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harness. He was Dean of the Chicago Homoeopathic Medical Congress, and was the President of the World's Congress of Homœopathic Physicians and Surgeons in 1893. He was one of the prominent citizens of Chicago, and enjoyed the esteem and friendship of the best people of that city. The verses by Dr. Ch. Gatchell which close this comment, will reach many a responsive chord in the memories of the multitude who knew and loved Dr. Mitchell. JOSEPH SIDNEY MITCHELL.

O man of upright life, whose every act
Was pure! With thee a thousand hearts
Lie buried. Our faith, our love, were all
With thee, and in thy brave career

Thy comrades saw the promise bright

Of Hope's fruition. Thy colleagues

Mourn thy loss, and in their hearts thy memory dear

Is deep enshrined. And yet, to them,

Thou art not gone. Thy noble life

A thousand lives inspires to

Nobler deeds. The youth thou'st taught,
However poor, to strive

For honors high. Thou'st taught us all
The way to live, and taught us how to die.
CH. GATCHEll.

The Case of Harold Frederic.-We are so accustomed to the notion that only ignorant people place themselves in the care of Christian Scientists that the singular story of the sickness and death of Harold Frederic, in London, excites mingled feelings of astonishment and regret. Mr. Frederic has long been known as the able and talented correspondent of the New York "Times," and also as a novelist of no mean power. Those who have read "The Damnation of Theron Ware" are not likely to dispute the ability and skill of the author. At the beginning of his illness he consulted reputable physicians, but later he dismissed them and placed himself entirely in the hands of apostles of quackery. The result was death. So marked was public indignation that an inquest was ordered, but it is extremely doubtful if this fresh and complete exposure of the rottenness of "Christian Science" will markedly decrease the number of victims.

A Fitting Resting Place. It is proposed by the homoeopathic Medical Society of Germantown that the remains of Hahnemann be transported to America and placed beneath the National Hahnemann Monument to be erected at the Capital of the United States This suggestion was promptly seconded by our alert contemporary, "The Medical Era," and if put to vote would probably be carried unanimously by the profession in America. There are many reasons why Washington would be a fitting final resting-place for the remains of the great reformer, wholly aside from the question of monuments. But it is pretty certain that the homoeopathic profession cannot and will not erect two costly monuments. When the magnificent statue is erected at Washington to the memory of Hahnemann, it should also mark his last resting-place.

Tetanus Anti-toxin.-The newspapers of October reported the cure of two cases of tetanus by the tetanus antitoxin. The first case occurred at Passaic, New Jersey. The serum used was from the Pasteur Institute of New York. Hypodermic injection did not have the desired effect, so, if the newspapers may be believed, the patient was trephined and the serum was injected directly into the brain. The second case occurred at Hackensack, New Jersey, and was successfully treated with the tetanus antitoxin.

Mr. William Tebb, the head of the anti-vaccinationists of England, is in this city. For many years vaccination was compulsory in England. During the current year a bill has been passed by Parliament permitting patients having scruples against it to refuse to have their children vaccinated. Mr. Tebb is in this country for the purpose of agitating the non-compulsion of vaccination here. At present children are not permitted to attend public schools in many of our cities until after vaccination. It is the purpose of the anti-vaccinationists to make this wholly optional.

The End of Yellow Fever. It is hoped that yellow fever in the United States will soon be a thing of the past. The recent cold wave which swept through the Mississippi Valley nearly ended the epidemic. Only two States, Louisiana and Mississippi, have suf fered from the disease. The total number of cases reported up to October 22 was 2,571, with 141 deaths; a mortality of 5 per cent.

