Better Organization.-Those who like to know what may be, done to advance the interests of the homeopathic school should read Dr. Townsend's address in this number, and then our readers who live in New York should practically apply the advice by aiding Dr. Bukk G. Carleton, the able and enthusiastic President of our State Society, to increase the power and influence of the Society.

Special Lectures.-The idea of bringing in some outside men to lecture to students is a most excellent one, whether the institution be medical or literary. It is a good thing for the students to listen to eminent men not associated with the regular faculty. Sometimes they get new ideas and often old ideas put in a new way. Drs. Biggar, Kraft, Custis and Dewey made a great success of their "day" at the N. Y. Hom. Medical College. What they had to say was well worth listening to, and they had appreciative and contented audiences. Dr. Frank Kraft, talking on "A Little Salt," made a palpable hit. His lecture was spicy, practical and potent, and pleased his audience immensely.

In the Month of March OO. And finally the "Transactions" in the month of March and on the 21st day thereof. But in the imaginary postal-card vote indulged in by the inspired EditorSecretary in the Era, October, 1902, the returns were as follows: In favor of issuing the Transactions in July, 3; August, 1,642; Sept., 221; Oct, 92; Nov. 33; Dec., 8; Jan., 1; Feb., O; March, 00; and then after inspecting the result of his fabulous vote and being much tickled with it, albeit somewhat amazed at his own smartness, he effulgently announced that he would, "if given half a chance, get out the 1903 volume in August next, following the holding of the session." We commend to the radiant Prophet-Secretary a little more performance and a little less proclamation.

No Property Rights in Professional Knowledge.-A decision of the Supreme Court of Illinois declares that a physician's professional knowledge is not his property within the meaning of the constitution, and a physician who refused to testify in a personal inquiry suit unless compensated for his services, pleading that his professional knowledge was his property and could not be taken from him without due process of law, was adjudged guilty of contempt of court. Possibly the decision is technically correct, but none the less a grave injustice is done to members of the medical profession when professional opinions are exacted from them in courts of law without compensation. Might it not be well for some medical society to carry a suit, if necessary, to the highest court to determine if the public or a party to a suit is not as liable to a bill for a professional opinion as a private patient.

The British Medical Man's Prospects.—It is admitted by all that the medical profession in the United States is, as a whole, overcrowded, with the result that the average income is a very poor financial return for the time and money spent in acquiring a medical education. In Great Britain the doctor's lot is somewhat betFew are forced out of the profession by the inability to make

ter.

both ends meet; and medical men not infrequently retire after an active practice of thirty years and upward, and live in modest comfort for the rest of their days upon their savings and investments. The social status of the physician in Great Britain is better than that of his American brother whose membership in a "learned profession" is rarely an open sesame to society. An American physician desiring to sell his practice thinks himself lucky if he gets from one-third to one-half his yearly income for it. In England the price is set at from one to two years' income.

Trustees of Medical Institutions. Few persons are privileged to hold more honorable and at the same time more responsible positions than the trustees of medical institutions, whether they be pure charities, such as hospitals and dispensaries, or whether they be schools for the acquirement or improvement of medical and surgical knowledge. The functions of such trustees are not ended when funds for the maintenance of the institution are provided and a medical and surgical staff or a faculty appointed. It is theirs also to see that the best use is being made of what the funds provide by the staff or faculty. In determining such a question a layman. is at some disadvantage, and it is well, therefore, that every board of trustees should include a fair proportion of medical men. among the medical trustees should be one or more representatives of the medical staff or faculty, but the majority of the medical trustees should, if possible, have no other official connection with the institution, but should be selected for their executive ability, their influence in the community, and a large-mindedness that will make them independent in judgment and fit to be the real arbiters of the satisfactory working of the professional side of the institution.

