A HINT TO MILLIONAIRES.-Twenty-one hundred of the citizens of the little city of Mansfield, Ohio, have signed petitions requesting that the Carnegie library building, now in course of erection, be made into a city hospital, and that the ten thousand dollars already advanced by Mr. Carnegie be returned to him unless he should be willing to have the building used as a hospital. The petitioners say that the city needs a hospital more than it needs a library. Indeed, of what little city can this not be said? In this day of cheap books and it is a fact that the works of the masters can be bought for far less than the fictional trash that floods the market - the acquiring of a private library and the interchange of high-class literature is not a matter of great difficulty. The craze for modern fiction is satisfied by huge private corporations, that install book-cases of the latest works in almost every drug-store. Far different the hospital situation. Even for the smallest cities a hospital is almost an absolute necessity. The people have learned that in certain cases aid can be given them that is difficult if not impossible to obtain in their homes. This is, of course, especially true of the poorer classes of society, for whose comfort and welfare public hospitals are primarily built. Then, too, it can hardly be gainsaid that where there is a public hospital with a visiting staff the professional standing of the physicians of the town is gradually raised. The members of the staff undoubtedly improve in diagnostic and operative skill, they study their cases more closely, take more interest in research, write and read papers before their county and other societies more often, and, indeed, in every way progress. Physicians who are not fortunate enough to obtain positions on the staff must use what resources they can in order not to be left behind, and in this way, as has been said, the professional standing of the community is steadily uplifted. The action of the city of Mansfield is a strong hint to multi-millionaires who desire to contribute their money to the public good, and is an example that could be followed with advantage by many other cities that are being afflicted with unsolicited libraries. Whether the munificent donor will fall in with the scheme outlined is, of course, another story. Lancet Clinic.

ARTIFICIAL ALBUMEN A NEW CONDENSED FOOD TO SUPPLANT MEAT.- Consul Pike, of Zittau, reports that an interesting discovery is being discussed by the German press, which refers to the result of a recent investigation by Prof. Emil Fischer, of Berlin. He writes:

"It is contended that the principal nourishment required by the human body for its maintenance is albumen, according to the renowned professor of physiology, Pfeiffer, the source of all muscular strength. For this reason it has at all times been the endeavor of our learned men to obtain more knowledge of this important ingredient of our daily food. Up till now all such efforts have been in vain, but it was recognized that were it possible to make artificial albumen, a complete change in the present system of nourishing the human body would be brought about and would render the now so necessary meat foods to a great extent dispensable.

"Prof. Emil Fischer, director of the leading chemical institution, the Berlin University, has gained the credit of having accomplished the first analysis of natural albumen. He has established the composition of the various ingredients, some of which he has succeeded in producing artificially. The substance thus obtained he has called 'polypeptide,' and it is said to possess a large number of the properties characteristic of natural albumen. The vast importance of this discovery will be better comprehended when we realize that the introduction of this artificial food will reduce the disastrous effects of bad harvests, pestilence, etc., to a minimum, and cause famine to become a thing of the past."- Scientific American.

A RADIOGRAPHIC SHADOW simulating that of a urinary calculus may be produced by an atheromatous plaque, as, for example, in the internal iliac artery, by a phlebolith, or by a calcareous gland.― American Journal of Surgery.

SUBIODIDE OF BISMUTH dusted on an oozing granulating wound promptly stops the bleeding. It is also an excellent stimulant to the growth of epithelium.- American Journal of Surgery.

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EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR

Vol. XXVIII.

NASHVILLE, MAY, 1906.

No. 5

Society Proceedings

TENNESSEE STATE MEDICAL ASSOCIATION - SEVENTY-THIRD ANNUAL MEETING.

Held at Memphis, Tenn., April 10, 11, and 12, 1906.

WE place before our readers the following Abstract of the action of the House of Delegates of the Association prepared expressly for this Journal by Wm. Whitford, the official stenographer.

