frequently depends the legal conduct of a given case, and the guilt or innocence of the accused. Included in the work is the enumeration of the laws of the various states relating to the commitment and retention of the insane. The entire work is overflowing with matters of the utmost importance, and expresses clearly, concisely, and accurately the very latest opinions on all branches of forensic medicin and toxicology.

The Treatment of Fractures. With notes upon a few common dislocations. By Chas. L. Scudder, M. D., Surgeon to the Massachusetts General Hospital. Fourth edition, thoroly revised, enlarged, and reset. Octavo volume of 534 pages, with nearly 700 original illustrations. Philadelphia, New York, London: W. B. Saunders & Co., 1993. Polisht Buckram, $5 net: Sheep or Half Morocco, $6 net.

Four large editions of this work in less than four years testify to its value. The student sees the actual conditions as they exist in fractured bones, and is encouraged to determin for himself how to meet the conditions found in each individual case. The reader is not only told, but is shown how to apply apparatus, for, as far as possible, all the details are illustrated. This elaborate and complete series of illustrations constitutes a feature of the book.

International Clinics. A Quarterly of Illustrated Clinical Lectures and Especially Prepared Original Articles. Edited by A. O. J. Kelly, A. M., M. D. Publisht by J. B. Lippincott Company, Philadelphia, Pa. Price $2.

This is Vol. IV, of the thirteenth series. It contains 304 pages. One of the most interesting articles is that on Subcutaneous Injections of Mercury for Syphilis, by Dr. Louis Julien, of Paris. It contains many other lectures of average interest. It will be noticed that the price has been reduced.

Morrow on Social Diseases. The Relation of Social Diseases and Marriage. By Prince A. Morrow, A. M., M. D., Emeritus Professor of Genito-Urinary Diseases in the University and Bellevue Hospital Medical College; Surgeon to the City Hospital: Consulting Dermatologist to St. Vincent's Hospital, etc., New York. In one octavo volume of 390 pages. Cloth, $3 net. Lea Brothers & Co., Publishers, New York and Philadelphia, 1904. One of the most valuable books we have ever read. It contains much which its title does not indicate, and which we cannot compass in the space of a review; such as advice to the physician when confronted with grave problems regarding secrets of his patients who propose marriage against his advice, etc. It has a full discussion regarding methods and possibilities of controling the "social evil." It is a book which the physician may place in the hands of the intelligent lay reader who is concerned in the matters treated.

Ewing on the Clinical Pathology of the Blood. New (2d) edition. A Treatise on the General Principles and Applications of Hematology, by James Ewing, M. D., Professor of Pathology, Cornell University Medical College, New York. New (2d) edition, revised and enlarged. In one octavo volume of 492 pages, with 43 engravings and 18 full-page colored plates. Cloth, $3.50, net. Lea Brothers & Co., Publishers, Philadelphia and New York.

The pronounced advance made in the methods of blood examination, and the really valuable increase in our knowledge of the blood and its diseases within the last few years, make this book interesting. The subjects of Cryoscopy and the Serum Test for Blood have been changed and added to, as has also that on Leukemia. This book has been adopted by most of the higher class of medical colleges.

The Complete Medical Pocket-Formulary and Physician's Vade Mecum. Containing upwards of 2,500 prescriptions collected from the practise of physicians and surgeons of experience, American and foreign, arranged for ready reference under an alphabetical list of diseases. Also a special list of new drugs, with their dosage, solubilities, and therapeutical applications. Collated for the use of practicians by J. C. Wilson, A.M., M.D., Physician to the German Hospital, Philadelphia, etc. Third revised edition. Publisht by J. B. Lippincott Company, Philadelphia, Pa. Price, $1.75.

Contains 264 pages. Handsomely bound in serviceable leather. The prescriptions are judiciously selected, and the blank pages inserted thruout the

book make it very convenient. Many charts and tables not commonly found in books of this class are presented.

