it the office and power of the priest, as such, went by the board. Not only so, but so intense was the revulsion of sentiment that, in the eyes of all who are interested in natural science and natural religion, the whole system of priesthood, in which there are undoubtedly some excellent features, to this day remains under the ban of mistrust and repugnance, incurred by this one phase of its function, for which not the great body of sacerdotary at large was responsible, but the powerful ring which controlled the system in those middle ages. Now history has a remarkable way of repeating itself and of presenting old friends and foes with new faces. It is not at all likely that scientific knowledge will ever again stand in danger of monopolization or suppression at the hands of the church or of any other body, on the pretext of special revelation. But it must be remembered that the real effect and essence of this sacerdotal principle-that which gave it its real power and influence was the monopolization of the sources of knowledge by the few, which is always a dangerous thing. And while this may never again come about by virtue of the sacerdotal idea, there are modern conditions now obtaining which are not unlikely to bring to pass a similar dangerous state of affairs. It is true that the public now has access to any kind and quantity of knowledge it desires. But the very quantity and quality of the knowledge thus at its disposal is forcing a specialization of its possession which, in its concentrating effect, bids fair to outspecialize the conditions of the middle ages. The people have, in a different fashion and by different methods, again delegated the office of medicine to a class of individuals consecrated thereto. There is a medical priesthood. True, it is a priesthood to which anyone may aspire, though there are indications of a spirit on the part of those in authority to consider subserviency to themselves as of more importance than special medical knowledge as a qualificatior. for entering it; true, also, it is one over which the State has taken the precaution to keep some degree of oversight. Nevertheless, medicine is a priesthood, invested with vast powers and responsibilities in matters of life and death and health, of which the public knows, and can know, next to nothing, and concerning which it is obliged to depend upon the honor of those who have set themselves up as authorities on these subjects. Human nature has not greatly changed since the middle ages, and medical scientists are but men. The temptation is now great, as it was then, to prostitute priesthood into priestcraft, for the mystification and exploitation of the public. This temptation does not attack the great multitude of earnest, faithful workers in the lower grades of the medical priesthood. It did not in the olden time, but only those who are in high places. And there are not wanting today signs that the high priests of medicine are actually fastening upon the profession a system of priestcraft, a sacerdotal ring, whose assumed authority is the more powerful because the basis of its legitimate dominion is rational and unassailable. The methods by which this priestcraft seeks to bring about a centralization of power are essentially the same as those by which priestcraft has always gone about to accomplish the same end, namely, the so-called ethical control of the opinions and utterances of its devotees, the suppression of the wholesome correctives of criticism and argument, the establishment of a spurious authority in matters where authority has no legitimate place, and the investment of medical science with a cloak of mystery and professionalism, with a view of compelling a false dignity and awe in the eyes of the lay public. As already intimated, these tendencies do not belong to the great rank and file of the medical profession, but to a small but powerful rule-or-ruin element in its high places. Their influence, however, is widely felt and manifested in the alarmingly increasing loss of confidence exhibited by the public in medicine and medical men, as witness the growing reversions to Christian Science and the like; and when the ultimate revulsion against high-handed medicine comes (and the signs of the times are equally plain that it is not far distant), the whole priesthood of medicine will, unfortunately, fall, as did the former sacerdotal system, under the ban brought upon it by this unscrupulous ring in its inordinate greed for central power. These matters are already being discussed by the laity, and are becoming invested with a public significance. We believe it to be in accord with the highest interests of the profession that the recognition of and provision for these unpleasant, but wholesome truths, should originate within its own ranks rather than to be forced upon it from the outside. They must be met and resolved by the rank and file of the profession, who are half unwittingly suffering and condoning the wrong; who, together with the public, are being exploited by the unscrupulous ring, and who will eventually share in the revulsion of public mistrust and repugnance which will surely betide unless the mischievous tendencies of the ring be vigorously and effectively checked. CLINICAL Notes. THE VARIETIES OF DYSMENORRHOEA. In an article on Dysmenorrhoea, Solomon Henry Secoy, M. D., of Jeffersonville, Ind., refers specially to its causes and treatment and offers some valuable suggestions as follows: "I am in the habit of regarding dysmenorrhoea as capable of division into