The meeting at Memphis was a most enjoyable, satisfactory, and successful one, the attendance being unusually large- the Memphis doctors being present in force on the evening of the second day at the banquet. They are wonderfully busy doctors, are our friends in Memphis, especially when the State Medical Association meets in that city. We had made especial arrangements this year — largely through the use of "Grape-vine" dispatches and had the Annual Race Meet at Montgomery Park so arranged as not to conflict with the meeting of the Association

but alas, and alas! some of our confreres whom we did hope to see this year at least a part of the time at the meeting were not present. However, the members of the Shelby County and Memphis Medical Society did their whole duty in the premises by providing a most recherche and tasteful “Banquet" that simply took the "rag off the bush," and we had the exceedingly great pleasure of meeting a larger number of the "medicine men" of the far-famed "Bluff City" than on any previous occasion. Yes, our little "suburb" on the banks of the Mississippi did afford the State Medical Association a most excellent opportunity of enjoyment on the part of the visiting members.

The "Scientific Work" of the Association was above the usual order. The Committee of Arrangements and the very efficient Secretary of the Association had prepared a very full Program, so full in fact, that only about one-third of the papers were read. But those that were read and the discussions thereon were unusually good, and will appear in due time in the Transactions. Being somewhat pressed for space in this issue, we leave out the recital of the titles of the papers presented and the names of those participating in the discussions, as these will all be presented in full as stated in the "Transactions," which will for another year be published in book form. We are gratified, however, at being able to place before our many readers this month. the very excellent "ANNUAL ADDRESS" of the President. It was a "hummer" and you will miss something good if you fail to read it.

The following is the Stenographer's abstract of the work of the House of Delegates, including a condensed report of the Symposium on Tuberculosis, at Germania Hall on the evening of the second day, immediately preceding the Banquet:

The Association met at the Peabody Hotel, under the Presidency of Dr. Cooper Holtzclaw, Chattanooga.

In the House of Delegates, Dr. G. C. Savage introduced for discussion the matter of whether the Association should continue to publish its proceedings in book form, or in the form of a monthly medical journal, as is done by several state medical societies. He said that a considerable majority of the County

medical societies had expressed an opinion in favor of changing to the publication of a journal.* He submitted a proposition which he received from a Nashville publisher to publish a journal. After an animated discussion, which was participated in by Drs. Savage, Happel, Stephenson, Leroy, Richards, Eve, McKinney, and Moore, the motion to publish the proceedings in journal form was laid on the table.

Dr. T. J. Happel moved to amend Article III, Section 1, of the "Principles of Ethics," by adding: “ Provided, however, that no consultations shall be held with physicians who designate their practice as based on any exclusive dogma or sectarian system of medicine."

The amendment being seconded, Dr. Savage raised the point of order as to whether the House of Delegates of the Tennessee State Medical Association had a right to amend a document that is the property of the House of Delegates of the American Medical Association. He said the Association had a right to interpret it, but not to amend it.

The President decided that this point of order was well taken, and that the Code of Ethics belongs to the world, and not to Tennessee alone.

After discussion, which was participated in by Drs. Roberts, Cooke, Savage, Happel, and others, Dr. Dice moved that a committee of three be appointed to construe the Code of Ethics as touching consultations, and make its report to the House of Delegates, and that action then be taken.

This motion was seconded, but was subsequently, on motion. of Dr. Roberts, who claimed that the Association having at a previous meeting adopted the Principles of Ethics, did not lose or forfeit the right to amend or interpret the same as they saw fit at any time, and that now is the time for us to place ourselves on record, laid on the table.

After further discussion, by Drs. McNabb, Roberts, Cooke, Wallace, Dr. Wallace moved that the amendment be added as another section, making it read, Section 1, A.

This motion was seconded.

Dr. Savage again made the point of order that the House of

*This statement cannot be sustained by the facts. (Ed. S. P.)