solids, push onward to eternity. Hence we may infer that there is a lively old rag-time festival out on the edge of the universe. There will be babies' cries, political oratory, toots from whistles, the ocean's roar, Parsifal, Fourth of July, and the pleading of lonely cats. Only the homeopath's ear or touch will detect these sound fragments and ever-moving ripples. Scientists admit that they exist, but also admit that they cannot hear or see them."

Christian Science does not seem to have found a panacea for the rheumatism, according to the mortal mind of Edward B. Lent. Listen, for surely this outstrips "Sister Mary's Top Note": "You cannot understand Science unless you grasp the fundamental principles of Mind, Matter and Mortal Mind. The best way to do this is to close your eyes and think of the most vacant lot beyond the universe. Mentally strip it of all the rubbish you find there, old chairs, mattresses, tin cans, goats, bedsprings, ash heaps; then cut out the land and the atmosphere; also, bounds of space and' limitations of distance and time-as so far and so many hours from the Bowery. Get this conception of nothing as blank as possible, then turn out the light. There you have it a perfect zero. A place which is not, never was, and won't. Keep a mental grasp of this vacuum, then listen! Don't speak above a whisper, don't let the still, small voice within titter or suppress a giggle. Keep your mental ears straight up, and with patience wait. Presently, you hear Nothing. You hear that great emptiness; that mass of ciphers; that spot without climate, without boundaries, apart from the universe; the nucleus of the soap bubble; and what does it say? 'I am Something! I am Something!'

Somebody let the cat in.' That is your conclusion, and after all your trouble to think off an inclosure of Nothing, the blamed cat gets in and you find Nothing claiming to be Something."

W. A. Y.

EDITORIAL NOTES.

The Prophylaxis of Venereal Diseases.-The attention of hygienists has been directed of late towards the prophylaxis of venereal disease, and it is to be hoped that as one outcome of discussions which have taken place some practical advance will be made in the protection of the innocent and unsuspecting. It is unthinkable that a man would deliberately infect his bride with

gonorrhea or syphilis, and yet there is abundant medical evidence to prove that whatever the bridegroom's intentions may have been he is occasionally only too successful in transferring either of these diseases to the partner of his joys and sorrows. Every man and every woman also should present, before marriage, a clean bill of health. For sentimental reasons this regulation may seem to be one of great severity, but, if examined in the light of public hygiene and the scientific practice of medicine, it will be found to be entirely commendable. Under such a regulation illicit intercourse would not be interfered with, and venereal disease would pass from one to another as in the past, but persons desirous of contracting marriage would be obliged to prove their freedom from the venereal taint, showing that from the standpoint of hygiene there is no barrier in each case to the establishment of conjugal relations. It would also help to take the treatment of venereal diseases out of the hands of incompetent persons. A man may flatter himself that his gonorrhea is cured, though he dare not indulge in wine for fear of bringing back the enemy. If the law here alluded to were placed on the statute book he would be obliged to place himself under proper medical treatment, so as to be permitted to enter the married state. In like manner, also, a syphilitic patient would be obliged to show that he is free from all local manifestations of his complaint, and that a suitable time has elapsed since the primary attack and the disappearance of secondary symptoms. For obvious reasons the reporting of venereal diseases to boards of health, together with the names of the patients, would not be a popular law. To report the cases without the names would interest the statistician and throw a searchlight on the irregular sexual relations of a certain per cent. of a population, but would not help to repress venereal diseases. A campaign of instruction through leaflets, issued by boards of health and placed in the hands of physicians, would be useful. In a good many instances the simple reading of a well-written pamphlet giving the prophylaxis of venereal diseases would be a useful reminder and might help to prevent a relapse. In other instances a man about to place himself in a position where he is liable to contract a venereal disease will not bother himself about logic or leaflets, and, if he is under the influence of liquor, may forget all about the preventive rules just at the time when they would be of service. Although of immense importance, the prevention of venereal disease must always be something to be wished for rather than something

But the treatment of

which can be definitely accomplished. these diseases is a question which particularly interests physicians, and they should thoroughly equip themselves for the work. Some physicians should keep dispensaries, where the poor could receive treatment for venereal diseases, scientific in character and free from publicity. A hospital professor of medicine is engaged in teaching medicine to his students and a large amount of public clinical material is the breath of his nostrils; a private physician is engaged in treating the disease of A. B. or C. D., and the prejudices of his patients against exposure should be paramount. In any case, whether done at an hospital, a private dispensary, or a doctor's office, the distribution of leaflets with adequate explanations would be a useful preventive measure of venereal diseases.

