A TEMPERANCE hospital is to be erected in Chicago at a cost of sixty-five thousand dollars. The physicians who constitute the staff of the new institution will not be permitted to prescribe alcohol in treatment. The hospital will be known as the Frances E. Willard National Temperance Hospital, and three schools of practice—regular, eclectic, and homeopathic-will be represented on the medical staff.

A FRENCH physician, Doctor Maréchal, of Paris, is endeavoring to have a law passed making the wearing of corsets by women under thirty a penal offense. Besides the deleterious effect which the practice has upon the system, accidents from the encasement are frequently recorded. It is reported that a Buffalo woman recently died from penetration of the heart by a corset steel, and another woman is said to have received a serious r-ray burn from wearing a corset during treatment.

TWENTY School buildings in the Boroughs of Manhattan and Brooklyn have been designated by the Board of Education of New York City, as centers of recreation for working children. The buildings will be provided with reading rooms, and the formation of literary and debating societies will be encouraged. In addition, systematic training in gymnastics may be obtained, and applicants desiring instruction to enable them to pass the civil service examinations will be accommodated.

DOCTOR HUBBARD N. MITCHELL, of New York, sustained an injury in a Jersey City street railway accident last year, and instituted legal proceedings to recover damages for resulting deafness. The doctor was riding in a car which suffered derailment, and he was thrown from his seat, falling toward the opposite side of the car and striking his head against the seat across the aisle. He claimed that deafness of his left ear, which had been specially trained for auscultatory purposes, followed, and that in consequence his practice, which was previously worth thirty thousand dollars a year, had been interfered with to serious extent. An award of seven hundred dollars was allowed.

THE thirtieth annual meeting of the Mississippi Valley Medical Association will be held at Cincinnati, October 11, 12 and 13, 1904. Doctor B. Merrill Ricketts is Chairman of the Committee of Arrangements. The following officers were elected at the recent Memphis meeting: President, Edwin Walker, M. D., Evansville, Indiana; president-elect, Hugh T. Patrick, M. D., Chicago: first vicepresident, Bransford Lewis, M. D., Saint Louis; second vicepresident, George W. Cale, M. D., Springfield, Missouri; secretary, Henry Enos Tuley, M. D., Louisville; assistant secretary, S. C. Stanton, M D., Chicago; treasurer, Thomas H. Samuel Stucky, M. D., Louisville. Doctor S. P. Collings, of Hot Springs, Arkansas, offered the following resolution: Whereas, the value of perfect sight and hearing is not fully apprecited by educators, and neglect of the delicate organs of vision and hearing often leads to disease of these structures, therefore, be it Resolved,

that it is the sense of the Mississippi Valley Medical Association that measures be taken by the boards of health, boards of education and school authorities, and where possible, legislation secured, looking to the examination of the eyes of all school children, that disease in its incipiency may be discovered and corrected.

THE memory of Virchow will be perpetuated by a life-size statue which German physicians propose to erect in one of the leading thoroughfares of Berlin. A committee has been named and contributions. are being received. Work will be commenced upon the memorial as soon as sufficient subscriptions are received to insure its completion.

THE German Empire expended about $625,000,000 on alcoholic liquors during 1892, an average of thirty-five dollars per head for all persons over fifteen years of age. These figures are taken from statistics of the imperial health office, a pamphlet having been issued therefrom in which the announcement is made that while total abstinence is not advocated the practice is not disadvantageous to health and certainly does not impair working ability.

ONE of the most complete hospital cars in the country is in the service of the Galveston, Harrisburg and San Antonio Railroad Company. The car has three apartments-an operating room, a parlor, and a kitchen. The operating room occupies the greater part of the space, and is furnished with an operating table and two combination cots and stretchers. Six more of the latter are stored in a compartment under the car. In the event of a wreck it is possible to carry the injured to and from the operating table without a change of cot, as these are adjustable to the table. The necessary instruments for performing ordinary operations complete the equipage of the apartment. The parlor has two berths and a sofa, with ample room to accommodate two cots in an emergency.

A WRONG doctrine advocated by a Wright (?) divine at the recent banquet of the New York State Medical Association is that of euthanasia. The speaker, Reverend Merl Saint Clair Wright, of the Lenox Avenue Unitarian Church, among other things said: "I appreciate the practical difficulties in the way of the practical application of the doctrine, but it seems to me that it is not beyond the bounds of possibility. Of course it would be necessary to have the advice and approval of men of the highest scientific attainment. The city might be divided into districts, and every application should be considered most carefully, not merely by physicians, but by some eminent clergymen selected for the purpose. And, of course, there should be the consent of relatives and the consent, even the request, of the patient himself. But where all these conditions are fulfilled, and where the prolongation of life is simply the prolongation of hopeless agony, it seems to me that it would be proper that such a patient should quietly, decently, modestly, be allowed to end the sufferings. It seems to me that such a course would be a step forward in civilization and a step further away from barbarism."

THE Navy Medical School began its second session October 1, with a class of about twenty-six, which was augmented by students who were pronounced qualified by the examiners during September, and were permitted to enter school pending the receipt of commissions. No change has been made in the faculty of the school except that Surgeon A. C. H. Russell was succeeded by Surgeon Charles F. Stokes, in the department of military surgery, the former surgeon having been ordered to the South Atlantic squadron.

A NEW YORK dentist, Doctor M. Wagschal, has instituted proceedings against Prince Zille Sultan, a brother of Persia's shah, to recover two thousand four hundred dollars which he alleges is due him for professional services. While visiting Persia some time ago the doctor was summoned to operate on the mouth of the prince, and so much pleased was the royal personage that he made a contract with the doctor whereby he was to hold himself subject to the prince's call, being permitted, however, to engage in practice so long as it did not interfere with the observance of the contract. After the assassination of the shah Doctor Wagschal was obliged to leave Persia, but at all times kept the prince informed as to his whereabouts. Notwithstanding the doctor's readiness to answer a summons his salary has not been forthcoming for some time past.