Howe's' Handbook of Parliamentary Usage. Arranged for the instant use of Legislativ and Mass Meetings, Clubs, and Fraternal Orders, Teachers, Students, Workingmen, and all who desire to conduct themselves "decently and in order" in public assemblies. By Frank William Howe. Publisht by Hinds & Noble, 31 West 15th street, New York, N. Y. Price, 50 cents, postpaid.

This little book contains but 54 pages, yet it completely covers all the ground covered by the larger and older works. The arrangement is unique; by opening the book at the center, one is given an instantaneous view of twenty-six subjects, and the matter of reaching complete references to any of the twenty-six is merely a matter of opening the book at a page plainly indext. It is truly an instantaneous arbitrator. So certain are the publishers of its giving complete satisfaction, that they offer to mail it to anyone on approval" to be paid for only if approved, otherwise returnable." It is so small as to slip into any coat pocket, and has all the gist of Cushing, Robert, Reed, and Palmer. We have never seen so convenient and so complete a book on rules of order.

Mother and Daughter. By C. A. Button, M.D. Publisht by Holland Medical Company, Holland, N. Y. Price, $1, post paid,

This little book contains 147 pages, and is intended for the use of the laity. It is singularly free from the fault of inducing patients to treat themselves; it should in reality increase the practise of the doctor by showing the woman when she actually needs medical attention. It is handsomely bound in red leather, and is of convenient pocket size. It is one of the least objectionable of its kind.

Pain and Its Indications. An analytical outline of diagnosis and treatment. By Edward C. Hill, M.S., M.D., Professor of Chemistry in the Medical and Dental Department of the University of Denver; Author of a text-book on Medical Chemistry, etc. Publisht by G. P. Engelhard & Co., Chicago, Ill., 1904. Price, $1, postpaid.

Contains 319 pages and an index. It is a timely and useful book; a valuable aid to success in practise. Too many of our books spend too much time on etiology, pathology, etc. The physician needs and the patient demands something which will bring about speedy relief. This work aims at something as the arrow flies. It is diagnosis and treatment, and nothing more. A valuable work.

Commoner Diseases of the Eye. How to Detect and How to Treat Them. By Casey A. Wood, C.M., M.D., D.C.L., Professor of Clinical Ophthalmology in the University of Illinois, etc., and Thomas A. Woodruff, M.D., C.M., L.R.C.P., Professor of Ophthalmology in the Chicago Post-graduate Medical School, Chicago, etc.; 250 illustrations, 7 colored plates; 500 pp. 5 x 8 in. Bound in green buckram, gold side-title and top. $1.75 net. lisht by G. P. Engelhard & Co., Chicago, Ill.

Pub

Contains 491 pages and an index. Written for the general practician who wishes to know enuf to treat the easy and common affections of the eye, and who does not care to be so ignorant as to tamper with serious affections beyond the range of his ability or equipment. It will do much good along this line. It is notably free from technical terms common in the larger works on ophthalmology, and is well illustrated.

Diseases of the Nervous System. A practical treatise on nervous diseases, for the medical student and general practician. By F. Savary Pearce, M.D., Professor of Nervous and Mental Diseases in the Medico-Chirurgical College and Hospital of Philadelphia; Neurologist to the Philadelphia Hospital, etc. Colored frontispiece; 91 illustrations in the text, many in colors. Publisht by D. Appleton & Co., New York and London, 1904. Price not stated.

Contains 386 pages, with an appendix of prescriptions and a good index. Such a work is needed. The author has succeeded admirably in writing it in just such a manner as will admit of its appealing to the general practician. It is condenst, yet lucid. Mooted points have but scant consideration. It is eminently practical, and is a safe and authoritativ guide in the mazes of this intri

cate subject. It is especially strong along therapeutic lines; not vaguely hinting, but definitly stating just what drugs should be employed in certain conditions. Hypnotism, electricity, climatology, massage, and hydrotherapeutics are all treated briefly. Symptoms and methods of examination are fully detailed, and this is one of the strongest and most valuable features of the book; the general practician so frequently failing in his diagnosis because he does not know how to interpret plainly evident nervous symptoms.

