along with them first the kidneys, the stomach follows suit, the liver joins in the downfall, the spleen tumbles down, and even the diaphragm and the heart above it are involved in the war-tug. By the aid of palpation one may convince himself that the intestines are retracted, the cæcum is reduced to the size of a hen's egg; the transverse colon is not any larger than the index finger, the sigmoid is the size of a goose quill. These conditions have been verified at numerous autopsies..

From the above it becomes evident that in order to relieve the pressure caused by the descent of the organs, it is not sufficient to raise the abdominal walls, but it is necessary to exert a pressure upon the most dependent portion of the abdomen. and at the same time to elevate from before backward and from below upward, so as to squeeze out and up all the ptosed organs, and that this double indication must be met no matter whether the abdomen is large or small.

The abdominal bandage is made large enough and concave enough to cover the abdominal region and to adjust itself to the convexity situated below the umbilicus. That it may not slide upward, it is fastened behind at a line higher than the anterior point of support. The lateral bands are made to taper, and the direction of the axis is from below upward, and passes as a rule over the crest of the ileum. It answers admirably its purpose, that of a sling.

Now, in cases of gastroptosis the abdominal bandage is almost useless, and for the following reasons: First, it does not diminish the capacity of the inferior part of the abdomen; second, on account of its concave form it serves simply as a suspensorim for the abdomen, thus not diminishing at all its prominence, nor does it elevate the prolapsed viscera because of the oblique direction of its axis, which brings them more forward and upward than backward and upward.

I have experimented with all kinds of abdominal bandages during the last ten years, and have also applied Rose's adhesive plasters, but none of them gave satisfactory results. I use now a simple elastic bandage which answers the purpose from a theoretical and practical point of view. It has never failed to relieve the symptoms after it was first put on, provided my diagnosis was correct. The difference between the pelvic girdle and the abdominal bandage are:

First. Instead of being concave, it is straight all around.

Second. It is fastened, instead of the lumbar region upon the sacrum.

Third. In order that it may exert pressure upon the most dependent portion of the abdomen, its inferior border touches the pubic bone and is directed in a horizontal line to the trochanter.

Fourth. The elastic material prevents chafing of the soft parts covering the bones.

Discussion.

Dr. Sheldon: The prolapse of the small intestines that is many times relieved by the abdominal and pelvic supporter is indirectly responsible for nervous and especially stomach symptoms, and occasionally even coughing on account of the fact that it interferes with drainage of the stomach. When it is considered that the duodenum passes over the aorta and under the superior messenteric vessels, we can readily see how prolapse of the intestines will constrict the duodenum and prevent complete drainage of the stomach. This in all probability is responsible for the stomach toxaemia that will explain obscure nervous and perhaps cough symptoms. The benefit received from the pelvic or abdominal supporter is probably explained in some cases from the fact that the elevation of the intestine relaxes the superior messenteric vessels and relieves the stenosis of the duodenum, which of course does away with the stomach toxaemia by allowing free drainage of the organ.

Discussion closed by Dr. Spivak: I really have nothing to add except to thank Dr. Sheldon for having so ingeniously interpreted the relief of cough by an abdominal bandage.

226

CONSTITUENT SOCIETIES

The Teller County Medical Society met in regular session Tuesday evening, June 26, in the office of Dr. J. O. Roberts, Cripple Creek, with the following physicians in attendance: Drs. Hayes, Van Der Schoneo, Cunningham, Morris, McIntyre, Hereford, Roberts, Dunwody and Driscoll.

Dr. Cunningham reported an interesting case with headache, delirium, retraction of head, high fever, no convulsions, which he believed was meningitis, although during the discussion the question was raised as to the possibility of it being typhoid fever. The doctor stated he would try the Widal test and report to the society later.

The paper of the evening, entitled "Some Observations on Fractures," was read by Dr. R. E. Morris, and elicited considerable discussion.