The Bubonic Plague. Although the plague has raged for over two years in India, the latest reports show a slight increase in both the total mortality and death rate from the plague. Already more than 100,000 victims have perished, and yet no satisfactory method of treatment has been discovered. The use of the antiseptic serum does not seem to have met with much success. The homeopathic treatment of the plague ought to be as successful as it is in cholera,

and Dr. D. N. Ray, of Calcutta, in his valuable little pamphlet just published, shows what remedies are likely to be indicated. While the disease has been confined to the Bombay Presidency, is now epidemic in Samarkand in Turkestan.

it

is

"Equisine" relegates whisky to the rear, and alcoholism doomed to exist only in tradition. So runs the latest newspaper account of the latest newspaper medical "discovery." Just think of a nation of immunes to whisky! The Raines law would cease to trouble, and the venerable sandwich could be retired on a pension.

Then, too, there would be no need of a bill for pure beer.

Back Numbers. It has been the custom of THE NORTH AMERICAN to keep complete files of back numbers for the convenience of its subscribers, but it is impossible for this to be longer done. After January 1, 1899, numbers for three years back only will be kept in stock, and only a small number of these. Those wishing back numbers must send in their orders at once.

Insanity and Religion. Dr. Selden H. Talcott said in the twenty-seventh annual report of the Middletown State Homœopathic Hospital just issued, that

It may seem almost a sacrilege to some misguided enthusiasts to claim, just here, that an overzealous consideration of religious matters in early life is a sufficient cause for the production of imbecility in many cases. It is not the fault of religion that its precepts are sometimes presented to the young in such a manner as to shock the sensibilities, to inspire apprehensions, and to instigate doubts and fears and worriments in the untrained hearts and minds of youth. The blessed restraints of religion cannot be too highly appreciated, but the application of religious truth should be made in a simple, direct, clear and benign manner; otherwise the injury of profound shock, induced by fears of the future, may cause the budding powers of the young to wither before the fell influence of misguided and bigoted religions zeal. The proper application of religion tends to the binding back and holding in timely restraint of all those evil forces which have been inherent since the first sin. We should recognize not only the saving power of religion to preserve us from temptation in this world, but also we should accept unreservedly its inspiring and faith-producing consolations concerning the future. But the shock of fear should not be permitted to unnecessarily blight the forces of growing youth; nor should the agony of remorse for past sins be allowed to produce worry by day and insomnia by night until physical and mental development is effectually arrested. Religion, when taught to the young, should be presented in the form of the new commandment, and as a glorious inspiration to do good and to be good.

Probably he did not expect that his deliverances on religious treating would attract widespread comment. But the theologians seem disposed to look upon the doctor's statements and advice with a calmly critical eye. In general terms, Dr. Talcott is undoubtedly right, and his views would doubtless meet the approval of the vast majority of clergymen. But the doctrine of fear is not emphasized in these days. Religious teaching and training is today on broad and liberal lines, and the power of terror is seldom invoked.

Correspondence.

WASHINGTON, D. C., October 22, 1898.

DEAR NORTH AMERICAN:

In response to yours of recent date concerning the status of the Homœopathic school with relation to the Army and Navy as it appears from a Washington standpoint, I would say that every member of the homoeopathic profession should be thankful for the position taken by the American Institute at its meeting at Omaha, which position represented the conservative opinion of the coolheaded men of the school, and was, in effect, that as a school we were not prepared to take charge of the work which might be required of a medical corps having the care of the health of either the Army or the Navy. The wisdom of this decision has been demon

strated beyond question, as the powers that be, from causes which are inherent in the school which is represented, could not after thirty-four years of undisputed possession of a fertile but uncultivated field, rise to the necessities of a conflict with a nation, the conquering of which, aside from the controlling power, conferred no glory, though it demonstrated an amount of latent energy, patriotism and physical endurance which entitles our nation to rank first among the nations of the world.

