expenditures, and net profits for the fiscal year just closed; all of the monthly and annual reports are carefully checked immediately upon receipt, and any discrepancies discovered are called to the attention of the lessee or manager and corrected at once. These reports, taken as a whole, furnish data for a complete, accurate, and comprehensive record of the business of the bathhouse.

OFFICIAL VISITORS.

During November, 1914, the Hot Springs Reservation was signally honored by a visit from the Hon. Bo Sweeney, Assistant Secretary of the Interior, accompanied by Mr. W. B. Acker, assistant attorney in the department, who for many years has been closely connected with the National Park Service. While here they had an opportunity of meeting, by appointment in the superintendent's office, a large delegation of the city's most prominent business and professional men, and after each citizen had expressed his views relative to the different matters pertaining to the best interest of Hot Springs and the Government reservation, the Assistant Secretary took up the different matters separately, which had been under discussion, and handled them in such an able and practicable manner that his remarks were the subject of much favorable comment by those present.

This visit was made at a most opportune time, during the week in which the Arkansas State Fair was held here, at which time there was a large attendance of people from all sections of the State, headed by Governor Hays and staff, together with nearly all other State officials, all of whom were delighted with the interest the department was taking in this resort.

A few days later in the month, on Thanksgiving Day, we were honored by a visit from the general superintendent and landscape engineer of national parks, Mr. Mark Daniels, whose eminent reputation in his chosen profession had preceded him. It is to be regretted that during his two days' stay it rained almost continually, thereby preventing him from viewing the reservation under favorable conditions. However, he expressed himself as highly pleased and prophesied a great future for this resort. I do not think there is a more advantageous place in this country for a landscape engineer to display his genius, nor one where his accomplishments would be enjoyed to a fuller extent by a greater number of America's health-pleasure seekers than on the Hot Springs Mountain from which flow the farfamed hot waters of mysterious healing.

Also, in the latter part of September of the same year, the reservation was visited by Mr. T. Warren Allen, chief of the Division of National Park and Forest Roads of the Department of Agriculture, who made a tour and thorough inspection of the system of mountain roads on the reservation, and took occasion to express himself favorably on their general condition.

For the Fourth of July celebration this year, Hot Springs had the distinguished honor of a visit from the Vice President of the United States, Mr. Marshall, who was accompanied by his wife. His visit here was the cause of a large and patriotic gathering being held at the State Fair Grounds, where he delivered an address which was highly appreciated by the large crowd who had the opportunity to hear him.

Mr. Marshall took a deep interest in the Government's possessions at Hot Springs, visiting this office, the bathhouses, and the Army and Navy General Hospital.

These visits from Government officials are beneficial in many respects and bring about a better understanding as to physical conditions as they actually exist.

It is expected that Hon. Stephen T. Mather, assistant to the Secretary of the Interior, and in charge of national park affairs, will visit Hot Springs and the reservation during the fall of the present year, which will be of immense value to both the department and the

reservation.

It is also earnestly hoped that Hon. Franklin K. Lane, Secretary of the Interior, will find it convenient to visit this place in the very near future, as I feel that this is the most valuable reservation owned by the Government because of the fact that it affords an opportunity for restoration of health of hundreds of thousands of its citizens who are afflicted with ailments in which these life-giving waters are indicated.

In all, it is estimated that approximately 115,000 persons visited Hot Springs during the past year.

DOCTOR DRUMMING.

The nefarious practice of drumming patients to doctors was started in Hot Springs some 40 years ago when visitors were forced to reach there by means of the old-fashioned wild western stage coach. The drummers in those days would ride out 10 miles or more on horseback and meet the stages coming in and solicit the passengers to the different hotels, and later to some doctor, who would split his fee with the drummer.

During the past 10 years the department has promulgated rules and regulations setting forth conditions under which registered physicians may prescribe the baths, which, if followed to the letter, would eliminate the practice of drumming; but this office has experienced much difficulty in getting evidence sufficiently strong in character, as viewed by the department, to justify the removal of any of the doctor's names from the registered list for some time past.

When evidence of drumming is taken by the superintendent against any doctor the same is submitted to the Federal registration board, which in turn reviews it and transmits it to the department, together with such recommendation as in their judgment the case may warrant. The Federal registration board is composed of three members appointed by the Secretary of the Interior.

Even though the desired results have not been attained with regard to drumming, the constant investigations being made by this office has deterred this practice to a great extent, and it is safe to say that conditions have been much improved during the past two years. Drumming as it now exists is usually consummated through a "confidence game"; that is to say, the visitor will be approached by some person shortly after his arrival at the boarding house, who secures the confidence of the visitor, perhaps by telling him that he had the same trouble himself when he came here. The strange visitor will almost invariably ask who his doctor is, and

usually employs him, thereby drumming himself. The proprietor of the boarding house is the person who receives the split from the doctor. However, vigilance by this office has reduced drumming to such an extent that it is now confined to a very few doctors.

