Vol. XI.

No. 1.

A STATE HOSPITAL FOR THE CRIPPLED. To Dr. C. E. Sawyer, of Marion, Ohio, belongs the honor of the successful agitation which has resulted in the appointment under authority of the Legislature of a commission "to investigate the needs and requirements and to consider the advisability of establishing a State institution for the care, treatment and education of crippled children." For several years Dr. Sawyer has been interesting himself in this subject and at the last session of the Legislature through Senator W. G. Harding presented facts and figures which made a deep impression upon the members, and the commission is the result. have the privilege of printing in this number of the Reporter the paper read before the recent meeting of the Northwestern Homeopathic Medical Society held at Toledo last month. It will well repay a careful study.

We

The visit to this country of the famous Austrian surgeon-Prof. Adolph Lorenzhas awakened universal interest in the subject of orthopedics and the results of investigation in various cities of the country show startling conditions. For instance, it has been found that there are in New York City more than twenty-five thousand children suffering from diseases and deformities of the hips liable to make them cripples for life. For these hospital

treatment is an absolute necessity that they may be saved from this fate. In the great State of New York there is not one hospital where adequate care and treatment can be given. As much may be said for every State in the union. The best that can be done is to give to a very few of these unfortunates the ineffectual attention possible in a general hospital. This is a sad commentary on our boasted civilization and demands that a remedy should be found.

Four-fifths of these patients are found in families where a constant struggle is necessary in order that the bare necessities of life may be found. It is an absolute impossibility to provide from private sources the financial aid needed to insure scientific treatment. Hence it follows that they must become wards of the State and provision be made from the public moneys. There are two sources of expense involved, the first being the care required during a necessarily prolonged course of treatment. It is manifestly impossible that such care can be given in a private house for it means a matter not only of weeks but of months and in many cases years before satisfactory results may be obtained. Not only must deformities be corrected but constitutional disturbances must be carefully considered and treated. To these latter may be ascribed the source

of many deformities which will come in for treatment. As is well known, there is nothing which tries the patience of both patient and physician so much as those conditions which depend for their origin upon diseased conditions of the physical system which are hereditary or congenital. Unlimited time must be at the disposal of the physician in charge in order that a cure may be effected.

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In addition to the expense necessitated by this prolonged treatment the cost of mechanical means of cure and appliances must be considered. The orthopedic surgeon is in many cases compelled to rely for help upon apparatus whose construction is very complex and expensive. Very many patients are unble to provide for this outlay of money and without it the apparatus cannot be obtained and a very important factor in the treatment is thus unavailable. Here is where the State must step in with its aid and make provision for its purchase.

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Of vital importance is a point emphasized by Dr. Sawyer. The majority of these patients are children and it would be manifestly improper and unjust that they should lose entirely the time which is devoted to treatment. To the end that they may have this period of mental development utilized it is proposed that the State shall provide means for a course of education of a practical kind which will prepare the child for some vocation in life adapted to each one's special needs. Why should even a cripple become a dependent? For each one may be found work which will make him certainly self-supporting and possibly more than that. Thus would the State in time not only be relieved from their support, which without aid must become inevitable, but many may do their share in supplying the needs of life and be helpers instead of dependents.

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With such a presentation of the existing conditions and the need for relief it is hardly necessary to more than indicate along what lines each member of the great

profession of which we are a part may aid. Personal appeal to senators and representatives will help. Proper influence exerted with those who are powerful in the State government may be the means of bringing about a successful issue in this very important matter. Let us all do what we can individually and collectively to impress upon State authorities the urgent necessity for immediate provision for the care and cure of this class of unfortunates.

THE FUTURE GENERATION-WHAT
SHALL IT BE?

