There has been neither desire nor necessity felt by the people of the several States of this Union for the establishment of a State Medicine, a State censorship of medical practice, or legislation giving to a clique the authority to determine who may or who may not practice medicine. All the movements in that direction appear to have been made by interested individuals; and certain it is, that where the authority of censorship has been conferred, it has been exercised as arbitrarily as those possessing it have dared or been able. The examples of Alabama, Virginia, Delaware and Pennsylvania are flagrant. In the former of these States a man not in ethical harmony with members of the medical boards, is almost certain of rejection, whatever his scholarship and fitness; and in Pennsylvania, every medical college has taken upon itself in absolute violation of the avowed purpose of the statute, to refuse its sanction to diplomas lawfully conferred. Pilate and Herod become friends when they have a man to crucify.

Other States may be indicated, but this is not necessary. Enough is apparent to show that the design of the several medical statutes is not for the purpose of exalting the profession or the standard of medicine. Sordid cupidity and lust of power are at the bottom of the whole matter. The way that these statutes are administered demonstrates this conclusively.

Every moral reason entitled to consideration is adverse to the current medical legislation. It is the right of every man to prosecute the calling which he chooses, so long as the same is useful and laudable; and any power to restrict him, ex

cept for wrong doing, is an usurpation of his natural right, and one which he has every justification in resisting. Legislation which contravenes his right is itself lawless and wicked. It is not in the power of a majority to make wrong into right.

It seems almost a work of supererogation to appeal to the Constitution of the United States. But, curiously, the conspiracy for medical domination, disregards and seems to be resolved to subvert chartered rights. Plainly, it would seem, the declaration is made: "The citizens of each State shall be entitled to all privileges and immunities of citizens in the several States." The Supreme Court has made several decisions, setting aside statutes requiring men from other States to obtain license or authorization to do business in a certain State. The corollary is plain, if I am lawfully a medical practitioner in New Jersey, I am such also in Pennsylvania, Virginia or Missouri, despite the State legislature to the contrary. The case of Dent, in West Virginia, and of G. W. Nyce in New York, involved this question.

Again, the Constitution provides that no person shall "be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law." My profession or calling is my property, and legislation which obstructs my pursuing of it, is a deprivation of my property. A court in Pennsylvania once decided this.

Dr. Benjamin Rush, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, addressing his class in the University of Pennsylvania made this explicit deduction:

"Conferring exclusive privileges upon bodies of physicians and forbidding men of equal talents and knowledge, under severe penalties, from practicing medicine within certain districts of cities and counties, are Inquisitions, however sanctioned by ancient charters and names, serving as the Bastiles of our science."'

Every statute that sets forth to regulate the practice of medicine, it may thus be seen, is an invasion of constitutional liberty. In other vocations except medicine, it would be resisted in the courts and at the ballot-box. It is but a step from medical legislation to Imperial barbarism. ALEX. WILDER, M. D.

Newark, N. J.

Medical Experiences Among the "Kajans."

BY J. F. GRIFFIN, M. D.

(Continued from February BRIEF.)

It was a lovely night in the month of June.

We were all late retiring for the night, yet it was a season to enjoy sleep.

If there be anything that is my especial abhorrence it is after once going to sleep to be awakened from my slumbers, particularly if the occasion is trivial. In fact a lassitude comes over me that makes it almost painful to be aroused.

On such occasions though "I am as mild a mannered man as ever scuttled a ship, etc.," yet my wickedness crops out and "Filled with fury, rapt, inspired, " I am fain to give vent to language, vigorous if not ornamental.

On this lovely night in June I was sleeping the sleep of the blessed.

Suddenly my wife gave me a punch in the side saying, "Some one is calling you." Partially awaking I thought I heard in the distance, faintly expressed the ominous words "Doctor! doctor!

It was sometime before I was sufficiently aroused to take in the situation. Finally I reached for the unmentionables which grace my nether limbs, and drawing them on, and slipping my feet into my slippers I sallied forth upon what is called in the South the front "gallery.'

Among some trees in a dense shade, dimly outlined, I saw some one perched upon a distant fence.

"Who's that? "I cried. The answer in French rang out in the air. "C'est moi." "It is I." Literally "It is me. "Well," I called out "what is your name?" The answer was, "Je suis Marie Lacour." I knew at once that it was a half crazy creole negress, who was given to wandering about like some of Ossian's heroes.

"At midnight amid the misty mountain mains. "

"What do you want?" I enquired. The reply came distinctly enunciated, thus, "Je viens pour vous dire; que Je viendrais, a votre 'office' pour cherchers une boite des pillules." "I come to tell you that I am coming to-morrow to your office to get a box of pills. "

"I did not speak a single word further to her, but turning around I returned to my room; and quietly drew off my aforesaid unmentionables, kicking away the slippers and crawled languidly into bed.

My wife, I suppose seemed astonished at my composure, for she said. "Humph! you take it very easy-I expected to hear you swear."

Rolling over for a quiet sleep, I simply replied, "Oh I wouldn't be able to do justice to the subject. "

(To be continued.)

What Saved Her?

