"That is to say, I can remember but one such occurrence," he continued, smiling, "and I think I may say it vindicated our system. I remember we had a little dwarf, a hunchback-a clown at the old Standard Theater-sent to us about that time. He had fallen while he was giving some kind of an acrobatic performance on the stage. The man was a jolly, good-hearted little fellow, and he soon became a favorite with everybody in his ward. Just as he was convalescing, as it happened, a tough character from the Five Points district was sent into us, suffering from alcoholism, I imagine.

"When the nurse went to him to find out his needs he started to address a torrent of vile language to her, but he didn't get very far. In a trice the little dwarf had climbed on to his bed and was pounding him for dear life. 'I'll teach you to talk to my nurse like that' he cried out, half-sobbing with rage. 'I'll teach you!' And we actually had to use force to pry them apart."

Dr. W. A. Evans, Chicago's Health Commissioner, The Tribune, June 8, pleased with the hit that his first series of "healthograms" made a month ago, has issued a new list. The following are samples of the doctor's latest literary effort:

"No spit-no consumption.

"Summer-the time to shun meats and take to vegetables. "An uncongenial occupation warps the body and withers the soul.

"To relieve worry and sleeplessness take a bath-hot followed by cold.

"When you must drink, drink Adam's ale. Lake Michigan is full of it.

"Dirty milk is better food for bacteria than it is for babies."

Dr. Victor D. Lespinasz of the Northwestern University Medical School, Chicago, according to an Associated Press despatch.dated May 31, 1910, recently told an alumni audience of physicians that he has discovered a surgical method which may do much to save life and modify suffering. The secret, Dr. Lespinasz explained, consisted in his successful reuniting of severed arteries. Heretofore, Dr. Lespinasz said, physicians have been forced to resort to sewing to obtain the end desired. Stitching was unsuccessful because it too often resulted in the formation of bloodclots, the constriction of the arteries or the enlargement and breaking of them.

Dr. Lespinasz uses rings of magnesium. The severed vessels ate joined by these rings or couplers. Magnesium is used because it readily dissolves when the complete union of the severed ends of the arteries has taken place

THE Shah of Persia, who is living at Odessa in a villa placed at his disposal by the Russian Government, has taken up the study of medicine according to a recent press despatch. He is particularly interested in surgery it is reported.

IN describing the cremation of the body of Dr. Robert Koch, the Paden-Baden correspondent of the Karlsruhe "Zeitung" says: "It was Koch's will, often expressed, that his body be incinerated. When the cortege arrived at the crematory Mozart's 'Ave Verum' was rendered, after which the co-laborer and successor of the scientist, Privy Medical Councillor Gaffky, delivered a eulogy and expressed the sorrow which the whole scientific world shared with those assembled because of the death of one who had so valiantly worked for suffering humanity. Then, to the strains of Mendelssohn's 'Es ist bestimmt in Gottes Rat,' the coffin, heavily laden with flowers, sank out of sight into the devouring flames." -The Tribune.

ACCORDING to a press despatch Governor Hughes signed recently a public hospital bill which is of interest to every town, city and village in the state, and which marks a step in advance in hospitai development for the State of New York. This bill makes it possible for the common council of a city or the trustees of a village or the governing board of a town, to establish a public general hospital for the care of the sick.

Heretofore it has been necessary for any city, village or town which desired to establish such a hospital to secure a special act on the part of the Legislature, giving them the authority to do so.

Homer Folks, secretary of the State Charities Aid Association, said when the bill was signed by the governor that it was drafted by the association which he represented. Mr. Folks stated that the demand for public hospitals throughout the state is greater today than ever, and that the hospital facilities have fallen far behind the demand.

THE value of the system of medical defense in vogue in New York is illustrated by the statement that from September, 1900, to January, 1910, the Medical Society of the State of New York has taken charge of two hundred and fifty cases of threatened prosecution of members for alleged malpractice; one hundred and thirty-eight have been actually tried in court, not one finally lost. In one case a verdict was returned against the member, but a new trial has been asked for and a favorable result is expected.

It is announced that Professors Burt G. Wilder, of the department of neurology and vertebrate zoology; Lucien A. Wait, of the department of mathematics, and W. T. Hewitt, of the department of German languages and literature of Cornell University, whose terms of service expire with the academic spring, have been made professors emeritus. They will be retired on pensions from the Carnegie Foundation Fund.