And

Medical Society Meetings.-A glance at our Directory of Homœopathic Societies reveals the fact that the majority hold their annual meetings in the month of May, and it is, therefore, to be presumed that secretaries and chairmen of bureaus are hard at work arranging programmes. One of the greatest temptations that beset the man who draws up such a programme is to provide too much material. If all the papers whose titles are printed are read, the time left for their discussion is far from adequate. As a matter of fact, it is well recognized that a well-conducted discussion is of the greatest value, it tends to emphasize the important points in the paper. But to be thus profitable the discussion must be kept well in hand by the presiding officer, who should know the men in the audience capable of adding something of interest on the subject, and call upon them to speak, if volunteers do not present themselves in sufficient numbers. A less enviable task for the presiding officer is suppressing of the individual who feels called upon to discuss every paper, such discussion degenerating usually into a rambling account of very ordinary personal experiences. The appointment of one member to open the discussion usually works well, but it is well for the presiding officer to communicate before the meeting with members who, he knows, are interested in the subject, urging presence and their participation in the discussion. As to the topics for papers and the selection of men to read them, it is well

the

their

to bear in mind that a medical society meeting ought to be a means of post-graduate instruction for a large number of physicians who can not leave their practices long enough to take long courses. For this reason it is well to include papers that will give an insight into the advances made in different lines; but care must be taken to see that the subject is handled in such a way as to instruct, that it is not over the heads of the average medical comprehension, written to impress the hearer with the erudition of the reader. The preparation of a paper should generally be in response to an invitation from those having the drafting of the programme; while the maxim that "one volunteer is worth two pressed men" may be true in many callings, the man who volunteers to read a medical or surgical paper generally has an axe to grind. No such paper should be accepted until it has been submitted to, and read by, those in authority. Whenever it is possible to introduce them, it will be found that demonstrations add to the interest of the meetings; provision should therefore be made for the exhibition of pathological specimens, for the showing of advances in surgical and clinical technique, and of new instruments. One of the problems with which all societies have to wrestle is the lack of interest of the average member in the business side of the organization. The opening of many a meeting has been delayed by failure to procure a quorum to transact business. Physicians fail to realize how much has been gained by organization and how much their interests can be advanced by corporate action, and how important it is that they should take an intelligent interest in the reports of committees. The election of members and of officers consumes valuable time, but members and officers. we must have.

Vital Statistics.-The value of the registration of vital statistics has come to be universally recognized in all civilized countries. But to make these statistics of any value it is necessary that they be as complete as possible and that there shall be a fixed system of classification. The United States Census Office has issued pamphlets for instruction along these lines. Especially valuable to the profession is that concerning medical education and The Relation of Physicians to Mortality Statistics. The Manual of International Classification of Causes of Death for the use of registrars is an excellent work. But its proper use depends upon the statements of physicians of the cause of death, and it emphasizes the importance of the recording of all cases of death in accordance with some definite and general system. It would seem that the suggestion of the Census Office that students be given instruction in this in medical colleges, is worthy of adoption.

Another requirement is the adoption of uniform legislative requirements in the different States. The form of certificate suggested by the National Office is a good one and has already been adopted by Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, New York and Vermont. It is hoped that other States may follow and thus give the United States Government the advantages that result from unity in this important work.

Book Reviews.

The American Year-Book of Medicine and Surgery for 1904. A Yearly Digest of Scientific Progress and Authoritative Opinion in all branches of Medicine and Surgery, drawn from journals, monographs, and text-books of the leading American and foreign authors and investigators. Arranged, with critical editorial comments, by eminent American specialists, under the editorial charge of George M. Gould, A.M., M.D. In two volumes. Volume I, including General Medicine. Octavo, 673 pages, fully illustrated; Volume II, General Surgery. Octavo, 680 pages, fully illustrated. Philadelphia, New York, London: W. B. Saunders & Co., 1904. Per volume: Cloth, $3.00 net; Half Morocco, $3.75 net.

The American Year-Book of Medicine and Surgery continues to maintain its high place among works of its class. Indeed, the issue of 1904, now before us, if anything, is even better than the excellent issues of previous years. Such a distinguished corps of collaborators which the editor, Dr. George M. Gould, has enlisted as his assistants is sufficient guarantee that the essential points of progress are brought out, and the collaborators' notes and commendations are excellent. In the illustrative feature the 1904 issue fully maintains its reputation, there being fourteen full-page insert plates, besides a number of excellent text-cuts. We pronounce Saunders' Year-Book for 1904 the best work of its kind on the market, as it has always been.