Dr. Cunningham spoke against the resolution adopted at our last meeting whereby the full fee of five dollars must be received from the insurance companies and not from the agents, but the majority of those present were in favor of standing firm on what had already been accomplished.

Society then adjourned to enjoy a dutch lunch and social good time.

THOS. A. MCINTYRE,
Secretary.

The last meeting of the Pueblo County Medical Society before the summer vacation was held June 19.

Dr. R. W. Corwin was the essayist of the occasion. His subject was gastro-enterostomy. The doctor read an exceptionally good paper, which was illustrated by about a dozen lifesized pen drawings. The main features of the essay were the indications for, and the selection of a proper operation, together with the advantages of, and the disadvantages of certain operations now in vogue. The "vicious circle" came in for its share of discussion, and the doctor's opinion that if it can be, it should be entirely done away with in all operations.

Dr. T. A. Stoddard opened the discussion from a surgical standpoint, and emphasized many of the more important points in the essayist's paper, recommending the attachment of the jejunum to the stomach as closely as possible to the pyloric end, and the absence of the vicious circle. Dr. Luke MacLean opened the discussion from a medical standpoint, and

while he acknowledged this to be a purely surgical procedure, dropped many exceedingly valuable suggestions along the line of medical treatment.

Several applications for membership were received and handed to the committee on ethics.

The matter of charges of unethical conduct in the case of H. A. Black vs. F. W. Singer, was disposed of by finding the defendant not guilty as charged, and exonerating him.

The secretary reported that all members of the society had signed the agreement not to make examinations for "old line life insurance companies" for a fee less than five ($5) dollars, as per the resolution passed and put into effect June 1st, 1906, all of said companies having been notified the first of May.

Dr. Hubert Work, state delegate to the American Medical Association, reported that he had introduced into the House of Delegates the resolution as created by this society making the minimum fee for life insurance examinations five dollars, to the end that a committee was appointed consisting of the president, the late president and three others to confer with the insurance companies of the state of New York the week following the meeting.

The next meeting of the society will be held September 4th, 1906.

CRUM EPLER, Secretary.

The Boulder County Medical Society held its regular monthly meeting in the Physicians' Block at 8 p. m. Thursday evening. July 5.

Those present were: Drs. Charles F. Andrew of Longmont, Porter of Lafayette, Giffin, Campbell, Queal, Jolley, Cattermole and Spen

cer.

The minutes of the last meeting were read and approved.

The name of Dr. J. D. Shiveley was favorably indorsed by Drs. W. A. Jolley and William J. Baird of the Board of Censors. He was elected to membership in the society by a unanimous vote.

The names of Dr. Eva Shiveley of the Colorado Sanitarium and Dr. John Andrew, Jr., of Longmont, were proposed for membership by Drs. L. M. Giffin and E. B. Queal.

The subscription committee, composed of Drs. Reed, Tarrington and Russell, was not present to report. It was voted that the secretary and treasurer be authorized to collect all delinquent dues and subscription for 1906.

Dr. Charles F. Andrew read a paper on "The

Physician and His Use of Proprietary Medicines." He divided his paper into four heads.

I. The principal cause for the indiscriminate usage of proprietary nostrums by the profession. (a) Lack of proper training in materia medica and therapeutics as an important factor in leading physicians to use proprietary remedies. (b) Formula treatment as is encouraged by the formula treatment in our hospitals and dispensatories and other places of medical supervision. (c) The susceptibility of the busy and ignorant physician to listen to the beautiful lectures on diagnosis and treatment by some novice who has learned from a printed slip, sent throughout the United States, to the different branch houses and representatives, to teach and educate us poor and ignorant dispensers of their nasty nostrums.

II. The physician and his relation to the pharmacist. We should encourage the druggist by sending him prescriptions and relieve him of the necessity of handling patent medicines.

III. Ethical proprietary medicines. A number of reliable proprietary remedies were mentioned, such as Squib's chloroform and ether. The importance of having proprietary remedies bearing the same name as pharmacopeial remedies was emphasized.