THE reason doctors do not catch disease (Chicago RecordHerald), is because they never think about it. They very seldom take any precautions to secure this amazing immunity, beyond, perhaps, a cold sponge bath regularly, smoking, a pinch of snuff, gargling the throat with some well known disinfectant or washing their hands in an antiseptic solution before and after attending to a patient. A doctor may carry disease from one house to another without contracting it himself. An army surgeon had to cope single-handed with a terrible outbreak of cholera. People were dying around him by the score. When the rush was over the medical man absolutely exhausted, sank onto a bed which a short time previously had been occupied by a bad cholera case, and slept for forty-three hours. Yet he did not contract the complaint, although he had taken no preventive measures. simply didn't think about it. And that is the whole secret.

He

CHICAGO'S Anti-Spitting Plan could be adopted in Buffalo with propriety. The Record-Herald says that with the coöperation of many civic, social and health organisations, thousands of men and women started recently in a concerted movement to further the suppression of spitting anywhere and everywhere.

The first step was taken when cards warning against the dangers of expectorating and the penalties by law attached thereto were issued by Frank E. Wing, superintendent of the Chicago Tuberculosis Institute, to a large number of people working in the interests of the "anti-spitting cause." These "workers" went about their business in the usual way, but whenever they saw anyone spitting would hand a card to the offender, with the polite request that he or she read it.

As a first consignment fifty thousand of the cards were received, and, according to Mr. Wing, the first day's record of distribution bids fair to exhaust the supply in a short while.

"I've got an awful case of insomnia," remarked Reid Albee to Jo Paige Smith. "Do you know of a remedy?"

"The best I could advise," returned Smith, "is to eat plentifully and sleep a lot."

PERSONAL.

DR. F. PARK LEWIS, of Buffalo, is the author of an article entitled "The Parable of the Unwise Farmer," published in The Survey, week of June 4, 1910. The purpose of the paper is to show the folly of the state in dealing with our defectives in public institutions, and especially in its present neglect of preventable diseases.

DR. WILLIAM A. Howe, of Phelps, has been appointed deputy commissioner of health of the State of New York. This is an office created by the last legislature and has been appropriately filled by the health commissioner in the appointment of Dr. Howe.

DR. HERMAN E. HAYD, of Buffalo, with a party of friends, has been making a motor car tour to Spring Lake, N. J., which occupied a fortnight or more early in July. It is needless to add that fine sport was the result.

DR. URI C. LYNDE, of Buffalo, who was seriously injured in leaving a street car on Niagara Street early in the summer, is reported to be well on the road toward recovery. The JOURNAL extends its sympathy to Dr. Lynde and hopes his recovery will be complete very soon.

DR. Orange G. PFAFF, of Indianapolis, on his way from New York to his home city in an automobile, accompanied by his wife and two sons, was the victim of an accident at Little Falls, June 24, 1910. Turning part way from the road to admit the passage of another car, Dr. Pfaff's automobile was overturned in the soft ground. He was pinned under the car, his left leg was broken, and the patella was fractured. He is at Saint Vincent's Hospital, Indianapolis, well on the way to recovery.

DR. ROBERT E. HOYT, passed Assistant Surgeon U. S. Navy, has been assigned to the Buffalo Naval Recruiting Station, relieving passed assistant surgeon Bert F. Jenness, who has been assigned to the naval hospital at Portsmouth, Va.

DR. CHARLES N. PALMER, of Lockport, one of the best known physicians in Western New York, was seriously injured in a

motor car accident at Cambria early in July. Pneumonia developed and for a time the result seemed doubtful but later advices indicate that he will recover. Dr. Palmer has the sympathy and congratulations of the JOURNAL.

DR. STEPHEN YATES HOWELL, of Buffalo, went to the seashore in July, where he spent the last half of the month.

DR. AND MRS. MAX C. BREUER, of Buffalo, made a motor car tour in the early summer, along the Atlantic Coast and through the White Mountains.

DR. CHARLES CARY, of Buffalo, Professor of Clinical Medicine of the University, is touring a part of Europe in a motor car during the present summer.

DR. LUCIEN HOWE, of Buffalo, was granted the honorary degree of doctor of science by Bowdoin College at its annual commencement held in June, 1910.

DR. FRANCIS E.

RONCZAK, health commissioner of Buffalo, has been in Europe for a few weeks whither he went as the official delegate of the health department to the Congress of School Hygiene at Paris. He also inspected the open air schools of various countries, spending a pleasant but busy six weeks abroad.

DR. WILLIAM GAERTNER, of Buffalo, was elected vice-president of the State German-American Alliance during its recent annual meeting at Albany. He also was made chairman of the legislative committee of the alliance.

DR. JOHN H. GRANT, of Buffalo, Chairman of the Board of Censors of the Medical Society of the County of Erie, Assistant Commissioner of Agriculture of the State of New York spent a month in Albany, during the early summer.

DR. G. A. HITZEL, of Buffalo, who has been in Berlin and other German university cities for the past three months or more, engaged in study and recreation, will return early in August and resume his professional work.