1904 International Medical Annual: A year book of Treatment and Practicians' Index. Twenty-second year. Publisht by E. B. Treat & Co., 241-243 West 23rd street, lew York, N. Y. Price, $3.

This issue contains 752 pages and an index, uniform in style and binding with former issues. It contains a number of very good illustrations. It is well edited and abundantly supplied with references. Such a book will almost take the place of a post-graduate course; and to those whose libraries are limited, it offers a splendid chance to keep up with the very latest advances in medicin at a nominal cost. No matter of importance is overlookt, and every new agent and method is impartially and impassionately discust.

Commencement

Parts: Orations, Essays, Addresses, Valedictories, Salutatories, Ivy Orations, Toasts. Compiled by Harry Cassell Davis, A.M., Ph.D. Publisht by Hinds & Noble, 31 West 15th street, New York, N. Y. Price postpaid, $1.50.

Many physicians have children who would find this book priceless. It is the best compilation of this class of eloquence we have ever read. It is not calculated to encourage imitation so much as inspiration. It contains a number of subjects for orations and essays which, in themselves, will save much worry and research. It is up-to-date oratory; not fossilized fragments touching dead and forgotten issues.

Pros and Cons. Complete debates. Important questions fully discust, both in the affirmativ and the negativ, with by laws and parliamentary rules for conducting debating societies, and with a list of interesting topics for debate. By A. H. Craig. Publisht by Hinds & Noble, 31 West 15th street, New York, N. Y. Price postpaid, $1.50.

Contains 564 pages of well-printed and interesting material. It has stimulation and inspiration thruout the work. The matters taken up are live and vital issues; the thoughts are bright and sparkling; the diction and logic are absolutely correct. Among other important features, it has discussion on Government Control;" "The License Question; Suffrage; ""The Tariff: ""Postage; ""Transportation; Our Foreign Policy; price as a parliamentary guide.

"The

etc. It is worth the

How to Attract and Hold an Audience: A Popular Treatise on the Nature, Preparation, and Delivery of Public Discourse. By J. Berg Eisenwein, A.M., Lit.D., Professor of the English Language and Literature in the Pennsylvania Military College. Publisht by Hinds & Noble, 31 West 15th street, New York, N. Y. Price postpaid, $1.

Contains 262 well-printed and handsomely bound pages. It is not a "cut-and-dried" treatise; it does not teach stilted style or imitativ delivery; it strives to develop a man so he will be able to put his best characteristic to the fore. Every physician is forced to speak often in public; learn to do it well and creditably; this book will teach you. It contains 15 model orations; extracts from 16 famous orations; 100 subjects with brief hints as to treatment; and 100 subjects, without hints. It is suggestion, elocution, oratory, logic, all combined. It is unique in scope and concep

tion.

A Manual of Fever Nursing. By Reynold Webb Wilcox, M.A., M.D., LL.D., Professor of Medicin in the New York PostGraduate School and Hospital; Consulting Physician to the Nassau Hospital; Visiting Physician to St. Mark's Hospital, etc. Illustrated. Publisht by P. Blakiston's Son & Co., Philadelphia, Pa. Price, $1.

This little volume contains 227 pages. It is the lectures on fever nursing delivered by the author to the

nurses at St. Mark's Hospital; hence is a good, safe, and modern guide for nurses and physicians in the treatment of this class of cases. The first four chapters are taken up with generalities: Thermometer, diagnosis, baths, treatment, furniture, care of patient, disinfection, etc. The other five chapters take up the special varieties of fever in detail.

OUR MONTHLY TALK

The lines of battle are being drawn up for our quadrennial political contest, but what is it all about? We read little or nothing of principles, but much of men, parties, control of party machinery, etc. Before these columns reach your eyes, the republican convention will have met and adjourned. Up to this date (June 19) I have seen nothing in the newspapers concerning the principles that this convention will promulgate and stand for except what is understood by the expression, "stand pat." Among the delegates are many prominent railroad men; for example, Charles S. Mellin, President of the New York, New Haven and Hartford System, express company men, notably Senator Platt, of New York, bank officials, capitalists, etc.; so the corporations and money interests will be abundantly represented.