IV. The solution of this difficult question. The legislation requiring the formulae to be put upon all proprietary remedies, such as the Dakota law, will greatly aid in stamping out the evil. The work of the Ladies' Home Journal and Collier's Weekly is to be commended.

Dr. Andrews' paper was discussed by all those present.

The society adjourned to meet the first Thursday in August.

F. R. SPENCER, Secretary.
By E. F.

CORRESPONDENCE

The meeting of the State Medical Society has been postponed one week. It will be held on the 9th, 10th and 11th of October, at the Albany hotel, Stout and Seventeenth streets. This step was made necessary because of a convention of railroad engineers, which meets in Denver the first week in October. Our Committee on Arrangements found, upon consulting the hotels, that it would be impossible for us to secure the accommodations which we would need for our meeting, and that the hotels would be crowded and the rates, in consequence, somewhat advanced. We found ourselves confront

ing a situation which had to be met promptly. After conferring with members of the House of Delegates and the Committee on Arrangements, it was decided that the only thing to do was to arbitrarily postpone the meeting for one week. The House of Delegates sets the time for the meeting of the State Society, and there are no provisions made for delegating this power in case of emergency. The emergency has arisen, and has been met in the only way possible without calling a special session of the House of Delegates, which it did not seem necessary to do. We will have to depend upon the House of Delegates ratifying that which we have done. It might be well to modify our by-laws so as to cover this point for the future.

I am in receipt of a letter from Dr. Richard C. Cabot of Boston, giving the title of his address, which is, "Mind Cure, Its Service to the Community." This very popular subject should appeal to us all, and in the manner dealt with, will prove highly instructive as well as interesting. We should feel greatly indebted to Dr. Cabot for consenting to come so far to address us, and we trust that the size and quality of his audience may be such as to make him feel well repaid for the effort.

I desire to thank the representatives of all the constituent societies for having promptly complied with my request for abstracts. They are all in, and their persual proves beyond question that the program will be of exceptionally high excellence, one in fact which would do credit to any state society in existence, and which, I feel sure, will bring out the largest attendance in the history of the Society. MELVILLE BLACK, Secretary.

BOOK REVIEWS.

Transactions of the College of Physicians of Philadelphia. Third Series. Vol.XXVII. Philadelphia. Printed for the College. 1905. This volume contains, besides a memoir of Dr. F. Savary Pearce and the annual address of the president, 20 valuable articles upon various subjects, including three devoted to personal reminiscences and recollections of the Civil war by Drs. S. Weir Mitchell, W. W. Keen and John S. Billings. Also deserving of mention is an article on "The Treatment of Selected Cases of Cerebral, Spinal and Peripheral Nerve Palsies and Athetosis by Nerve Transplantation," with a report of a case of Athetosis Benefitted by Operation, by

Drs. Wm. G. Spiller, Charles H. Frazier and J. J. A. Van Kaathoven. The binding and typo. graphical work is exceptionally good.

G. A. M.

International Clinics. A Quarterly of Illustrated Clinical Lectures and Especially Prepared Original Articles on Treatment, Medicine, and Surgery, etc., by leading members of the medical profession throughout the world. Edited by A. O. J. Kelly, A. M., M. D., Philadelphia. Vol. I, sixteenth series, 1906. Pages, 309. Illustrated. Price, $2.00. J. B. Lippincott Co., Philadelphia.

The especial value of this publication is that while keeping the reader posted on the latest of new ideas in medicine, it views them from a conservative standpoint, and does not neglect to give the older ideas their proper emphasis. In this volume we find, with papers on "The Medical Treatment of Exophthalmic Goitre," by Tyson; "The Treatment of Gastroptosis," by Francine, and "The Dechloridation Treatment in Diseases of the Heart," by Barie; papers on "Coughing and Its Relation to Treatment," by French, and "The Indications for and Methods of Performing Venesection," by Wainwright. Perhaps to the younger generation of physicians this last will have as much of novelty as either of the others.