On December 13th, I was hastily summoned to visit Mrs. N., aged twenty years, whom the messenger stated was having spasms. On my arrival about 8 A. M., I was informed that she had received a fall about forty-eight hours previous, but did not think she had sustained any serious injury, and that she was expecting to be confined about the 15th of January; that she awoke at 3 A. M., and without premonitory symptoms, had a spasm which recurred every thirty minutes up to the time I arrived.

But finding it impossible to get her to swallow, we used one-fourth grain sulph. morph. and eight drops tinct. verat. with hypodermic syringe. At the regular time she had another violent convulsion. We then repeated the sulph. morph., one-half grain, and ten drops tinct. verat. every three-quarters to one hour, until 11 A. M.; the convulsions growing no lighter, we opened a vein in her arm and drew between one quart and half gallon blood. Some twenty minutes after the bleeding she aroused sufficiently for us to get her to take a part of the first prescription. But in a few minutes she had another convulsion. We kept up the hypodermic injections, increasing the sulph. morph. until 1 P. M., after

which she remained in this comatose condition until 7 P. M., when she had another hard convulsion, but it did not last so long. We again used the sulph. morph. and tinct. verat., after which she had no more convulsions. The os was dilating nicely and she was delivered about 1 P. M.

She remained in this condition, after delivery, two days and nights, when she aroused, called for water and being asked if she knew anything about what had taken place, replied she did not. She complained of her head but said nothing else hurt her.

She made a rapid recovery, without a single bad symptom.

We report the case on account of the heroic doses of sulph. morph. and tinct. verat. used before the convulsions were checked, which we felt justified in using as we thought she could not stand another, after each attack.

Suffice it to say we tried inhalations of chloroform, which had no perceptible effect. R. C. BOGLE, M. D. Midland, Tenn.

Genital Functions.

Dr. Silas Hubbard writes some very interesting and instructive articles for the BRIEF. His last, "Genital Functions," was learned, showing an extensive knowledge of Biblical and Jewish history. I have come to the conclusion, however, in the practice of medicine, that it is better to advise our patients to do that which there is some reasonable probability they will do. Now, to advise a healthy married couple in the prime of life, to go fifteen days each month without having sexual intercourse, we very well know they will not follow such advice.

I believe no intercourse should take place during menstruation, but to ask them to defer intercourse for eight days after menstruation ceases I think is asking a little too much. Many men, if not allowed this privilege with their own wives, will be quite apt to take it with somebody else's wife.

I allow my married patrons who apply to me for advice in such matters, if they are strong and healthy to have intercourse twice a week, and I have never seen any

damage result therefrom. On the contrary, if wives accommodate their husbands this often, they need have no fear about them straying to other pastures.

The human is somewhat different from the brute. The females of the brute creation are only in heat at certain times, and they will only take the male at these times. But the human is not restricted to these periods. If they were, sexual intercourse would have to take place during menstruation, as I believe this corresponds to the heat in the lower animals. Neither is conception likely to take place eight days after menstruation has ceased, as the ovum as a rule has passed out of the uterus before this time, rendering conception almost impossible. So if cohabiting to propagate the species was simply the end and aim of man it would often prove a failure. I think an all-wise providence had something more in view than simply to propagate the species (that, of course, being the prime object), when he implanted in mankind the principal of love and the indescribable pleasures resulting therefrom.

We may tell our patrons or patients to walk on their heads but they are not going to do it, so we may tell them to only have sexual intercourse with their wives once or twice a month but they are not going to do as we tell them.

GEO. J. MONROE, M. D.

Louisville, Ky.

Help Wanted.

My wife, for the last five years, has had a false growth in uterus. It grows to a certain size, and then flooding commences, when large pieces are expelled, the pieces resembling the human lungs, but break down very easily on pressure. The flooding spells come on with a very hard chill, lasting from one to three hours, followed by very high fever. It grows and is expelled once in from eight to twelve months. Menses very irregular and scanty between times. She has now been flowing for nearly two months and says she feels bloated.

Now, brother M. Ds., any answers through the BRIEF, or by letter, will be thankfully received. Give us your best treatment. N. C. WOODCOX, M. D. Emmett, Idaho.

M. Sig.: Teaspoonful every four hours.

Jan. 28. Found my patient with a temperature of 105°, pulse 130, respiration 80. Increased veratrum viride to twelve drops to the ounce mixture, and continued as before.

Jan. 31. Called and found my patient better; temp. 100°, pulse 110, respiration 60; cough less annoying; taking plenty of nourishment. Decreased the verat. vir. to one-drop doses, and continued as before.

Feb. 2. Patient bright; temp. 99°, pulse 100, respiration normal; tongue cleaning off; not much cough, except at night; wants to sit up in bed; eruption almost faded out. Gave one grain quinia and fifteen drops syr. senega, alternately, every four hours, with plenty of nourishment.

Feb. 3. Was sent for in haste. Patient had a chill during the night, and on examining the lungs found the left one entirely involved with pneumonia. Temp. 103°, pulse 130, resp. 60; cough very annoying and tight; tongue coated; urine very scant; right lung not so well; bowels in normal condition. Ordered turpentine stupe over both lungs, and gave:

M. Sig. Teaspoonful every four hours, with teaspoonful of whisky every two or three hours.

Feb. 10. Found patient much better. Temp. 103°, pulse 130, resp. 60. Takes a quart of milk in twenty-four hours; cough easier; expectoration free. Continued treatment.

