decolorizing acid solution and again rinsed in water. At this stage of the staining, a precaution must be taken which is not necessary in the staining of sputum and one which is ignored in most text-books. It is known that the smegma bacillus, which resembles the tubercle bacillus in form, will also resist the decolorizing action of mineral acids and it is therefore apt to be confounded with the tubercle bacillus in the examination of urinary sediments. It happens, however, that alcohol will decolorize the smegma baccillus rapidly while it requires much longer contact to decolorize the tubercle bacillus. For this reason, a little alcohol is poured over the slide to decolorize the smegma bacillus and the slide is then rinsed with water and counter-stained with methylene blue. Any red bacillus remaining on the slide is either the bacillus lepræ or the bacillus tuberculosis, and in the United States at least, the bacillus lepra may be practically excluded because of its rarity.

The treatment of urinary tuberculosis must depend upon the urgency of the symptoms. It is recognized that all operative measures, even the passing of a sound or catheter, are to be avoided because the slightest mechanical disturbance may rouse a latent tuberculosis into most malignant activity. The most favorable treatment is the climatic one together with anti-tubercular medication, avoiding all drugs or doses that irritate the urinary tract. On the other hand, if pain and hemorrhage become severe or the tuberculosis is progressing actively, it is sometimes wise to risk the operative aggravation for the sake of obtaining comfort or possible cure. Thus, a tubercular kidney that was causing constant pain, hectic and emaciation has been excised with great benefit to the patient, and tubercular cystitis has been treated with fair success in relieving suffering and an occasional cure by vesical irrigation or Cystotomy and drainage. As both kidneys are frequently tubercular simultaneously, the integrity of one kidney should be ascertained by catheterization of the ureters before the suspected kidney is excised. It should be remembered also, that operative interference with the tubercular kidney or bladder has been followed frequently by general miliary tuberculosis with speedy death; and also, that,

when tubercular foci exist elsewhere in the body, excision of the offending cannot effect a cure in the Hunterian sense. It seems, then, that in the treatment of urinary tuberculosis, the climatic and medicinal treatments are to be preferred as long as comfort can be secured in this manner, and this for three reasons: first, because there is a possibility of cure; secondly, because operative interference is not infrequently followed by a fatal acute tuberculosis; and thirdly, because it often happens that not all of the tubercular tissue can be reached by the knife. Operation is indicated for the relief of distressing local symptoms that are unrelieved by the milder medicinal or hygienic measures.

THE PRESENT DANGER OF YELLOW FEVER.

By the time this appears in print it is probable that the United States will have an army of invasion in Cuba. In many quarters it is feared that this will mean an outbreak of yellow fever among the troops, and, consequently, its importation and spread throughout the country.

While the army is in the field it should be comparatively free from yellow fever in epidemic form. The disease is rare in country districts being confined almost exclusively to the thickly settled parts of cities. Even in Cuba it does not exist outside the larger towns. This, together with the rigid sanitary precautions taken by our army medical authorities, should prevent any great ravages among the soldiers. In Havana itself, the worst infected place on the island, it is believed that much may be done to lessen the danger. There are many yellow fever experts in the army medical service and this is a guarantee that all possible preventive measures will be used.

The conduct of the Hispano-American war necessitates constant intercourse between Cuban and Gulf ports. This is one cause of uneasiness. But there is another. Although authoritatively denied, there is reason to believe that there have been occasional cases of yellow fever in New Orleans all winter. Whether this is or is not so it is usual to have a few sporadic cases in the year following an

epidemic. Therefore it will readily be seen that the chances for yellow fever this summer are good.

The best remedy is prevention. The best prevention is rigid quarantine. This should be conducted by the Federal authorities. Danger of disease epidemics from without threaten the whole country, therefore Federal and not State authorities should take control of preventive measures. This would stop the bickerings and jealousies, and the otherwise unavoidable conflicts of authority of local boards, and conduce to more effective results.

The New York Evening Sun recently called on Congress to take up Sanarelli's new serum treatment of yellow fever. The NORTH AMERICAN Would look on that as little short of a public calamity. In the first place the originator only claims a reduction of the mortality to twenty-seven per cent. This is a greater death-rate than has existed in some epidemics that have passed. The mortality in private practice is given at considerably less than this by Bemis in Pepper's System of Medicine. If we are to have a specific treatment we want something better than we have ever had before. Sanarelli's serum does not give us that.

But where Congress can serve the best interests of the country in this matter is by putting through some form of national quarantine. This, and this only, is all that is asked of it. The manufacture and use of anybody's serum is without its province. The treatment of disease should be left solely to those licensed to practice, each physician to use his best judgment. Legislative bodies should let treatment alone.

Notes and Comments.

Change of Address.-The attention of our subscribers and advertisers is called to a change of address. All correspondence and all other matter must be sent to the Journal Publishing Club Limited), 181 West Seventy-third Street, New York City.

Institute at Omaha will be at the well-known "Millard" Hotel, Headquarters at Omaha. The official headquarters of the

Thirteenth and Douglas Streets. The hotel is run on both the American and European plan and has a fine café.