99 66

The real contest for principles will occur at the St. Louis convention, in July. There has been a quiet but determined battle for party control since the 1900 election between the reorganizer" democrats and the progressiv democrats who have dominated the last two conventions. The reorganizers, typified by Ex-President Cleveland, say that they want to return to oidfashioned,true" democracy; "genuin" democracy; ་་ sane democracy; but further they do not say. They do not specify what "true," genuin," "sane" democracy is. When askt to specify, they reply by avoiding that question, but they dilate fluently and voluminously on "harmony; the importance and desirability of "victory; "that there is a chance to win, if all can only get together and work harmoniously. But what is the use of fighting, if there is nothing to fight for? What is the use of victory, if it means nothing? What is the use of harmony, when there is no harmony-and no possibility of harmony unless the progressivs give up all they have contended for since 1896, and lie down like the lamb, within the lion?

Here is a chance for an interesting contest. One side has plenty of money, and the leaders of this side are quite as largely corporation and "special privilege men as are the leaders of the republican party, and the platform that they will try hard to adopt, tho full of high-sounding and meaningless generalities, will really mean nothing more than the stand pat of the republicans. If they prevail, they will not make a contest of principles, but they will pit their man against the man Roosevelt, and the President's personal peculiarities will be exaggerated for political capital, and race animosity will be unjustifiably and most unfortunately stirred up, for the purpose of beating Roosevelt.

The progressiv element at the St. Louis convention will contend for principles; among them being restriction of the privileges of corporations, trusts, the money interests and all specially privileged classes, an income tax, the fostering of independence in the Philippines, as was done so successfully and so gloriously in Cuba, election of U. S. Senators by the people, a Government telegraph, postal savings banks, direct legislation, etc., etc., etc.

Ex-Congressman John J. Lentz, of Ohio, belongs to the progressiv element of the democratic party. He sends me the following, which kindly read carefully, tho in small print to save space:

WHEREAS, Men differ radically as to the money question, the tariff question, the Philippine policy, and the like, but do not differ as to the advisability and duty of our National Government under the constitution to provide for the people the use of the telegraph as a part of our Postal System; and

WHEREAS, Uncle Sam's letters still go on foot, on horse-back,

in wagons, steamboats and railway cars, but are denied the right to travel by electricity; and

WHEREAS, Electricity now furnishes the best facilities for transmitting thought; and

WHEREAS, Outside of America 95 percent of the world's telegraphs are in government hands; and

WHEREAS, Reports from seventy-five of the principal nations of the world show that the government owns and operates the telegraph in all of them except Bolivia, Cuba, Cyprus, Honduras, and the United States; and

WHEREAS, More than seventy bills have been introduced in Congress for the establishing of a Postal Telegraph; and

WHEREAS, The committees of the House and Senate have reported on the question nineteen times-twice against the Postal Telegraph and seventeen times in favor of it within the past thirtyfive years; and

WHEREAS, such statesmen as Henry Clay, Charles Sumner, Hannibal Hamlin, President Grant, Senators Edmunds, Chandler and Butler, Postmasters-General Johnson, Randall, Maynard, Howell, Cresswell and John Wanamaker, Professor Morse, the inventor of the telegraph, Cyrus W. Field, the founder of the Atlantic cable, James Gordon Bennett Professor, Richard T. Ely, Rev. Lyman Abbott, B. O. Flower, Henry D Lloyd, Dr. C. F. Taylor, Professor F ank Parsons, Samuel Gor pers, Jar es Russell Lowen, Phulis Brooks, and hundreds of other emiuent men in every walk of life, have advocated a Postal Telegraph; and

WHEREAS, Legislatures, city councils, boards of trade, chambers of commerce, labor organizations and farmer alliances, representing millions of our citizens, have joined in efforts to secure a Postal Telegraph; and

WHEREAS, The farmers, merchants, mechanics, working classes, and professional men are substantially all in favor of a Postal Telegraph; and

