that during the last fifteen years he has required the services of an assistant. During these fifteen years he has had numerous assistants, and he states that it was his invariable custom to require them to sign an agreement by the terms of which they deprived themselves of the right to practise medicine in Atlantic City after severing their connection with him. In March, 1901, he employed an assistant, making the same agreement with him. This assistant is now practising independently in violation of the agreement. and an injunction is asked to enforce the terms of the contract.

The outcome of this suit is worth watching. If it should be established that such a contract is valid it would do much to place the relation of principal and assistant upon a secure foundation, to the obvious advantage of both. Many practitioners would be glad to have an assistant, but they do not relish the possibility of having him ingratiate himself among his patients and then settle down in the immediate neighborhood and begin active competition. Practically all of our recent graduates, especially those without hospital training, would be greatly benefited by serving for a number of years as assistant to an older practitioner. In that way they would gain experience and that practical insight into their duties which the medical school and hospital training can only in part afford. Legal security that would protect the practitioner against unfair competition later would beget confidence in this relation and lead to its far more frequent employment. An assistant would often enable a practitioner in the less busy season of the year to obtain a vacation, to attend medical societies, or follow postgraduate study.

While not attempting to pass on the merits of the particular case cited, many advantages would grow out of such contracts if they are held to be equitable.

The Spleen Not a Physiologic Necessity.

As To the very important part which many physiologists attach to the spleen, Dr. J. Henry Carstens, of Detroit, Mich., in speaking before the Mississippi Valley Medical Association recently said that he had extirpated the spleen in two men. In both cases there was great debility and emaciation, and the operation disclosed sarcoma and was followed by complete recovery. In one case the patient gained ninety-six pounds in weight in the fifteen months following his discharge from the hospital. This would " indicate that the spleen is not such an absolute necessity after all. Dr. Carstens's experience coincides with that of several other surgeons.-Southern Cal. Practitioner, November, 1904.

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 exchanges, should be addressed to the editor: 284 FRANKLIN ST., BUFFALO, N. Y.

VOL. XLIV.-Lx.

DECEMBER, 1904.

American Medical Association at Portland.

No. 5

T HAS been announced already that the American Medical Association will meet at Portland, Oregon, July 11-14, 1905. For the third time in its history the association has sought the Pacific coast region to hold its annual meeting, first, in 1876; second, in 1894, each time in San Francisco; and now for the third excursion to the Occident Portland is selected as the city of the convention.

In order to bring the officers of the sections into closer touch, the president-elect, Dr. Lewis S. McMurtry, of Louisville, called them in conference at the new Hotel Astor, New York, on Monday evening, November 14, 1904. Around a dinner table of faultless service were gathered representatives from Atlanta, Baltimore, Boston, Chicago, Louisville, Philadelphia, New York, and other cities, who discussed the various problems relating to the scientific and business interests of the association, with a particular view to ensure the success of the meeting at Portland.

Dr. George H. Simmons, the indefatigable secretary and the editor of the association journal, presented in considerable detail the duties of the officers of sections under the present by-laws and regulations, and gave interesting information concerning pending negotiations for transportation. After he had concluded, many questions were propounded by the section officers, all of which received prompt answer, and when the last word had been said by the secretary, the impression was very distinctly left that he understood the duties of his office and was performing them with conscientious and conservative regard for the interests of every member of the association.

In the course of the conference it was developed that many of the sections already had made considerable progress in the preparation of their programs, while all were well under way

and will be easily completed before needed by the printer. One of the rules of the association, and an excellent one, is that no paper shall be placed upon the program, the author of which does not furnish an abstract. If this were the regulation in all state and national medical societies it would be well. How can an author expect a good discussion unless an advance publication of an abstract of his paper is made? No man can make a proper abstract of a paper, except the writer of it. He knows its shuck and kernel, and he only can separate them adequately for mental digestion and assimilation.

It transpired at this conference that transportation lines are manifesting already a disposition to grant liberal rates across the continent. It seems quite probable from present indications that not more than one fare for the round trip will be demanded, and possibly a rate a trifle less than that will be agreed upon. Furthermore, all who pay the rate will be granted the privilege to go by one route and return by another, and in addition liberal stopover facilities will be conceded. This will enable tourists to visit all important localities west of the Rocky Mountains.

Dr. Joseph D. Bryant, chairman of the committee on national incorporation of the association, by invitation of the president, entertained the guests with an interesting account of the progress making by his committee, from which it appeared that ultimate success is not far distant.