The dozen other original articles contained in this volume are appropriately grouped under the heads, Medicine, Surgery, Obstetrics and Gynecology, and Pathology. One-third of the volume, however, is taken up with a review of the Progress of Medicine During 1905. This is given under three headings: "Treatment," by A. A. Stevens; "Medicine," by D. L. Edsall, and "Surgery," by J. G. Bloodgood. It would be hard to present, in the same space, more of the important contributions to medical science brought to the attention of the profession last year than are here given.

Surgical Pathology and Treatment of Diseases of the Ear. By Clarence John Blake, M. D., Professor of Otology, Harvard University, and Henry O. Reik, M. D., Associate in Ophthalmology and Otology. Johns Hopkins University. 349 pages, including appendix; 40 illustrations in text, and 13 full-page plates. Price, cloth $3.50 net. D. Appleton & Co., publishers, 436 Fifth avenue, New York. In this little work the authors have endeavored to treat their subject in a clear and con

cise way, giving only sufficient detail to attain this result. They have followed the idea of answering, in a simple manner, from individual experience, questions arising in the class room, at the bedside, and in consultation, rather than attempting the presentation of an exhaustive bibliographic treatise. It would be difficult to pick out any portion of this book for special discussion, as it is filled with good things from cover to cover. The chapters on Middle Ear and Mastoid Operations are very comprehensively written, enable one to gain a clear insight into the different procedures necessary to meet varying pathologic conditions. In fact, the book is one that will fully repay its careful perusal by both the student and general practitioner. M. R. B.

Lest We Forget

The next

meeting of the

State Medical

Society

will be

Oct. 9-10-11, 1906. ALBANY HOTEL, DENVER.

VOL. III.

EDITORIAL COMMENT

THE VERY LATEST.

The newest state journal to claim recognition is issued by the State Medical Society of West Virginia and appeared in August. If one may judge by the initial number, they have selected. the right kind of men to manage the journal and COLORADO MEDICINE welcomes The West Virginia Medical Journal to the ranks of State journals with the prediction that success will be theirs. Here's to West Virginia.

THE PROGRAM.

The program of our state meeting has been issued and mailed to every member of the State Medical Society.

Study it carefully and be prepared to add to the interest of the meeting by intelligently discussing at least one of the papers. With a synopsis of the papers outlined in the program there ought to be more discussions to the point and fewer of the rambling sort. Don't sit back and criticize the paper, but get into the arena and add something to it.

The scheme of having fewer papers and furnishing a synopsis, so that there may be more discussions, is new so far as our soicety is concerned. A trial will show whether the scheme is wise or other wise. Give it a fair trial, and because you were not selected to read a paper don't throw cold water on the other fellow's paper, but get in and help make his paper more interesting.

No. 9

If you don't receive your copy of the program write to Secretary Black for another and bring it with you to the meeting.

Read carefully the letter from Secretary Black, found on another page, as it explains fully the program for the meeting and also calls attention to a mistake which inadvertantly crept in.

The success of this meeting depends on you and you and YOU.

UNJUST CRITICISM.

In his campaign against patent nostrums and quackery in general Mr. Samuel Hopkins Adams, in Collier's Weekly, has done a great work for humanity and has unearthed frauds that the members of the medical profession have been afraid to attack. Like all great reformers Mr. Adams is enthusiastic in his work, and being but human, has his vulnerable points through which his enthusiasm bubbles out, as the chemists would say, in excess.

In his excellent article on "The Great American Fraud" in August 4th, he attacks Parke. Davis & Co. and Seabury & Johnson because he found two noted. quacks who were using tablets which were manufactured by these two firms respectively.

All manufacturing pharmacists are in the market to compound pills, tablets, powders or liquids for any physician who will furnish the formula and pay their price, and when the combination is correctly compounded and shipped to the customer their responsibility ceases, and without a special detective to trace out