Feb. 12. Called, and consultation was asked for, which was granted, and Dr. D. was called. Patient in much the same condition as on previous day, except the bowels were somewhat constipated. We gave an enemata of soapsuds to overcome constipation. Substituted Brown's mixture for syr. senega, and continued the rest of the treatment as before.

Feb. 17. Patient bright, but no change in the lungs, except that condition seems more of a chronic character. Temp. 100°, pulse 120, resp. 60. Takes nourishment freely. Continued the treatment.

Feb. 24. Patient still bright; appetite good; tongue cleaned off; coughing very little. Left jaw swollen. Ordered elm poultice to the jaw. Continued the treatment.

Feb. 29. Called to see my patient, but on entering the room was struck with horror when I found I had a complication of cancrum oris, without any doubt. The mother told me that a spot appeared on her cheek, the day before, the size of a pea, but it was now a black gangrenous spot the size of a silver dollar. Although the lungs had by this time almost cleared up, I gave an unfavorable prognosis. Continued quinia and whisky, with all the milk she would take.

March 1. Gangrenous spot now the Gave size of the palm of my hand. quinia and tinct. ferri mur., with a local application of vaseline and carbolic acid. With a necessary fatal prognosis, requested that they get further counsel. They did not get counsel, however, until the 3d, when Dr. D. was recalled. On examination, he coincided with me in regard to diagnosis and prognosis, and suggested nothing; so we continued the treatment.

March 4. Found patient suffering very much. Gangrene now spread to the

bridge of the nose; left eye closed; the disease being on the left side, running half way back to the ear, down along the submaxillary bone. She refuses to take medicine; appetite good. Ordered tinct. opii camph. to quiet pain.

March 7. Patient still suffering. Disease crossed over the nose to the right side, completely destroying the nasal bones; mouth now involved completely, the roof of the mouth hanging in shreds; breathing through mouth; both eyes closed; odor very offensive. Gave dover powder to quiet pain. She died on the 8th.

This case is reported because of the rarity with which we meet such cases. I consulted an old physician of fifty years' experience, who had always enjoyed a very large practice. He said he never had a case of it, and had seen only one

case.

I am aware that I did not give this patient the local treatment laid down in many of the text-books in my possession. In Pepper's System of Medicine, we are told to give an anesthetic and cauterize freely. But in a delicate female child, who had been suffering with a fever for over four weeks, I think such treatment would have proved fatal, on account of heart failure from the anæsthetic.

I only report the measles and pneumonia to give you the connection.

This case was a very remarkable one, and I would be glad to hear any comment, or answer any questions in regard to it.

I will say, for the benefit of Dr. Goss and his adherents, for fear they might think the case of a mercurial origin, that calomel was not used, although I do use it in cases where it is indicated.

I am well pleased with the BRIEF. Long may it live.

J. B. BECKETT, M. D. Powersville, Ky.

Bloodless Labor.

I noticed in the BRIEF of January, 1889, page 14, a case reported by Dr. P. W. Blakeley, of bloodless labor, and also his reference to one reported by Dr. E. W. Downing. Certainly, it is very seldom that a physician in a whole life's practice is permitted to see one. I would state that in the many hundreds of labor

cases, covering a period of more than forty years practice, I have seen but one. Mrs. T., aged twenty-seven years, the mother of three children, all of which I attended, and now living, was taken in labor June 1st, 1882, with second child. I found, upon examination, that it was a natural head presentation and well down in pelvis; in a short time the os became fully dilated and labor completed, by the expelling of the placenta, and what surprised me as very singular and out of the ordinary course in such cases, not one drop of blood, except upon severance of cord, was observed, to soil my hand, or even to discolor a napkin.

I thought much upon the subject, and have ever since watched the numerous medical journals for an explanation of the singular phenomenon.

I will also state that no ergot or anything of like nature was given to patient, before or after labor in this or any one of her confinements, to produce extra contractility of uterus, with the exception of an occasional cup of warm tea to quench thirst, as the pains were of sufficient strength for nature to do its work in its own way. I am unable to account for these facts, and shall hope to see a full explanation through the columns of the BRIEF. A. R. GOODRICH, M.D.

Vernon, Conn.

That "M."

The undersigned was more or less amused at Dr. Rothrock's diagnosis of the great "M" on the first cover page of the BRIEF, in January number. It is matter of surprise that the doctor did not discover that the proportions of this majestic letter are about eight feet in height by six in width. (Compare with living figures in connection therewith.) Yet more surprising, with the aid of three glasses-magnifying-glass, spyglass and field-glass-he likens it to a sewing machine hemmer. Looks more like an attachment to a threshing machine-especially on a glance at the uplifted left hand of the "woman in the case." Evidently, one glass was omitted -a beer glass-else this mistake might not have occurred.

The doctor next speaks of "nature's external fitness of things." Wonder if