American Text-Book of Surgery. For Practitioners and Students. Edited by William W. Keen, M.D., LL.D., F.R.C.S. (Hon.), Professor of the Principles of Surgery and of Clinical Surgery, Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia; and J. William White, M.D., John Rhea Barton Professor of Surgery, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia. Fourth Edition, Thoroughly Revised and Greatly Enlarged. Octavo of 1363 pages, with 551 text-illustrations and 39 full-page plates, many in colors. Philadelphia, New York, London: W. B. Saunders & Company, 1903. Cloth, $7.00 net; Sheep or Half Morocco, $8.00 net.

Of the three former editions of this work nearly 40,000 copies have been disposed of. Its sale, indeed, has been the wonder of the medical publishing world. In this present edition every chapter has been extensively modified, and many of them have been partially, and some entirely, rewritten. Notably among such chapters are Surgical Bacteriology, Tumors, the Osseous System,

those on

Orthopedic Surgery, the Surgery of the Nerves, the Joints, the

Abdomen, etc.

methods of spinal and local anesthesia, and the newer anesthetics have also been described.

The use of parraffine in nasal deformities, the

Besides the extensive revision and amplification of the old matter, there have been added six new chapters on Military Surgery, munity, and Surgery of the Pancreas. Though there was a brief

chapter

on

the Pancreas in the third edition, in this present edition

it has been expanded so greatly that it really is wholly new, the modern surgery of the Pancreas having been created since the last edition. A number of the old illustrations have been replaced by better ones, and in addition, there have been added a number entirely

new.

Brewer's Surgery. A Text-Book of Surgery for Students and Practitioners. By George E. Brewer, A.M., M.D., Lecturer on Clinical Surgery at the College of Physicians and Surgeons (Medical Department of Columbus University), New York. In one octavo volume of 712 pages, with 280 engravings and 7 plates in colors and monochrome. Cloth, $4.00; Leather, $5.00 net. Lea Brothers & Co., Philadelphia and New York, 1903.

The need of a comprehensive, yet abridged, text-book on Surgery, suitable for the use of students and practitioners, and presenting clearly the accepted modern views of surgical pathology and treatment, has been felt by the author of this work during his experience in teaching. That such a need has existed in the past is evidenced by the fact that excellent manuals have appeared from time to time. That it is not adequately filled at present is perhaps due to the fact that the best of these manuals have, by their success, passed into new editions, in each of which the tendency to enlarge has not been sufficiently resisted, and consequently they have grown into large treatises, thereby outgrowing the demand which originally called them into being.

Following these ideas, the author has endeavored in the present work to give the essential facts in practical surgery as briefly as is compatible with clearness. The same reason has excluded the description of more than one or two methods of treating a given surgical affection. It is often a difficult task to select from the many procedures which have been proposed that which is most applicable and successful, but such selection is a great aid to the reader.

The Principles and Practice of Hydrotherapy. A Guide to the Application of Water in Disease. For Students and Practitioners of Medicine. By Simon Baruch, M.D., Professor of Hydrotherapeutics in the New York Post-Graduate School and Hospital, etc. Second Edition, Revised and Enlarged, with numerous illustrations. New York: William Wood & Co. $4.00 net. 496 pages.

The entire work has been revised and much new matter added. A chapter on reaction is devoted to the elucidation of the basic principles of hydrotherapy in conservance with advanced physiology and the most recent experimental findings. A chapter on insanity has been added, based upon the recorded observations of practical alienists in charge of large asylums. This chapter not only illustrates the value of this agent in these ordinarily unsatisfactory cases, but emphasizes the importance of trained attendants. and exact technique. Of great importance are the brief clinical histories, which show clearly the need of individualization and points out the changes required by fluctuations in the type or progress of. each case.