RECENT LITERATURE.

REVIEWS.

THE JOHNS HOPKINS HOSPITAL REPORTS.* THIS volume is given up chiefly to one article, really a monograph, on "Pneumothorax: A Historical and Experimental Study," by Charles P. Emerson. In this the author has, with infinite patience, examined the entire literature and given abstracts of the most important writings, not less than three hundred fifty-seven authors being cited in the historica! introduction. Equally complete is the study of Etiology and Pathology, while the chapter on the Mechanics of Pneumothorax, including the Physical Signs, is discussed in a masterly way. The course, symptoms, prognosis, diagnosis and treatment do not receive such full consideration, but many of the topics are discussed in other chapters, and the large number of original cases cited at length from the records of the Johns Hopkins Hospital furnish in themselves practical lessons of the greatest value. Following this is an excellent article by Henry Wireman Cook and John Bradford Briggs on "Clinica! Observations on Blood Pressure," particularly timely on account of the authors' extensive work in this new and interesting field.

The volume closes with a short but practical article on the "Value of Tuberculin in Surgical Diagnosis," by Martin B. Tinker, based

upon the results of injections in four hundred cases. Like all who use tuberculin for themselves, he concludes that the evidence "is entirely favorable to tuberculin both as regards its harmlessness and its reliability as a diagnostic agent."

The volume is printed in the careful manner characteristic of the works of the Johns Hopkins Press.

*Volume XI. Baltimore: The Johns Hopkins Press, 1903.

A SURGICAL HANDBOOK.*

G. D.

THIS little book was first published in 1889 and since that time has passed through eleven editions. It has been changed from time to time to meet the requirements of modern surgery and now has twentyseven chapters with an appendix. The book is concise and well written, containing much valuable information in a small space. It deals largely with minor surgery, surgical operations, fractures and surgica! treatment. It is a handy volume to carry in the pocket and study at odd moments.

C. G. D.

*By Caird and Cathcart, of Edinburgh. For sale by W. T. Keener & Company, Chicago.

PRACTICAL MEDICINE SERIES.

VOLUME VI, subject "General Medicine," appeared in May, 1903. Like its predecessors it is of great interest and value to the general practitioner, not only in keeping to date, but as a book of reference, if he desires to look up the best of the latest articles on any particular medical subject. The abstracts are concise, but sufficiently full for practical purposes. About forty pages are devoted to typhoid and paratyphoid fevers. No new facts, however, are mentioned. Many interesting articles on diseases of the stomach and intestines are presented. Diseases of the pancreas are considered briefly, those of the liver in greater detail. The increase of space devoted to therapeutics will prove very acceptable to the majority of readers. J. R. A.

THE MEDICAL NEWS VISITING LIST.*

THE list for 1904 contains a scheme of dentition; tables of weights and measures, and comparative scales; instructions for examining the urine; table of eruptive fevers; incompatables, poisons and antidotes; directions for carrying on artificial respiration; dose tables; table of diseases and their remedies; directions for the ligation of arteries, and information on other subjects pertaining to the practice of medicine. The body of the book presents pages adopted to the different records kept by physicians, such as daily accounts, obstetric and other engagements, cash receipts, et cetera. In one edition the group of pages devoted to each of these records is made readily accessible by means of a thumb-letter index.

The book is strongly bound and is issued in four styles: Weekly and perpetual for thirty patients per week; monthly for one hundred twenty patients per month; and undated for sixty patients weekly per year. Each style is bound in one wallet-shaped book with a pencil and rubber, and calender for two years. Price $1.25. Thumb-letter index, twenty-five cents extra. A careful examination reveals a book particularly well adapted to the needs of the busy and yet methodical physician.

*Lea Brothers & Company, Philadelphia and New York.

D. L. P.

A COMPEND OF DISEASES OF THE SKIN.* THIS is a better compend than most books of its kind. While such a work is not to be recommended as a substitute for more complete text-books for the use of students or practitioners, yet when limited to its place of ready reference it may serve a useful purpose. A comprehensive classification of diseases of the skin is given. The present edition shows thorough revision, and the text matter on pathology, etiology, diagnosis and treatment is as fully considered as is practicable with conciseness and limited space, and is exceptionally trustworthy. The illustrations are good, and the publishers have presented a very attractive compend.

W. F. B.

*By J. F. Schamberg, A. B., M. D. Third edition, published by P. Blakiston's Sons & Company, Philadelphia.

PRACTICAL MEDICINE SERIES.

IN the volume of this series published in July of the present year, Doctors George F. Butler and George S. Browning contribute an article on "Materia Medica and Therapeutics," Doctor Henry B. Favill, an article on "Preventive Medicine," Doctor Norman Bridge one on “Climatology," Doctor Daniel R. Brower one on "Suggestive Therapeutics," and Doctor Harold N. Moyer one on "Forensic Medicine."

This volume is one of a series of ten. The publishers wish it understood that the whole series is arranged with special reference to the needs of the general practitioner.

The volume before us is a well-printed, well-bound book of three hundred twenty-six pages, and contains matter that seems to show that the desires of the publishers, expressed above, have been carried out. Year books in general, while best adapted to the needs of the busy general practician are yet of value to all medical men. For not only do they give information on a multitude of subjects, but they also serve as sort of balance sheets which let one know where gains in knowledge have been made and where not. Judged by this standard of value, Volume VIII, of the Practical Medicine Series, is a pronounced success.

D. L. P.

*Edited by Gustavus P. Head, M. D. Volume VIII. The Year Book Publishers, Chicago.