three varieties. They are the neuralgic, the obstructive and the membranous. The neuralgic form is a pure neuralgia, and its subjects, in all cases, will give a history upon which we can base its cause. These patients will tell us that never, prior to the attacks which they have recently undergone, have they had dysmenorrhoea. It is caused generally by malaria and other influences which tend to lower the general health. "The treatment of dysmenorrhoea very naturally comprises such remedies and procedures as will correct the cause, and the administration of anodynes to relieve the pain. In the neuralgic form we must correct the cause. If that be malaria, quinine must be given. In most The well-known French nerve specialist (Dr. LeMord), writing recently of Daniel's Passiflora, says: "I have at last found an ideal nervine, and I make this assertion, because I found after a six months' test, that its effects conform more nearly to nature than any other that has come under my observation. It is Daniel's Concentrated Tincture Passiflora, and is prepared from the Passion Plant which is indigenous to the southern section of the United States and grows there in great profusion. This plant is superlatively sedative in character, and the concentrated tincture that is extracted from the green fruit, leaves and vines, constitute in my opinion the most desirable nervine and narcotic at the practitioner's command. I find it most successful in the treatment of such diseases as hysteria, insomnia and neuralgia, as well as in those affections peculiar to the female sex. Its control of the nervous system is remarkable, but its greatest charm is that it produces no harmful after-effects, but induces normal slumber from which the patient awakes invigorated and refreshed. This property alone renders it indispensable, for the work of the physician is half done when his patient sleeps naturally. In my practice Daniel's Passiflora takes the place of opiates in the treatment of nervous diseases." Such high commendation as this is most gratifying, but it is only an echo of similar expressions from a multitude of physicians on this side of the Atlantic. BOOK NOTICES. BORDERLAND STUDIES. Miscellaneous Studies and Essays Pertaining to Medicine and the Medical Profession, and Their Relations to General Science and Thought. Volume II. By George M. Gould, M. D., formerly editor of The Medical News, The Philadelphia Medical Journal, American Medicine; Author of a Series of Medical Dictionaries, "Biographic Clinics," "Concerning Lafcadio Hearn," "Righthandedness," etc. Philadelphia: P. Blakisston's Son & Co., 1908. This second volume of Borderland Studies, the first of which appeared in 1896, comprises a number of essays and original articles which were published in various periodicals of medicine, and have been gathered together by the writer in the present book form. Gould needs no introduction to the reading medical profession as an erudite, trenchant writer. No one can forget his terse and enlightening editorials in American Medicine and other medical journals which he has edited. He is deserving of a foremost place among the literati of medicine of the world. This book of essays will be found intensely entertaining by all. It will be found to be a verdant oasis among the dry and uninviting sands of medical writings that are commonly placed before us for reading. REFERENCE AND DOSE BOOK.-By C. Henri Leonard, A. M., M. D., Emeritus Professor of Gynecology in the Detroit College of Medicine. New and enlarged edition; fortieth thousand. Cloth, limp sides, round corners, thin paper, 16mo., 145 pages; price, 75 cents. The Illustrated Medical Journal Company, Publishers, Detroit, Mich, The changes in the new edition of the U. S. Pharmacopoeia are given in this edition of "Leonard's Dose Book" in two groupings, one showing those of "Increased Strength," the other of "Decreased Strength," and the new doses for these changes. All the Dose List has been carefully "proof-read" by sev eral different readers, so as to insure absolute accuracy in the (nearly) 4,000 remedies given. The U. S. Dispensatory has been followed for medium and maximum dosage. The common name (in small type) is given after the drug name and dose. Besides this complete Dose List, the book has numerous useful Tables and a therapeutic index. This new edition has been printed on thin paper so as to make it adaptable for buggy case or "bag," the whole being only one-fourth of an inch thick and weighing only about three ounces. Its round corners and smooth linen covers also make it "easy carrying" in the pocket. With this little book at hand you need never be at a loss for accurate dosage (new or old style) of a remedy. ESSENTIALS OF REFRACTION.-By Thomas G. Atkinson, M. D., Author of "Applied Physiology;" Associate Professor of Neurology and Physiology, American College of Medicine and Surgery, Chicago; Professor of Physiology, Chicago College of Dental Surgery; Editor of the Medical Standard, etc. Chicago: G. P. Engelhard & Company. 