cannot be done in one year or perhaps in ten years, or by remaining supine and decrying the object in view or the efforts of others to secure the same, but only by an earnest and well directed co-operation; since many laws will have to be amended and, in some cases, new ones enacted. The time required to, accomplish this is not a very important factor to be considered when compared with the immense benefits which will necessarily follow when this has been consummated. In closing this report the Executive Council desires to state its opinion that, by placing the medical colleges under state control, many irregularities and evils which now beset medical education could and would be eradicated, and that uniformity in medical education would be made possible. The work of upbuilding the medical profession has really but just begun, and should receive the aid and support of every physician who is interested in the welfare of his country and who has at heart the highest development of his chosen profession. N. R. COLEMAN, M. D., Chairman. EDWIN B. HARVEY, M. D., Boston, Mass. 264 E. Town STREET. Drainage and Dressing of Wounds in Minor Surgery Archibald E. Isaccs, New York, Medical Record, July 16, 1910, thinks that the principles of surgery with reference to dressings and drainage are often overlooked. Drainage is assistance given to nature in providing and keeping up an unobstructed outlet for the exudate from any wound. Discharge allowed to stagnate or collect under tension would do harm. Packing is not generally required. It is only useful to keep open collapsible cavities. Dressings are applied to suppurative wounds to protect the wound from external influences, and to provide means of absorption and removal of exudate from the wound. Methods of drainage should be such as aid nature. Many wounds would do better undrained and unpacked. Gauze is open to the objection that it easily becomes stuck to the wound, and the discharge dries in its meshes and prevents rather than aids drainage. It makes a good drainage material only when it is covered with a wet dressing. A cigarette drain is better than plain gauze, because it does not adhere, and the fluid finds its way out around the gutta percha tissue. It does not give pain or do damage on its withdrawal. Gutta percha tissue is an ideal drainage material when a packing is not required. It keeps the wound open and prevents adhesion to the raw surfaces. Its smooth surface permits of easy introduction and removal. In burns gutta percha tissue makes the best of dressings, because it does not adhere and allows of drainage of the fluids. TOPICS OF PUBLIC INTEREST Women in Tuberculosis War Over a Million United to Fight Consumption in Every State (Press Service of the National Association for the Study and Prevention of Tuberculosis) What women have done in the last four years in the campaign against tuberculosis, is discussed in an interesting report issued August 18, 1910, by the National Association for the Study and Prevention of Tuberculosis. Four years ago the only active women workers in the antituberculosis movement were a little group of about thirty women's clubs. Today 800,000 women under the Health Department of the General Federation of Women's Clubs in every state and territory of the United States are banded together against this disease, and more than 2,000 clubs are taking a special interest in the crusade. Not less than $500,000 is raised annually by them for tuberculosis work, besides millions that are secured through their efforts in state and municipal appropriations. Mrs. Rufus P. Williams is the chairman of the department that directs this work. In addition to the work of the General Federation of Women's Clubs, The Public Health Education Committee of the American Medical Association, composed largely of women physicians has carried on an educational campaign of lectures during the past year in which thousands have been reached. The Mothers' Congress, the Young Women's Christian Association, and many unattached clubs bring the number of women united in the tuberculosis war to well over a million. There is not a state in the union where some work has not been done. Through the activity of women, sanatoria and hospitals for the treatment of tuberculosis have been erected; traveling libraries have been circulated, posters, circulars and other kinds of literature have been distributed to the number of millions of pieces; thousands of lectures have been given, large sums of money have been secured, hundreds of needy cases have been helped.; tuberculosis work has been started in many communities where no movement had existed; and millions of women have learned the dangers and methods of prevention of tuberculosis. The work of the women extends from the drawing room of the rich to the homes of the poor, and embraces all classes, including the factory girl and millionaire. During the coming year a special campaign of lectures to women will be carried on in all parts of the United States. CORRESPONDENCE EPIDEMIC POLIOMYELITIS-JOINT SESSION OF AMERICAN ORTHOPEDIC AND AMERICAN PEDIATRIC SOCIETIES TAKE ACTION— HEALTH BOARDS URGED TO STUDY EPIDEMIOLOGY OF THE DISEASE. Editor Buffalo Medical Journal: Sir-At the recent meeting of the Congress of American Physicians and Surgeons held at Washington, in May, 1910, a joint session of the American Orthopedic and American Pediatric Societies was held and the subject of epidemic poliomyelitis was discussed. The following resolution was adopted: It having been shown by recent epidemics and investigations. connected with the same that epidemic infantile spinal paralysis is an infectious communicable disease that has a mortality of from 5 to 20 per cent., and that 75 per cent. or more of the patients surviving are permanently crippled, state boards of health and other health authorities are urged to adopt the same or similar measures as are already adopted and enforced in Massachusetts, for ascertaining the modes of origin and manner of distribution of the disease with a view of controlling and limiting the spread