We desire to call particular attention to the article in the present number by Dr. W. H. Bigler, of Philadelphia. Dealing as it does with the formative period of the human being and showing the necessity for a proper consideration by the expectant mother and later by both parents-of the needs of the child in the way of proper environment, training and discipline, it is worthy of attentive study. Alienists have made an especial study of prenatal influences and have come to a definite conclusion that they do exist. It has been shown in many instances that an insane patient owes his condition to some unfortunate habit, phase or act of his parents-one or both. The influence of environment has very much to do with the character of the children born therein, while the habits of the mother-and probably the father-are found in a reflex on the character, habits and health of the child. Cases have come to our personal observation where the nervous, irritable, and in one case eplieptic, child was proven to be the product of conception while the father was under the influence of alcohol. And there are many instances to be noted, as Dr. Bigler cites, where the worried, fretful, nervous mother is re-created in the neurotic, unstable, irresolute, irritable child.

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Dr. Bigler's study of the anatomy and physiology is very interesting. He shows clearly the relation between the material and what might be termed the spiritualthe Ego-the real self which is not visible

or demonstrable except as it may show itself through one of the senses. It is in the development-the proper development of this ego-that much may be done towards the bettering of mankind and this must begin certainly at the period of conception. Children are too much the result of just happening, of accident. Too infrequently can it be said that the parents choose carefully the time for procreation, and even after conception has taken place -the new life begun-too little attention is paid to those things which are known to have an elevating and purifying influence over development. Once in a

while we learn of a mother who has endeavored throughout her pregnancy to fix her thoughts upon a high ideal, to mould her acts after a pattern which shall conduce to the laying of a proper foundation upon which shall later be built the perfect mental, intellectual and physical superstructure.

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It is within the power of everyone of us -speaking not only of the medical profession but of the laity-to do something in the direction of a betterment of the conditions surrounding developing childhood. To the physician particularly belongs the privilege of making to the expectant mother such suggestions as may enable her to see her high privilege in being permitted to have a part in the moulding and perfecting of a human being, the privilege of showing her in what way she is responsible for its future well-being. And when thus instructed what woman is there but will respond with her strongest efforts to make her child all that God intended it should be when it comes to full maturity and growth?

It can thus be readily seen that such a study as has been made in "Hints in the Education of Children, Based Upon the Anatomy and Physiology of the Nervous System" is not only of extreme interest but more than passing importance. It is a study the results of which should be placed before the father and mother in such a way as shall arrest their interest

teria Medica. one but realized that his was the voice of a Master in the art of prescribing Homeopathic remedies. He was clear, concise and rational-evidencing at once the profound thinker and scholar who had given to his subject all his mental powers.

Hearing him there was no

Dr. Allen was not old in years, only sixty-five, but the work he had accomplished was enormous. There is probably no man in the profession to-day who did more work for our materia medica than did this man. The monument which perpetuates his memory he reared himself,the Encyclopedia of Pure Homeopathic Materia Medica. For five years he toiled in its preparation-and it is to-day the materia medica classic of our school. In it

may be found all that was known of the drugs treated within its pages, and too, so thoroughly sifted that nothing but the wheat remains, the chaff disappeared under his masterly handling. Much of his love for his special study came from his early and intimate association with P. P. Wells, whose student he was, and Carroll Dunham, with whom he was in partnership for several years. He was in very truth a man of science. He was an expert botanist, was a member of several societies of natural history and science, was a thorough chemist, was a linguist speaking and writing a number of languages, was a finished musician--turning to the latter for recreation and rest-in fact, he was versed in many branches and above all was thorough in his study of each and every one of them. He was indefatigable in his work and in addition to the Encyclopedia wrote and published a translation of Boninghausen's Therapeutic Pocket-Book, a Symptom Register, a Hand-Book of Homeopathic Materia Medica and a Primer of Homeopathic Materia Medica. Associated with the late Dr. George S. Norton he wrote Ophthalmic Therapeutics, a book which under the able editorship of Dr. A. B. Norton has gained such a just popularity in our school.