WHEREAS, There remains no one adverse to the immediate construction and operation of a Postal Telegraph by our National Government except a small group of socalled conservativ politicians, who have always proved themselves subservient to any monopoly, and aided in delaying needed legislation; and WHEREAS, It is estimated by competent experts that a Postal Telegraph system could be installed in each and all of the seventyfive thousand post-offices of the United States for thirty millions of dollars, and messages of thirty words each could be transmitted from one post-office to another, no matter how great the distance, at a cost of five cents each; and

WHEREAS, The Western Union has offices in only about twentyfive thousand places in the United States; and

WHEREAS, The millions of our population who receive their mail at the fifty thousand post offices where there are no telegraph offices are denied and deprived of the facilities of transmitting thought by electricity; and

WHEREAS, Common sense and the entire people are on the side of a Postal l'elegraph; and

WHEREAS, Against the Postal Telegraph there remains no opposition except that of unscrupulous and subservient politicians of the telegraph monopoly; now therefore be it

Resolved, That we, the Democrats of Franklin County, Ohio, in mass convention assembled, on May 21, 1904, in the city of Columbus, Ohio, declare in favor of the immediate construction of a Postal Telegraph system, extended to every post-office of the United States, to be owned and operated in connection with our Postal system; and be it further

Resolved, That we instruct and direct the delegates selected by this mass convention of the Twelfth Congressional District of the State of Ohio to the National Democratic Convention, to be held at St. Louis, July 6, 7 and 8, 1904, to do all in their power to have incorporated in the National Democratic Platform a plank favoring and promising the immediate construction and operation cf a Postal Telegraph, should the Democratic party be entrusted with the conduct and administration of the National Government; and

be it further

Resolved, That we direct and instruct our delegates to the State Convention from this, Franklin County, and from this Twelfth Congressional District of the State of Ohio, to do everything in their power to secure a resolution or declaration on the part of the Democratic State Convention, to be assembled in the city of Columbus, May 24 and 25, 1994, urging upon the Democratic National Convention the adoption of a plank promising and favoring the immediate construction of a Postal Telegraph; and be it further

Resolved, That the best is none too good for the common people, and that, therefore, the people who produce all the property of this country should also have an opportunity of enjoying all the blessings, privileges and profits which would come from the use of electricity for the transmission of thought and the conduct of business.

Mr. Lentz writes me that the above "was adopted unanimously by our local democracy at a mass meeting held on the 21st day of May. I also presented it to the committee on resolutions for the State Convention, but that committee was made up of a number of elderly men who seemed to think that they did not want to say very much in their platform, and for the time being I lost; but I expect to present the matter to the committee on resolutions at the National Convention."

Incidentally, allow me to say, tho I do it modestly, the facts in the above were gotten from Equity

There will be another national convention, of which I venture but few who read these lines are aware. The populists will meet in national convention at Springfield, Ill., on July 4th-a fitting way in which to celebrate the 4th of July when true patriotism, placing country above party, and public interests above private interests, actuates the delegates. The great corporations, trusts and money interests will not be represented in this convention, and there is no struggle for the nomination; but the principles put forth in the platform will be progressiv. The progressiv democrats have gotten their ideas by association with the populists during the past two campaigns. and substantial"

But the wealthy, "respectable classes (who enjoy special privileges, and who get their wealth from the people) say that populists are "theorists"-"dreamers"-"Utopian idealists." Let us see. Are there any facts to prove their claims? They believe that all money (of whatever kind) should be issued by, and be under the control of, the Government. In the early 90's, when the results of the worldwide panics reacht New Zealand, the Government had to aid, and later took charge of, the banks of that country, in order to prevent widespread disaster. The Government there has been "in the banking business" ever since, and so long as the present policy is continued, a panic is impossible in that country.

Government loans direct to the people-not to the banks, but to the masses of the people-at reasonable and uniform interest, is practicable, because it is being done in New Zealand every day, with a profit to the government and a help to the people, and the losses are almost nothing.

Postal savings banks are practicable, because they are in daily operation in New Zealand and in many other countries.

Government telegraph is practicable, because the telegraph is operated by the government in every civilized country except Bolivia, Honduras, Cyprus, Cuba and the United States of America.