of so serious an affection. A committee with Dr. Robert W. Lovett, president, Boston, Mass., and Dr. Irving M. Snow, secretary, Buffalo, N. Y., was appointed to urge the various state and municipal health authorities to take up the work of investigation of the various foci of epidemic poliomyelitis, to study its epidemiology and to instruct the public that the disease is at least mildly communicable. May we ask you to publish this letter and the resolutions in your journal and also to allude to the matter editorially, urging the Health Commissioners of the various states of the United States and of the provinces of Canada to follow the example of the Massachusetts Health Department in studying the epidemiology of poliomyelitis. August 11, 1910. Committee on Poliomyelitis, American Orthopedic and Pediatric Societies. ROBERT W. LOVETT, M.D., President, IRVING M. SNOW, M.D., Secretary, No. 475 Franklin St., Buffalo, N. Y. "You're in for a siege," declared the fashionable physician. "Quit your kidding," responded the malefactor of great wealth. "It's a fact. You're going to be sick. You have violated nature's laws, and must pay the penalty." "Aw, can't you get me off on a technicality, doc?”—Louisville Courier-Journal. BUFFALO MEDICAL JOURNAL A Monthly Review of Medicine and Surgery EDITOR WILLIAM WARREN POTTER, M. D. All communications, whether of a literary or business nature, books for review and xohanges, should be addressed to the editor, 238 DELAWARE AVENUE, Buffalo, N.Y. VOL. LXVI. SEPTEMBER, 1910. Florence Nightingale No. 2 THE most distinguished woman of her time, Miss Florence Nightingale, died in London, August 13, 1910, aged ninety years. For fifty-five years her name had been familiar to the public, not only as that of the first woman to enter service as an army nurse but as one to mitigate the suffering of the soldiers in the field and to contribute materially toward the reduction of the death rate in the Crimea. The writer well remembers that in the winter of 1855, the newspaper press recorded the reception given Miss Nightingale on her arrival at the seat of war, and the good work she accomplished from time to time. thereafter. In this sketch of her life, which we publish as an example to be emulated, the material has been compiled from various sources. She was born in 1820 in Florence, from which she received her name, being the younger daughter of a Sheffield banker named Shone, who adopted the name of Nightingale in accordance with the terms of the will of one Peter Nightingale, whose property fell to him. For some years before the beginning of the Crimean war, she had taken up what was to become her life work, and during a period of thirteen years had devoted her attention and energy to the organisation and improvement of hospitals. She had visited all the hospitals of London, Edinburgh and Dublin; all the hospitals of Paris, where she studied with the Sisters of Charity; at Kaiserwerth, on the Rhine, where she was twice in training as a nurse; the hospitals at Berlin and others in Germany; at Lyons, Rome, Brussels, Constantinople and Alexandria, and the war hospitals of the French and Sardinians. Surely, this was a preparation that should fit her adequately for the strenuous duties about to be assumed. Let it be remembered that she chose her career in face of the fact that she had been born to wealth and influence, and had received every advantage which money and education could supply. The opening of the Crimean War found Florence Nightingale in charge of a home for infirm and invalid governesses in London, but in 1854, the situation in the East having become intolerable, she wrote to the government, offering her services, and saying that she thought the soldiers needed good nursing such as only women could give them. At the same time a letter was on its way to her from Sir Sidney Herbert, of the War Department, who, with the feeling that it was "a woman's work, and there is one woman in England who can set this right," wrote and asked Miss Nightingale to go to the East and organise a nursing service in the great hospital at Scutari. HORRORS AT SCUTARI. At that time the death rate at Scutari was 42 per cent., while in the Kululi Hospital it rose to 52 per cent. The troops remained inactive, decimated by cholera and other diseases. There were more than thirteen thousand men sick in the hospitals. Four patients out of every five who underwent hospital amputation died from gangrene. This was the situation that confronted England. The nation was kindled to a passion of mingled wrath and pity. More than $5,000,000 was poured into various relief funds, medical supplies were sent out by the ton, and the medical staff was multiplied until there was a doctor to every one hundred soldiers. Within a week Miss Nightingale and a party of nearly fifty women started for the Crimea, where they arrived on the night before the battle of Inkerman. From then on she ruled Scutari. She developed a remarkable executive ability little dreamed of even by herself; and still more wonderful, her orders were obeyed by soldiers who never before took orders from a woman. It is related that soon after her arrival she discovered that some much needed supplies were locked up by the commissaries, on the ground that they had not been inspected. Miss Nightingale went to the magazines, told the sergeant of the guard who she was, and asked if he would take an order from her. He replied that he would, whereupon she told him to drive in the door. When he complied the stores were distributed without further delay to the sick men who were languishing for them. DEATH RATE REDUCED AT SCUTARI. It was through such unusual methods as these, combined with a complete reorganisation of the system of treating the sick and wounded, that the death rate at Scutari was reduced to 2 per cent. Naturally the patients loved the woman who had directed it all. They reached forth their hands to touch the hem of her garments as she passed. Those who lacked the strength kissed her shadow as it crossed their pillows. At night, when all was |