The sum total accomplished at this meeting was all that could be desired and the value of such conferences cannot be overestimated. It enables the officers to understand each other and to establish harmonious relations long before they meet for scientific work at the convention. Thus they methodise and concentrate energy, forging from heterogeneous elements a compact instrument that accomplishes a result not otherwise to be obtained. That the Portland meeting will be a success seems already assured.

ACCORDING to a Saint Louis despatch to The Tribune of November 24, 1904, a specialist in the World's Fair city removed a grain of rice from the ear of a New York bride, who had suffered untold tortures for several days, because of the presence of this foreign body. It was the untoward result of showers of rice thrown at the young couple as they departed on their wedding journey. one grain of which made lodgment in the young woman's ear. At Niagara Falls next day the trouble began, the swelling of the rice in the canal causing intense pain, and finally at Saint Louis the bride of three days fainted. Though the cause is removed, the effects are yet serious. It is not impossible for such a condi

tion to result in permanent deafness in the ear involved. This incident, this grave accident,-should prove a warning to young people to cease the barbarous practice, not only of rice throwing, but of other equally abominable customs at weddings.

CALOX, the new dentifrice mentioned in these columns last May, has already taken its place in the foreground of preparations intended for cleansing the mouth and the preservation of the teeth. It is chemically perfect, scientifically accurate, and hygienically absolute. No refined person having once used it, will consent to be without it. Every physician and dentist of repute or standing once familiar with it will recommend it to their patients. It represents the most decided advance in mouth hygiene and tooth preservation that has been made within recent years.

A MOVEMENT has been started throughout the lower east side of New York city to educate the people up to the point of keeping the streets clean.

At the university settlement it is said all the Jewish rabbis will be asked to address their congregations on the subject, while at the same time the principals and teachers in the public schools will proceed along the same lines by delivering short talks on the hygienic benefits of having clean streets, and by appealing to the pupils in their schools to teach their parents how to keep the streets free from dirt.

PERSONAL.

DR. LAWRENCE HENDEE, of Buffalo, has returned from a year's study in Germany, and has begun practice in this city; his office being at 523 Franklin street. Hours: 8 to 9.30 and 1.30 to 3. Telephone, Tupper 1340-Y.

DR. WILLIAM JAPP SINCLAIR, professor of obstetrics and gynecology in Victoria University, Manchester, was the recipient of the honor of knighthood, conferred by King Edward upon his recent birthday. The honor was given on account of valuable national services in medical science. Professor Sinclair is a brother of Angus Sinclair, publisher of The Automobile Magazine and other journals of New York, and a prominent member of the Automobile Club of America. Sir William is an Honorary Fellow of the American Association of Obstetricians and Gyne

cologists. He is a frequent visitor to American shores where he is always welcome.

DR. W. S. RENNER, of Buffalo, attended the dinner given by New York laryngologists to Sir Felix Semon at Delmonico's, Tuesday evening, November 1, 1904. More than one hundred covers were laid and the participants included members of the section on laryngology of the New York Academy of Medicine and of the American Laryngological Association, as well as a few specially invited guests.

DR. FREDERICK H. MILLENER, of Buffalo, has removed his office from 724 Main street to 139 North Pearl street. His hours remain unchanged.

DR. W. E. DIGNEN, of Buffalo, announces the removal of his office from 544 to 490 Plymouth avenue, corner of Massachusetts and Plymouth avenues. Hours: 8 to 10 a. m., 1 to 3 and 7 to 8

P. m. Both telephones.

DR. FREDERICK J. BARRETT, of Buffalo, has opened an office at 305 Pearl, corner of Mohawk street, where he will limit his practice to the treatment of diseases of the eye and ear. Hours: 9 to 1 and 4 to 5 p. m. Sundays by appointment. Residence: 290 Breckenridge street. Hours: 7 p. m., and by appointment.

DR. ARTHUR R. BRADBURY, U. of B. 1892, lately of Grand Island, has reëstablished himself in the practice of medicine at Buffalo. His office and residence are at 142 Ontario street. He was for several years house surgeon at the Fitch Accident Hospital.

DRS. F. W. and JAMES T. JELKS, of Hot Springs, Ark., announce their removal to offices in the Dugan-Stuart Building, opposite the Arlington Hotel. New telephone, 512.

OBITUARY.

DR. EUGENE EDWARD MARTIN, of Buffalo, died at his home, 753 Michigan street, November 23, 1904, aged 37 years. Dr. Martin graduated at Niagara University in 1888, since which time he has been engaged in the practice of medicine in this city.