Gonorrheal Conjunctivitis.-Every patient who has gonorrhea, if accountable, should be warned to look out for his own eyes and for the eyes of those who may be brought into close relation with him or his belongings. Neither should it be forgotten that besides the wife and children of a patient, his nurse or his physician may suffer from the disease innocently acquired. Some few years ago one of the intern staff of the Toronto General Hospital lost the sight of an eye from purulent conjunctivitis, which he acquired on account of his attendance on a case of gonorrhea in that hospital. This unfortunate result is an illustration of the fact that energetic and enlightened treatment, begun by specialists as soon as gonorrheal conjunctivitis appears, will not always prevent blindness. Clean midwifery will greatly diminish the number of cases of blindness from ophthalmia neonatorum; but whenever there is much reason to suspect that the vagina of a puerperal woman harbors the gonococcus, the Crédé method should be employed on the eyes of the babe to which she gives birth. This consists in letting a drop or two of a 2 per cent. solution of silver nitrate fall from a glass rod on the cornea, while the lids are held apart, and allowing the solution to flow into all parts of the conjunctival sac, without any additional manipulation of the lids. The efficiency of the Crédé method is indicated by the statistics of Leopold (Berliner Klin. Woch., August 18th, 1902), who reports 2,146 deliveries, with but three cases of purulent conjunctivitis, although by microscopic evidence 98 and by clinical evidence 200 of the women had gonorrhea. Even when, because of the neglect or inefficiency of preventive measures, purulent conjunctivitis occurs, careful treatment begun before the cornea has become

visibly involved will almost invariably prevent blindness. Authorities agree that in nearly all cases early efficient treatment will save vision. On this account the laity and the medical profession should be thoroughly educated on this subject. Furthermore, mawkish sentiment should not be allowed to stand in the way of the public good, and the laws of some States providing for the compulsory notification of all cases of inflammation about the eyes of infants are deserving of and should receive our imitation.

Facial Erysipelas.-In the Detroit Medical Journal for March, Dr. Spohn, of Elkhart, Indiana, writes interestingly on facial erysipelas. From different physicians Dr. Spohn obtained reports of 1,000 cases of erysipelas, 900 of which were of the facial variety. Of the facial cases the beginning point of the disease was: In 3 in the scalp; in 3 over the cheek bones; in 7 in the eyes; in 60 on the ears; in 90 on the mouth; in 737 on the nose. This shows that not only were 90 per cent. facial; but also that about 82 per cent. began at the nose. Dr. Spohn incriminates a previous chronic catarrh as the principal causative factor in facial erysipelas. This is especially true of those cases in which the disease begins on the nose. Many such cases have ulcers of the septum narium which become infected from streptococci and from them the disease spreads. However, all wounds and abrasions in which the streptococci pyogenes are found do not develop erysipelas. There is something lacking in this part of the germ theory which bacteriologists have not been able to clear up. Perhaps it may be that the vital resistance of the tissues of the patient must be lowered before he can contract this disease. Dr. Spohn concludes that "the history of facial erysipelas, the cause of the disease and the beginning point of so large a per cent. of cases should be a plea to every physician to urge on his patients open and free nostrils, proper breathing and cleanliness of the nares."

Detention Hospitals for Sick Immigrants Entering Canada.During the season of 1902-3 temporary detention hospitals were provided by the transportation companies at the three ports of Quebec, Halifax and St. John, the release of patients therefrom being under the control of the medical inspectors of these portsThe detention hospital at Quebec is said to be the largest and probably the best equipped institution for that purpose in America. Last year, up to November 30th, 1904, 880 patients were treated in it. The medical service at the detention hospitals is supplied

at a minimum cost to the immigrant. Last year a minimum daily charge of 50 cents per capita was made; but it is understood that during the current year a higher charge will be made should the fee mentioned prove insufficient for the cost of maintenance and treatment. From May 1st to June 30th, 1904, the cost of maintenance and administration of the Quebec Detention Hospital was:

The large charge for hospital guards is due to the compulsory nature of the detention. In addition to immigrants detained on account of disease others are included, chiefly the children or other relatives of the patients. Dr. Bryce, chief medical inspector, remarks, in his annual report for 1904, that the strictness of the inspection of immigrants at Canadian ports has resulted in a more rigid examination of immigrants before leaving European ports and in lessening the number of persons requiring treatment for disease at the Canadian detention hospitals.

Getting Ready for the Metric System. The policy of the Canadian Government in supplying metric system outfits to the High Schools is for the purpose of being ready for the change. If England and the United States make a change to the metric system, Canada would probably have to follow their example. There is at present a strong movement on foot in England and the United States with this end in view, and it behooves the Canadian Government to be ready for it. It is a gratification to learn that Canadian educational circles are being prepared for the new method, and this much is probably all we have any right to expect. It would be far more gratifying if Canada were to take the lead in this matter and were to show English-speaking countries the right way.

J. J. C.