Retirement of Dr. Price.-Dr. Eldridge C. Price, the editor of the American Medical Monthly has resigned his position and the journal will hereafter be in charge of Dr. Henry Chandlee. The work done by Dr. Price since he assumed the editorship of the Monthly has been of great value and his retirement is a distinct loss to medical journalism. Dr. Chandlee, his successor, is well-known to the homoeopathic profession and we wish him the utmost success.

A Word of Appreciation. We desire to thank our contemporaries, both lay and medical for kindly notice of articles and editorials in the NORTH AMERICAN. The New York Sun reprinted recently Judge Deuel's article dealing with evidence in murder trials and Current Literature reproduced an entire editorial. Several medical journals at home and abroad have also copied entire articles. In each case credit was given to the NORTH AMERICAN and we assure our friends that their courtesy is highly appreciated.

Appointment as Surgeon.-Dr. Maurice C. Ashley, of the Middletown Homoeopathic State Insane Hospital, recently passed the examining board and was appointed surgeon to the Sixty-ninth Regiment of New York. The examining board in New York State is made up of Dr. Charles E. Jones, M.D., of Albany, N. Y.; Dr. C. E. Nichols, of Troy, N. Y. and Dr. N. Maus, U. S. A. Dr. Jones belongs to the homoeopathic school, the other two are allopaths. It is gratifying to state that absolutely no discrimination was made by this board in conducting the examination of applicants. If a man was qualified he passed; if he was incompetent he was rejected.

The Monument on Exhibition.-The Hahnemann monument, already famous in the art world, has been on exhibition at the building of the National Sculpture Society, 215 West Fifty-seventh Street, New York City, during the past month. It occupies the place of honor and was admired by thousands of visitors. Curiously enough directly opposite the monument of Hahnemann was placed a large bust of Oliver Wendell Holmes. Those who remember Dr. Holmes' remarks concerning Halinemann may see in this little incident a kind of retributive justice.

Interstate Association.-A very successful meeting of the Interstate Homoeopathic Medical Association was held at Binghamton on May 11,1898. A number of excellent papers were read and President L. Á. Martin delivered a fine address. F. W. Lange, M.D., of Scranton, Pa., was elected president for the coming year. A full account will appear next month.

Some Side Issues.-The famous Burlington Route has issued a circular giving a list of a number of excursions that may be made by members of the Institute. Among them may be mentioned the

trips to Yellowstone Park; to Hot Springs, S. D., the "Carlsbad of America"; to Glenwood Springs and to Denver, Colorado Springs and Pueblo. The rates for these excursions have been made very reasonable and every attention to comfort will be given. A special train over the Burlington Route for members of the Institute will leave Chicago 5.45 P. M., June 22, reaching Omaha, 8 o'clock A. M., June 23.

The Requirements for Recruits. It is gratifying to know that the physical examinations for enlistment in the regular army rejected comparatively few of the National Guard of New York State. In some other States the proportion rejected was very large. The physical proportions required by the War Department are as follows: For the infantry and artillery, the height must not be less than 5 feet 4 inches, and weight not less than 120 pounds, nor more than 190 pounds. For the cavalry the height must be not less than 5 feet 4 inches, nor more than 5 feet 10 inches, weight not over 165 pounds. No minimum weight is given for the cavalry, but the chest must be satisfactory.

National Conference of Charities and Corrections.-This wellknown body celebrated its quarter centennial last month in the city of New York. The conference was organized in 1874, and has met annually since that time. It has at the present time about 1,200 members. The subjects discussed at this session were in part Charity Organization, Dependent Children, Insanity, Juvenile Reformation, Prison Reform, and Hospitals. Among those on the programme to discuss "The Abuse of Medical Charities," were Stephen Smith, M.D., F. H. Wiggin, M.D., Samuel Wolfe, M.D., F. E. Draper, M.D., D. B. St. John Roosa, M.D., Mr. James G. Cannon, A. B. Norton, M.D. and Eugene H. Porter, M.D. The conference was opened at Carnegie Hall on the evening of May 18, 1898, before an audience that packed the house. Addresses were made by Hon. Joseph H. Choate, Hon. Seth Low, Archbishop Corrigan and Bishop Potter. The work of the conference is of the greatest possible value and influence and homoeopathic physicians

whenever the opportunity offers should join this organization.

Golden

Anniversary. The semi-centennial of Hahnemann.

College and Hospital at Philadelphia, May 11th and 12th was a most complete success from the beginning to the close. The exercises in connection with the celebration comprised in part a college conference, alumnæ meetings, commencement exercises and last of all an alumni jubilee banquet. In the afternoon at commencement the address was delivered by William Tod Helmuth, M.D., LL.D., before an audience that packed the great opera house from pit to garret. The jubilee banquet held in Horticultural Hall was a notable success; under the management of its public-spirited and genial President, Dr. W. W. Van Baun, nearly 500 alumni and friends were present to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary. The speakers of