Dr. Allen was active in society work, being present at nearly all of the meetings of those of which he was a member and being repeatedly honored by election to office. His name truly belongs on that Roll of Honor upon which have already been inscribed the names of Lilienthal, Houghton, Dowling, Helmuth, Talcott, Deschere-whose work made Homeopathy in New York what it is to-day. All honor to them!

BUSHROD W. JAMES.

From 1859 to 1903 is a long time not only to live, but to be actively engaged in work for the betterment of his fellows in the profession. We know of no man who did more for the American Institute of Homeopathy or who was more faithful in his attendance upon the sessions of the same than Bushrod Washington James, of

tack of pneumonia with which he was stricken last August, having developed an anaemic condition which, during the past four weeks, confined him to his house and his bed and finally resulted in his demise. An active man, a hard worker, for whom no task was too great if good were to be accomplished, his activities manifested themselves in many directions. As a society worker he was thoroughly and intensely in earnest; following his chosen profession he bent all his energies towards reaching the goal of success which was finally his.

In the world outside of medicine he was active and prominent. He was an author, having during the past twenty years published the following works: "American Health Resorts and Climates," "Alas

kana, ""Echoes of Battle,' " "Alaska, Its Neglected Past, Its Brilliant Future, ' "Alaska's Great Future," "Dawn of a New Era," "The Political Freshman," and "The Rise and Progress of Masonic Veteran Associations".

From a careful study of that which led to the writing of the works on Alaska he was considered an authority. More recently he had taken up lighter literature, the result being the political novel mentioned above, which was favorably reviewed in these columns some months ago. Above all, he was a man to whom religion was not merely a cloak or an empty thing, but was one who manifested his Christian character by active work. He belonged to the Arch Street M. E. Church, of Philadelphia, for a number of years.

Truly, the loss is one which may fitly be classed with those which the Institute in particular and the homeopathic profession in general has recently sustained. It is with a feeling of sadness that one wonders how soon it will be before all of these

men who have made homeopathy strong shall have paid their last tribute. "Death has claimed no braver victim."

THE NORTHWESTERN OHIO SOCIETY.

Special attention is called to the stenographic report of the meeting of the above named society found in this number. Contrary to expectation it was found impossible to obtain all of the original papers for publication, so the Reporter took its own stenographer to the meeting and thus obtained the very full and complete report, which contains abstracts of all the papers read with the exception of the few which we were fortunate enough to obtain in their entirety. We are sure our readers will fully appreciate this stroke of enterprise which demonstrates that the Reporter is willing and able to obtain for its readers the best of all that is going on under the auspices of members of our school. It demonstrates the truth of the old adage "Where there's a will there's a way."

SUGGESTIVE PLANS FOR A PUBLIC INSTITUTION FOR THE CARE AND TREATMENT OF CRIPPLED AND

DEFORMED CHILDREN.

By C. E. Sawyer, M. D., Marion, Ohio. On various occasions within the past ten years I have presented to this and other medical societies of Ohio and adjoining States papers directing attention to some of the shortcomings in the care and treatment of the crippled and deformed, and I have endeavored from time to time to awaken sufficient interest in the matter of their needs and require ments to secure through public aid for all charitable cases a special institution adapted to their proper care and treatment, but never until within the last year has there been sufficient encouragement to warrant presenting to my medical colleagues the plans I have been developing.

After much preliminary work the op

portunity is apparently at hand for the execution of them and I take the liberty to-day of presenting the subject for your consideration.

Although it may be somewhat at variance with the purpose of this society, I hope that the importance of the subject will commend itself as worthy your support both individually and as a society and that personally and collectively you may find it consistent and agreeable to aid in the promulgation of the suggestions I have to offer and that you may co-operate in them, for without conjoined effort present possibilities will not be achieved and a greatly neglected class of individuals will continue to be denied much needed help.

Before going into details I would state that at a recent conference of the Associated Charities of Ohio there was created a special committee to aid in the establishment of a public institution for the care