The package post is practicable, because it is in daily operation in New Zealand, England, Germany, and many other countries.

Land titles are guaranteed by the government in New Zealand. Personal property is exempted from taxation, sinall land-holdings are exempted, and landvalue is taxt with an increast rate on large holdings in New Zealand, in order to protect the humble home, and place the burden of taxation where it can best be borne.

The railroads are run for service, not profit, in New Zealand, and school children are carried free.

Incomes and inheritances are taxt in New Zealand and in many other countries, and the larger the income or inheritance, the larger the proportionate tax.

Strikes and lockouts are prohibited in New Zealand, and worthy old age in need gets a pension.

The coal trust in New Zealand is kept within reasonable bounds by the government going into the coal mining business and offering competition to the trust.

These are a few samples of the "vagaries" that the. capitalistic press "pokes fun at." But ridicule is not argument; and as the masses of the people become more intelligent and better informed in regard to what is really going on in other parts of the world, our statesmen " and press will have to become more progressiv. Will the doctors lead, and demand better and more up-to-date service from both statesmen and editors? The protected and privileged interests will ride the people as long as they can, and they will keep information that they know will be harmful to their interests, from the people as long as they can. favorit ways of doing this are by ridicule and falsehood. These interests control the newspapers, so it is difficult to get the real facts before the people. It is for this reason that I brought out the book called "The Story of New Zealand.' I hoped to have it out

Their

about a year before it came out, in order that it might be extensivly read before this campaign; but it is not too late yet. Please see that it is placed in your public library, so the people may have access to it there. Remember, the price is $3, and satisfaction guaranteed -if you read the book. Sample pages free. Address Equity Series," 1520 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia.

But to return to the conventions: We have known for months what the republican convention will do, and before these lines are printed that convention will have met and adjourned. The populist convention, which meets at Springfield, July 4th, should "rest on its oars" until it sees what the democratic convention does, which meets at St. Louis three days later. If the "reorganizers," or conservativs, control the democratic convention, there will be a strong protest from the masses of the democratic party, and possibly a formal bolt from the convention. Then there will be need of a strong nomination at Springfield-a ticket not too radical, but with great strength of character, with which the progressiv democrats should cooperate, as the populists cooperated with the democrats in 1896 and 1900. Birds of a feather should flock together," regardless of party name. That's what the corporations and money interests do. Those interests in the democratic party bolted the ticket in 1896 and 1900, and they will do it again this year if they should fail to control the convention. What is to be feared worse than anything is an ingenious straddle "-a non-committal candidate on a non-committal platform. That would leave many honest and well meaning voters in a state of uncertainty. Many would thereby be induced to continue to vote 'er straight;" others would try to make defeat of such an indirect (and dishonest) course certain by voting for Mr. Roosevelt, and others would vote a third ticket. By all means let us have straightforward honesty in politics as well as in everything else. Let us have issues clearly defined, and candidates who truly represent them.

If the progressiv democrats retain control of the party at St. Louis this year, as they did in Chicago in 1896, and in Kansas City in 1900, there will be as little occasion as there was then for a third party ticket. Those who want progressiv measures will, very sensibly, vote with the biggest crowd representing any considerable number of such measures. In the Houston (Texas) Chronicle, Mr. Lentz says:

"Among ourselves there are such differences that we give the republicans no fear about our gaining any headway so long as we do nothing but denounce them in the usual vocabulary and declare our purposes in glittering generalities and superannuated platitudes. It seems to me it is high time for the democratic party at St. Louis to declare in favor of the immediate construction and operation of the telegraph in connection with our postal service. Here is an issue at once. The republican party has been in possession of the national administration nearly all the time since 1861, and the postal telegraph has been before Congress nineteen times since 1867, and seventeen times out of these nineteen times the congressional committee has reported favorable, and yet no step has been taken to give the people the benefit of a postal telegraph.

