upon the Doctor by communicating with him at once, stating condition and price.

At the annual reunion of the Marion County Medical Society (old school) a number of homeopathic physicians attended, Dr. H. E. Beebe, President of the State Board of Medical Examiners, being present and responding to a toast on "Medical Education." The meeting was splendidly managed, the entertainment royal, and the discussions harmonious. We have the pleasure of publishing in this number of the REPORTER the paper read by Dr. Beebe on that occasion.

PAYMENT OF 1903 SUBSCRIPTIONS.

The management of the REPORTER would appreciate prompt payment of 1903 subscriptions. Bills have been sent to all of our subscribers who are in arrears and we trust that this notice will serve to call their attention to the matter and that they will remit promptly.

NEW BOOKS.

We have received notice of the publication by W. B. Saunders & Co. of two new books-Obstetrics for Nurses, by Joseph B. DeLee, Professor of Obstetrics in the Northwestern Medical School of Chicago, and Saunders' American Year Book for 1904, edited by George M. Gould, A. M., M. D. Reviews of these books will be given in the next issue of the REPORTER.

ANTITOXIN TRUST?

Our attention has been called to a sensational article appearing in the Chicago papers, in which the manufacturers of Antitoxin are charged with having formed a trust and advancing the prices of Diphtheria Antitoxin, this advance being prejudicial to the best interests of the public health, and inimical to the best interests of the medical profession.

Information secured by us, enables us to state that it is not true that the Antitoxin manufacturers have combined in a trust; it is not true that the prices of Antitoxin have been advanced, but to the contrary the prices of Antitoxin have been reduced when quality of serum is considered.

The H. K. Mulford Company, at our request, have given us the following explanation of the situation:

"For a long time the different manufacturers have endeavored to improve the quality of Diphtheria Antitoxin. It has formerly been

the custom to manufacture two strengths, known as Standard and Concentrated, or X and XX. There were also supplied certain sizes, known as 500 and 1500 units packages. There is now but one strength of Antitoxin that will be placed on the market, and that will be practically the highest strength, formerly known as Concentrated Serum. This is the best quality of serum obtainable, and on this quality instead of the prices being advanced, they have been materially decreased. For instance: For the 1000 units there is now a charge of $2.00 against a former charge of $2.25; for the 2000 units there is now a charge of $3.50 against a former charge of $4.00; for the 3000 units there is now a charge of $5.00 against a former charge of $5.75; for the 4000 units there is now a charge of $6.50 against a former charge of $7.50.

"The 500 and 1500 units packages have been discontinued, the 500 units being insufficient to insure thorough immunization, and the 1500 units on account of its small demand.

"You will thus see that the interests of the medical profession have been safeguarded, inasmuch as but one strength-and that the best-will insure the highest quality of Antitoxin being furnished. The revision of prices is also decidedly in favor of the physician and his patient, because the physician is now able to get the best grade of Antitoxin at a lesser price than formerly charged.

"Instead of marketing Antitoxin by number, as heretofore, it is sold by the units package, 1000 units representing an immunizing dose; 2000 units, a small curative dose; 3000 units, a moderate curative dose; 4000 units a full curative dose. This style of nomenclature makes it easier for the physician than heretofore, and since the best quality of Antitoxin is sold at a lesser price, it will prove an additional incentive to use full doses, which all authorities recommend in order to secure the best results from Antitoxin.

"Every manufacturer to-day is striving to meet the demand for the most convenient means of administering Antitoxin, and while the improvement in package by which every dose of Antitoxin is furnished in an aseptic serum-syringe, including sterile needles, has entailed considerable expense to the manufacturer, it is offered at less cost to the physicians.

"There was formerly some of a lower grade of serum used, and we feel sure that its discontinuance will be of material advantage.

"It is possible that the Chicago Board of Health may be compelled to pay more for its Antitoxin. If so, it is only just, as it had been quoted at a price that does not yield sufficient remuneration to anything like cover the expense involved in producing. However, the

Chicago Board of Health will now be able to get a better quality of serum than was formerly used, as the weaker strength which it formerly used has been entirely discarded.

"We hope that you will place this matter in the true position before your readers, in order that they may understand that there is no truth whatsoever in the sensational reports relative to the so-called "trust or combination" of the manufacturers of Antitoxin and the statement that the prices have been raised, when as a matter of fact the former prices are considerably reduced.”

SANMETTO INCOMPARABLE WITH ANY OTHER KNOWN REMEDY FOR GENITO-URINARY DISEASES.

Sanmetto is not new to me. The fact is, I have prescribed many gallons of it in the past eight years. I have never taken a dose of it myself, but suddenly feeling a need for it, I have ordered a bottle of it to take myself. Now as to the value of Sanmetto, it has never failed to produce beneficial results in my hands, and as a tonic and vitalizer to the genito-urinary organs it is not only unequaled, but incomparably better than any other known remedy.

Harrisburg, Ills.

J. W. MITCHELL, M. D.

MORE ABOUT BIOPLASM.

In the December issue of the REPORTER, there was published an article in which reference was made to a preparation, marketed under the name of Bioplasm.-The following letter, by Dr. E. W. Finch, New Rochelle, N. Y., is a further contribution concerning its use:

"Some weeks since, I received from you a bottle of 'Sal Lithin' which I tested on myself with very favorable results.