We in Washington are responsible for the opinions expressed. and we unhesitatingly say that the management of the medical department of the United States Army betrayed an incompetency which was as inexcusable as it was unsuspected. While the medical officers of the regular army, as a body, are competent as medical men, their acts prove their absolute disqualification as executive officers. The possession of theories has been their stock in trade, while the inadequacy of such theories to the necessities of war has been proven beyond dispute. Professional men cannot afford to bow obsequiously to the demands of red tape or professional etiquette when standing in the presence of temperatures ranging from 105 to 106, or in the presence of flowing blood. Hundreds of our heroes have been sacrificed to false ideas which are based upon theories held by the ruling powers in the Medical Department of the Army, or have suffered because of lack of cour age on the part of officers reluctantly appointed by a

Surgeon

General whose adherence to a medical association presented a motive stronger than humanity or patriotism. This painful condition of things is made more apparent by the absence of executive ability on the part of the Surgeon-General, although he attempted to fill a position under this glorious Government of ours which required a big heart, impelled by the characteristics of the profession, of which the medical corps of the army pose as honorable members.

our school, but also of his, were refused appointment.

Afterwards,

What are the facts in the case? The Surgeon-General is true to his honorable record. When the war became a fact he announced that the regular medical service would meet all the needs of the army. Good men with hospital experience, members not only of under the pressure of immediate need, baseball players, veterinary surgeons with a medical degree, unsuccessful practitioners holding clerkships, and men just out of college were given the care of as many as forty cases of what they styled typhoid fever. True, they were expected to act as machines, and practice in accordance with the edicts of the Medical Department, and under its direct super vision. Men who had not grown to the years when common sense is developed, and who had had no training in the organizing or care

of hospitals, were given responsibilities which they could

not be

expected to meet. There is no reason for surprise at the results. the powers above referred to had absolute control and authority Taking these facts into consideration, and remembering that where, it may be asked, would the Homœopathists have been had they received the appointments for which their patriotism and self

confidence led them to apply? We had given our young men no special training to fit them for the emergencies of war, and they, like others, would of necessity have had to rely upon their own judgment, which, because of their years, was not mature. We, as

a school, would have been criminal, because parties to a neglect for which ignorance offers no excuse, and for the seeming inhumanity caused by adherence to a decaying régime. This war must be regarded as an exemplification of the inability of the so-called "regulars" and dominant school of medicine to meet the requirements of advancing science and civilization, even though it claims for itself the prestige of antiquity, and the exclusive benefits of the combined experience of the past. It signally failed because of its devotion to dogmas and its abhorrence of law.

That at the beginning a few Homœopathists were appointed by the Governors of States, that after peace was declared one was appointed by the President, in order to make amends for the short memory, excused by press of business, on the part of the Secretary of War, may satisfy those of our school who consider it an honor to be allowed a seat on the footstool of that mighty goddess of wisdom representing "Regular Medicine;" but that, as a school, we were ignored cannot be denied, nor that when possible our offers of hospitals were entirely rejected. Remember, no charges of incompetency have been made against members of our school; we only did not receive appointments asked for, nor patients provided for.

In view of the foregoing facts and reflections, the question pressing itself is, "How may the evils complained of be remedied, and what, as Homoeopathists, is our redress?" First, the accumulation of all indisputable evidence to show the failure of the medical corps of the Army in this war, in order to prove beyond question that it would have been impossible for any well-organized school to have done worse than has been done by the one in power.

Second, to accumulate evidence to show the advantage which has accrued from the adoption of homoeopathic methods in institutions wholly or partially under State or Governmental control. This is to be done by drawing a balance as to the days lost from service, the death rate, and the expenses of the medical departments of the above-named institutions. Let this comparison be strengthened by the data showing the results of our work in insane asylums and reformatory institutions.

Third, let each college make special provision for teaching the principles of military and naval hygiene, and the peculiar methods, executive and special, adapted to the needs of the Army and the Navy. It is not wise to confine this teaching to the simple application of surgical methods, but let it extend to the prevention and cure of disease, and the management of the water supplies and commissary department. With this instruction carefully given, and the men prepared, not only for the emergencies of war, but of our increasing Army and Navy, Congress and the Executive will give our men the opportunities sought.

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