"Postmaster General John Wanamaker and several other postmaster generals prior to him reported in favor of the postal telegraph. It is est mated by Professor Parsons, of Boston, that the telegraph can be installed in every postoffice in the United States for the sum of $30,000,000, or about one-seventh as much as we expend annually on an army and navy. It is estimated by Professor Parsons that telegraphic messages could be sent by the government at a cost of five cents for thirty words, while the average charges made by the Western Union is thirty-one cents for ten words. For instance, a message from Houston to Columbus, Ohio, is sixty cents, while with a government telegraph we could send thirty words for five cents.

"Of about eighty governments whose reports were on file at Washington, all had government telegraph, according to the reports some seven years ago, except Bolivia, Cuba, Hawaii and Cyprus, and the United States. In this class we did not find ourselves in good company for a republic that boasts of being a government of the people by the people and for the people.

"How much better would it be if Congress were compelled by the people to do their constitutional duty as to postoffices and post roads. It was all well enuf to carry messages on horse-back in the days of Franklin and Jefferson, and it was well enuf to give us the speed of the iron horse after the invention of the locomotiv, but why not now use the speed of electricity, since we have that invention? The best is none too good for the people.

"Why should not a business man in Houston and one in Co

lumbus, Ohio, open up communication by wire any morning and close the whole matter before noon? This is an electrical age, and why should business men wait five or six days to exchange business thoughts by the slow pace of the iron horse when it could all be done in a few minutes on the wings of electricity? If the democratic national convention should declare for a postal telegraph, it would give them an issue that would be constructiv instead of mere denunciation and opposition. It would bring the blessings and advantages of the electric transmission of thought to the people centering around 75,000 postoffices, while the Western Union has only 25,000 offices. Why should the people of these 50,000 additional postoffices be denied the right of the telegraph? Why shouldn't we have the 'greatest good for the greatest number? If the democrats adopt this plank what need is there of 'division in the ranks as there was on the money question?

"If the democrats adopt this plank, what argument can the republicans offer against it?

"There is just as much work for democrats to do now in behalf of humanity as there was in the days of Jefferson, and later in the days of Andrew Jackson. Why not let us do it? Why shouldn't the democratic party offer to do something?"

Let us have progress, from some source; that is, let us compel some party to keep pace with the times, and give us up-to-date governmental service. If the democratic party goes back to its old fogy ideas of "the least government the better," or that government is best which governs least," practically confining the functions of government to military or police functions, allowing corporations, trusts, banks, etc., to exploit the people without restraint, thousands of democrats who have out-grown these antiquated ideas-right perhaps before the days of corporations and trustswill vote directly for President Roosevelt, who is far in advance of the ancient democracy, and who is as strenuously" the people's friend as his surroundings will allow him to be, and as far as he understands progressiv questions. I had Prof. Parsons go to Washington to place a Story of New Zealand" in his hands, and verbally tell him about it and point out to him and mark important portions of the book, but the President was then so engrossed in Panama canal matters that he couldn't be seen. This was unfortunate; but the Professor had a very successful interview with Ex-President Cleveland, to whom a copy of the book and a letter regarding the book from a personal friend, had previously been sent. We have publisht in these columns what Mr. Cleveland had to say about the book and New Zealand. So you see, we have been trying to put the information where it might do the most good. Let us all study and educate along progressiv lines, and after while we will have a progressiv, up-to-date government..

The following letter is very encouraging, and fits in very appropriately with the above:

DEAR DR. TAYLOR:-I am no longer in practice, but I am taking THE WORLD still for the same reason that I chose it in the first place, viz: That I might lend my support to a brave and well placed effort for a better way of living. I regard THE WORLD as the best magazine aid to the busy doctor in his professional work, but I value it still more highly for the work it is doing in the much broader field of social economy. In a government framed to rest upon the shoulders of the people, our greatest menace does not lie in the trust and its "restraint of trade," nor in the bank and its control of the currency, but in the ignorance and indifference of the people to the conduct of governmental affairs.

Party platforms may enumerate principles and demand reforms before election, and the people may be roused into a spasm of "patriotic" support which is heralded abroad as an expression of the "will of the majority," and hence sacred and inviolable. Then immediately the "majority" is encouraged to go to sleep while the "bosses" deliver the goods. Should any one criticize the manner of delivery or the character of the "goods," he is violently denounced as a dangerous agitator, a disturber of the peace, a destroyer of "confidence."