1907. Price, $1.25. The author of this little work intends it to be solely a treatise on refraction. It in no way attempts to go into the pathological conditions that are met with in the human eye, but simply takes up the study of optics, and shows how every practitioner can learn to detect errors in refraction. The underlying principles of optics upon which the superstructure of a refractionist's working knowledge must necessarily be raised are thoroughly and plainly set forth. Exact directions are given as to the manner of using the ophthalmoscope and retinoscope, two instruments sentially necessary for this kind of scientific diagnostication. es The book should prove a useful manual for the student and the practitioner. Particular mention must be made of the chapter on hygiene of the eye, where the care of the eyes of children is gone into and some of the pernicious habits of the school-teacher in reference to improper strain to which he or she subjects the little pupils' eyes are properly and correctly reproved. DISEASES OF INFANTS AND CHILDREN, A Manual of Diseases of Infants and Children.-By John Ruhrah, M. D., Clinical Professor of Diseases of Children, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Baltimore. Second revised edition. 12 mo., volume of 423 pages, fully illustrated. Philadelphia and London: W. B. Saunders Company, 1908. Flexible leather, $2.00 net. This manual of infants' and children's diseases, by Dr. Ruhrah, of Baltimore, will prove of exceptional value to medical students and to practitioners alike. It takes up in rational order the questions peculiar to the care and the treatment of the sick infants, beginning with an interesting and well-written chapter on "The Care of the New-Born," followed by another good chapter on "The Anatomic and Physiologic Peculiarities of Infancy and Childhood." This work is intended, primarily, as a compend for the student of medicine in his study at college, when he finds it a physical impossibility to read all the "1,000-page" text-books that are recommended to him. The text of Ruhrah's book is characterized by brevity and clearness, without the sacrifice of the essentials, or with the sacrifice of as few of the essentials, as is possible in any work on any medical subject where essentials and detailed description count for so much. A specially good chapter is that on the "Therapeutics of Childhood." We heartily recommend this book. GLIMPSES OF MEDICAL EUROPE. - By Ralph L. Thompson. M. D., Professor of Pathology, St. Louis University School of Medicine. Illustrated from Photographs and from Drawings by Tom Jones. Philadelphia and London. 1908: J. B. Lippincott & Company. Many American medical men have spent a "Wanderjahr" on the Continent, and many there are who intend to do so at some future time. This little book will prove refreshing and delightful reading for those of us who have thus expatriated themselves for a while, and it will be intensely valuable by way of giving information to those who contemplate going abroad for study. Thompson has written a book which has genuine literary excellence, and at the same time should be an invaluable guide-book. as it were, for the aspiring medical tourist of Europe. Paris, Berlin, London and Vienna are thoroughly described in Thompson's inimitable "American" way, many a hearty laugh escaping the reviewer on account of the serio-comic view of things which the author takes concerning European medicine and her votaries. This little work is, therefore, heartily recommended to those who have been there, to those who intend to go there, and to those who want to go but are prevented from doing so. A rich and instructive tale of interesting occurrences and facts can be promised by a perusal of "Glimpses of Medical Euгоре." A THESAURUS DICTIONARY OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE. Designed to suggest immediately any desired word needed to express exactly a given idea. A Dictionary, Synonyms, Antonyms, Idioms, Foreign Phrases, Pronunciations, a Copious Correlation of Words. Prepared under the Supervision of Francis Andrew March, LL.D., L. M. D., D. C. L., Litt. D., Pres. Am. Phil. Assn., Consulting Editor of the Standard. Century and Murray Dictionaries. E. J. Roesch, 709-711 Holbrook-Blackwelder Bldg., St. Louis, Mo., Distributer. Prices in various bindings on application. The modern physician who realizes the importance of the careful choice of words in his contributions to medical literature, in his everyday practice. socially and in a business way; who knows that life may depend upon accurate language, and who aims to express his ideas with ideal clearness, both with tongue and pen, ordinarily as well as through his professional journals, should avail himself of this, the most ingenious help that has ever been devised to confer prompt and complete command of all the resources of our vast English language. By looking up any simple word in March's Thesaurus on the subject you are led instantly to a grouping of all words treating the subjects in which the proper word is found. For more than four centuries lexicographers have tried to produce a book that would give immediate use of a comprehensive vocabulary. They have failed; even Roget's plan (1852), which was an advanced one, being found objectionable in vital respects. All the objections to Roget's compilations are removed by Professor F. A. March's Thesaurus Dictionary of the English Language (a work of 1300 pages). and besides making his work a WHEN GETTING-GET THE BEST." Our Hypodermic Syringes all have the new patent HOLLOW Piston, which is filled with oil clear to the outer end, so that the packing NEVER dries out, the Piston NEVER works hard, the Syringe NEVER leaks, the oil being 5% carbolated keeps the Syringe automatically aseptic-without boiling, and it broken, can be repaired on the spot by the physician himself. Send for our new descriptive Catalogue. THE WEST SUPPLY CO., Canton, Ohio. N. B.-Pistons of old style Syringes replaced with car new HOLLOW Piston and returned same day. |