months 9,701 violators were arrested. Of these 739 were drug venders, 801 were opium smokers, and not one had attributed his habit to a clinical introduction to the drug.

According to Dr. Simons, the idea that drug addiction is caused in the majority of instances by early medical doses of the drug is erroneous. He believes that this idea results in a public condonement which is positively harmful to the efforts of the police in eradicating the evil, which, he says, can be accomplished in several ways: First, by striking at the demand; second, to strike at the vender; third, to intimidate the criminals using the drug by opening the door of publicity to all the activities of the police departments all over the world.

Let's Give 'Em to Understand, Fellows.

TH

HE other day the following item appeared in the Jewell (Kansas) Republican:

"Some folks are being vaccinated for colds. The doctors say if it does their patients any good they will try it on themselves."—Jewel (Ks.) Republican.

I sat right down and wrote as follows: Editor Republican:-Haven't you got that just a mite twisted? The doctors say, rather, if there is any vaccine left, and that if the doctors can find time to leave off treating others, and if they can get some doctor who has time to treat them they would like to have

themselves vaccinated.

It's about time to call a halt on our standing up and taking the gaff even in the "funny" column. Let's get busy and write 'em every time, and often, and sometimes give 'em 'ell! A little sarcasm would be very useful. Vaccinate that editor with a little croton oil,

I

Doctors' New Year's Resolutions.

HEREBY resolve:

That I will not write 1,924 bootleg prescriptions this year.

That I will be very chary for twelve months of all investments whatsoever, if any.

That I will attend more closely than ever to my knitting if any.

That I will attend more medical meetings this year-many more than ever before, if any.

That I will know my berries this year, every berrie!

That I will work teeth and toenail to the end that more Doctors become legislators.

That I will work the works to which I am called, believing that the General Practitioner is an institution of the people, by the people and for the people, and shall not perish from the earth, that I practice my Art, keeping my oath inviolate 'n'ev'rything.

That I will live and practice true Americanism to the fullest extent, and help others so to do.

That I will not permit further extension of my "free list" and my "drug addicts."

That I will avoid constipation of ideas and flatulent diarrhea of words.

That I will refrain from playing golf verbally.

Also surgery, if any.

That I will not knife the cults and the dragless dips, for I don't care what'n'I becomes of them, nor how soon.

That I will not Coueize my dead beats, needlessly, 'n'ev'rything.

That I will not festoon as with garlands the ears of any jassack-not again this year.

That in-so-far as judgment within me lies I will not send to the hospital cases that should be treated at home, since the general practitioner is essential in preserving the American home.

That I will not carelessly dismiss an

BUSINESS TALK TO DOCTORS

These Talks are intended to present in a plain and direct way the general principles of a physician's business life. The investment of savings is a feature of every man's business life. A physician's work is removed from the business world, and his mind is occupied by science and the humanities rather than by business propositions. Hence physicians have been easily duped by financial schemers of all sorts. WORLD readers have been abundantly warned in this department and hundreds of thousands of dollars have been saved to the profession thereby.

The best and cheapest way that we know of to get information concerning the numerous concerns that are asking the public to buy their stock is to send $2 to The Financial World, 53 Park Place, New York, N. Y., for a ten-weeks' trial subscription. Then as a subscriber you have the privilege of using their Subscribers' Service—that is, you can write them for information concerning any offered investment, and get the advantage of their long experience and excellent facilities in the realm of finance.

WB

E wish you a Happy, Prosperous New Year. May your clientele grow larger day by day. May all your patients pay you promptly and the full amount.

Get out your bills on the 1st of each month. Let your patients know how much they owe you. Put your money in bank and avoid wild-cat investments. One investment house writes:

If half the brains and energy were given to caring for money-to seeing that it is safely and profitably invested-that were given to earning of it in the first place, financial independence would be almost as common as poverty and want are now. The magic of 10 per cent. has lured away millions of dollars every year from unwary investors. But the unquestioned acceptance of 6 per cent. as meaning safety has lost almost as many.

Not every investment is safe. Not all that glitters is gold.

A subscriber wants to know if he should invest in life insurance stock. An agent tells him it pays 51⁄2 per cent. dividends, but will soon pay 20 per cent. It may be a safe company in which to invest. It is very doubtful if it will ever pay 20 per cent. dividends. The agent may be using We the higher figure to lure the doctor. are not acquainted with that particular insurance company, and therefore could not advise him to purchase the stock.

And now we have some advice on how to use your money:

How to Keep Your Money and Make it Earn More.

"Buy only what you know," is the advice given to prospective investors in securities by

Herbert N. Casson in Forbes Magazine (New York). "It is a curious fact," says the writer, "that almost every business man buys rubbish, when he begins to invest his money. Invariably, he buys shares in a business that he knows nothing about. That accounts for the immense sales of mining and oil stocks.

"A beginner in the world of finance wants big profits. He scorns 6 or 7 per cent. He wants 15 per cent. He has heard of 20 per cent. He wants perfection. Therefore, as perfection is never to be had at home, he invests his money in properties that are thousands of miles away.

"In all cases, whenever you can, buy an interest in a business that is near by. Invest in your own town. Buy what you can see.

"Far-off fields look green, but they are not half so green as you are if you invest your good money in them.

"First buy the house you live in. Then buy the house next door. The experience that you will get as a landlord will soon cure you of rainbow-chasing.

"If there is not property near by that you can put your money in, then buy the securities of those well-known firms that have been carrying on for thirty years or longer.

"Any railroad or firm that has paid dividends for thirty years is as good as anything can be, in this world of risks.

"But always invest in a business that you know all about, if possible. The trade that you know is the one that you are least likely to get fooled in.

"The point is that you mustn't be a greenhorn when you invest. You must not be credulous.

"All ignorance is dangerous, but most of all in finance. If you stick to what you know, you are likely to stick to your money."-Telegraph and Telephone Age.

In a pamphlet on "How Other People Get Ahead," the U. S. Treasury Department gives good advice on how to make your present income take care of your future. Among other good advice appears the following:

How to Avoid Bad Investments. Twelve Danger Signs:

Every investor should be "on guard." This applies particularly to the small investor.

1. Mining stock. The best looking mine in the world may prove a "white elephant." Mining is a very expensive undertaking and the risks are unusually great.

There are many good mining investments. of course, but this branch of the investment market is generally not for those who work for and depend upon a salary.

2. Oil stock. Drilling for oil is costly. The hazards are great. Oil investments are speculative and in a class with mining investments.

3. In the wake of every important discovery or invention there comes a host of schemes"airplanes," "radio," "wireless." The promoters of these may have only the best of intentions, but frequently their enthusiasm is