THE OERTEL SYSTEM OF MOUNTAIN CLIMBING.

On the roads on North Mountain and Hot Springs Mountain courses have been laid out for a scientific system of mountain climbing known as the Oertel system of graduated exercise, the same that is used at Bad Nauheim, Germany. The courses are indicated by stone monuments, finished with apex tops and painted, 300 feet apart. These monuments have the number cut on the face of each stone on two sides and are set so the patient can easily see the number or distance he has walked either coming or going. There are four courses or roads marked in this way and the number on each monument is painted in the color used for the course on the map.

A map 8 by 10 inches has been prepared and may be procured by physicians at a nominal cost. Each course is represented in colors, yellow being used for a course comparatively level; green, for a course slightly inclined; blue, for a course moderately steep; and red for a course very steep. This map has a space on the back for the physician's directions and signature, so that the physician can prescribe in an accurate manner the distance and course required, according to the condition of the patient.

Course No. 1, slightly inclined and shown in yellow on the map, starts at the corner of Fountain Street and Central Avenue and extends up Happy Hollow (Fountain Street) to monument 18 intersecting course No. 3, at North and Hot Springs Mountain divide.

Course No. 2, shown in green on the map, starts at monument 5 and Government monument No. 36 on south line of Fountain Street at entrance to Hot Springs Mountain road and extends to monument No. 30, terminating at the drinking pavilion and tower at the top of the mountain where it joins course No. 3.

Course No. 3, shown in blue on the map, begins at junction of Canon Street and Central Avenue and extends to monument No. 33 at the pavilion and tower at the end of course No. 2. It traverses parts of North and Hot Springs Mountain roads.

Course No. 4, shown in red on the map, begins at the main entrance between Maurice and Fordyce bathhouses and extends up mountain walks to monument No. 8 on Hot Springs Mountain road, intersecting course No. 2. This is the steepest course.

This system of exercise is applicable to patients whose heart action is impeded by deposits of fat and is effective in preventing fatty infiltration from becoming localized in the heart. It is, first of all, a preventive measure and can be employed with advantage to improve the general nutrition of the heart. Even in cases where fatty deposits have occurred it is of great value, as it also is where the compensation has been already established by milder means.

In short, it may be said this system is beneficial to all incipient heart troubles, especially those of a myocardial nature.

Some of the other physiological phenomena noticed are the following: Acceleration of the heart rate; acceleration of breathing; elimination of an additional amount of carbon dioxide and increase of

intake of oxygen; increase of power of healthy heart muscle and muscles of respiration; increase of capillary circulation; increase of normal blood pressure in proportion to amount and degree of exercise.

So far known this is the only system of this kind in the United States. In connection with the baths it should be a great boon to patients suffering from such ailments as will be benefited by this method of treatment.

In making the survey and map for this system of exercise all of the roads and walks on Hot Springs, North and West Mountains, have been surveyed, measured, and accurately located on the map, which is of material benefit to all persons requiring reliable information as to distances, locations, etc.

GENERAL IMPROVEMENTS.

Among the more important improvements on the reservation during the past fiscal year are the following:

Completion of a reenforced concrete reservoir under the Fordyce Bathhouse, having a capacity of approximately 70,000 gallons, which is connected up with the main impounding reservoirs for the storage of the hot water on the reservation.

Completion of the installation of water service on top of Hot Springs Mountain, near the Hot Springs Mountain Observatory at s cost of approximately $1,040. This system consists of a pressed brick pump house, near the cooling tanks of the Army and Navy General Hospital, equipped with electric motor and pump, a line of 2-inch galvanized pipe, a 500-gallon cypress tank, and a drinking fountain and other connections in the drinking pavilion on top of Hot Springs Mountain.

Minor repairs at the Government free bathhouse, including a coat of pitch to the roof and repairs to the plastered walls in the building. Removal of old iron light poles from the reservation front to points on Reserve Avenue between the Army and Navy Hospital and the superintendent's official residence, these poles having been supplanted by an up-to-date" white-way" lighting system on the reservation front. The equipment of the tennis court at Whittington Lake Park and the fence were renewed and repaired.

Extensive and needed repairs to concrete walk on Bathhouse Row. Burning of all underbrush and thorough cleaning of west slope of Hot Springs Mountain during the early spring.

Repainting and repairing floors and other portions of the interior of the superintendent's office.

Laying of approximately 200 linear feet of 18-inch drain tiling at Whittington Lake Park to better provide for surface drainage on that portion of the reservation.

Construction of 290 linear feet of rubble stone retaining wall. topped with Alabama limestone coping, on Reserve Avenue from Army and Navy Hospital grounds to grounds occupied by superintendent's official residence, this wall being 18 inches in thickness and averaging 3 feet in height.

Portion of work on new road, recently authorized by the department, leading from road on top of North Mountain to junction of Crag and Ramble Streets. This road affords an outlet from the system of mountain roads on Hot Springs and North Mountains to