"As 'sacharines' disagree with me, I required a little juice of lemon with it. It's an excellent thing and serves well the purpose for which it is prepared. I entreat pardon for long delay of this tardy acknowledgment.

"I desire also to state regarding a bottle of Bioplasm powder I ordered you to send by post to Sugar Loaf, Orange Co., N. Y., last October, for a 19-months-old child, hovering between life and death, suffering from gastro-enteritis-acute; had been ill two weeks and was apparently beyond all human aid; yet, in one week after commencing Bioplasm, consciousness returned, ability to digest food was restored and convalescence uninterrupted.

"And its sustaining power in my own case, through night and day work, has been marvelous indeed, and I in my 73rd year, having spent three years of exceedingly hard service during the Civil War

(one year at the front) as Hospital Steward, and 35 years of most trying service in this city and surrounding country in private practice.

"It is surely a most wonderful agent in its power to restore and to sustain vitality.

"I trust the Profession will soon realize what a marvelous agent they have in Bioplasm, to rehabiliate exhausted nature and to restore the otherwise hopeless to life and health.

"To refer again to the child's case: For nearly three weeks its body and lower extremities were motionless as though totally paralyzed, and it was oblivious to all its surroundings-was sightless and yet could scarce sleep at all until it was put on Bioplasm when, almost as by magic, a change for the better came in all these hopeless condition until to-day he is more rugged and enduring than ever before."

SANMETTO INCOMPARABLE IN INFLAMMATORY CONDITIONS OF THE URINARY TRACT.

I have used Sanmetto in the various inflammatory conditions of the urinary tract-especially in acute cystitis and prostatitis-with good results. Other preparations on the market that are said to be the same thing are not to be compared with Sanmetto. Shelbyville, Ind.

H. E. PHARES, M. D.

REMARKS ON GLYCO-THYMOLINE.

By W. R. D. Blackwood, M. D.

For many years past this preparation has been one of my mainstays in diseases of mucous membranes, and it has held its place despite the trials of many other agents warranted to supplant it by the advocates who decried Glyco-thymoline when I spoke of its virtues. Space is now getting too valuable to waste with long detailed descriptions of separate cases, and anyhow I never did write in that manner -I think general remarks about agents is the better way, and we need this more than stories of symptoms and temperatures, with daily alterations. No class of maladies is more troublesome than disorders of the mucous membranes, and none more difficult to eradicate thoroughly, and we have been put to our wit's end many times for remedial agents in such cases. The local treatment of catarrhs is frequently disappointing, and none more so than that prevalent onepost-nasal catarrh. Unless we can get an alterative condition established little good is done, and nothing has been of greater service to me than Glyco-thymoline, locally and internally, in several hundreds. of long-standing and severe cases of this intractable and common

affliction. I have come to regard this preparation as a standard and almost routine remedy; I seldom care for a post-nasal trouble without prescribing it at the onset, and if I don't it is not long before it comes into use. It is just alkaline enough; just so as to the dialysis-(the action locally with exactly the right amount of fluid excretion through the diseased membrane), just enough astringent without drying the parts; and just the right thing in the direct line of reparative work— it sets up tissue building soon after the membrane gets somewhere near its right shape. Many things are employed in catarrh, but I firmly believe that if I was confined to one agent only, that would be Glyco-thymoline. For years I used the so-called antiseptic tablets of boric acid, salt, glycerin, etc., and with good results, but for a long time past this is thrown aside and the Glyco-thymoline takes its place. I use it in about half-strength with a "Birmingham" douche, and from twice to four times daily. With this, in bad cases, I give it internally, adding to it, or giving separately, mercuric bichloride, and if done separately the menstruum is compound syrup of stillingia. In presumed syphilitic persons I always do this.

In gastritis, chronic enteritis, vaginitis, gonorrhea, and in recurring attacks of what too many physicians deem appendicitis, I use this agent freely, and always with good results. As a local application to foul ulcers and especially to hemorrhoids I think this preparation is very good. In the nasty leg ulcers which now and then defy all remedies Glyco-thymoline does wonders-it can't do harm any time, and I am almost persuaded to give it in all instances. In bronchitis and asthma it is fine; in spasmodic croup it fills the bill nicely; it does 'well in venereal disorders locally, and in balanitis it stops the trouble at once.

852 N. 23d St., Philadelphia, Pa.

A REMARKABLE CURE OF A REMARKABLE CASE.

By G. H. F. House, M. D., ex-President of Indianapolis Board of Health, Indianapolis, Ind.

I have just had such a remarkable cure of a case that I feel it my duty to report it. Nov. 20th, 1903, I was called to see Mr. B., age seventy-three years; kidneys congested; bladder irritable; only one ounce of urine passed in thirty-six hours; both legs three times their normal size; abdomen full of water; heart action bad; difficult breathing. Tested urine, but found no albumen; urine full of pus, blood, urates and phosphates. Put him on Sanmetto and digitalis; punetured the legs (and they have dripped gallons of water-thought he would die). After six days, slight improvement. Kept up treatment, and at this date, Jan. 13th, 1904, the swelling is gone and the breath