THE WORLD is doing a noble work in showing that it is not what people demand, but what they tolerate after election, that constitutes the measure and character of the government they enjoy or must endure.

It is befitting that this correct diagnosis of the true nature of the popular unrest should come from a source skilled in the examina tion and correct interpretation of disease. You have but thus clearly to call attention to the true nature of the trouble to reveal the remedy to any thinking man.

Your work, Doctor, in the medical field is of untold value, but the field of which we have just been speaking and which you have so ably occupied for many years, is no less intimately connected with the popular welfare, and to my mind seems much more funda.

mental.

I inclose the amount of indebtedness, with most fervent wishes for your continued welfare and success. Fraternally, Washington, D. C.

Jos. H. MYERS.

The Medical World

C. F. TAYLOR, M.D., Editor and Publisher

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"THE MEDICAL WORLD"

1520 Chestnut Street

Philadelphia, Pa. No. 8

Language is a growth rather than a creation. The growth of our vocabulary is seen in the vast increase in the size of our dictionaries during the past century. This growth is not only in amount, but among other elements of growth the written forms of words are becoming simpler and more uniform. For example, compare Eng. lish spelling of a centnry or two centuries ago with that of to-day! It is our duty to encourage and advance the movement toward simple, uniform and rational spelling. See the recommendations of the Philological Society of London, and of the American Philological Association, and list of amended spellings, publisht in the Century Dictionary (following the letter z) and also in the Standard Dictionary, Webster's Dictionary, and other authoritativ works on language. The tendency is to drop silent letters in some of the most flagrant instances, as ugh from though, etc., change ed to t in most places where so pronounced (where it does not affect the preceding sound), etc.

The National Educational Association, consisting of ten thousand teachers, recommends the following:

"At a meeting of the Board of Directors of the National Educational Association held in Washington, D. C., July 7, 1898, the action of the Department of Superintendence was approved, and the list of words with simplified spelling adopted for use in all pub lications of the National Educational Association as follows:

securing the general adoption of the suggested amendments IRVING SHEPARD, Secretary."

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We feel it a duty to recognize the above tendency, and to adopt it in a reasonable degree. We are also disposed to add enuf (enough) to the above list, and to conservativly adopt the following rule recommended by the American Philological Association: Drop final "e" in such words as "definite," "infinite," favorite," etc., when the preceding vowel is short. Thus, spell" opposit,' preterit," "hypocrit," " requisit," etc. When the preceding vowel is long, as in "polite,' "unite, etc., retain present forms unchanged. We simply wish to do our duty in aiding to simplify and ration alize our universal instrument-language.

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Medical Journalism.

finite,'

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Medical journalism should serve the interests of the medical profession, and serve them truly. It is not enuf that the coldly scientific needs of the profession be faithfully lookt after, but the editor should make his subscribers feel that his publication is their personal friend and daily helper. As you well know, THE MEDICAL WORLD has been conducted along these lines, and what is the result? Our fiscal year ends on the 30th of June of each year. The closing of the books this year shows a larger return from subscriptions than ever before. Last year showed the largest subscription returns up to that date, and while the advertising returns were a little more than for some years past, for the first time in our history the subscription returns were ahead of our advertising returnsjust a little ahead-and that is considered remarkable for a $1. medical magazine. But this year the subscription returns ran way ahead of our advertising returns! This is as it should be. We are working for the profession; and We are doing the profession should pay us. good service for our advertisers, also, because we have a good, honest circulation, among a good, honest portion of the profession, and it pays any good, honest advertiser to reach our readers. But this should be incidental to our work, and not the main object. When the chief income comes from advertisers, and the chief object is to serve advertisers, then the service of the profession must be incidental. This is reversing the true order. While the profession has been pretty dull and pretty slow about it, sooner or later it finds its true friends, and then it sticks to them. Sooner or later it finds out its enemies (professed friends), also, and it knows how to treat them.