DOCTOR (reclining in his easy chair by the fire, in his soft robe de chamber, reading the TEXAS MEDICAL JOURNAL; his pretty wife is waiting for him to get through with it, so she can read it— children all asleep)-"Dr. Daniel gets out a most interesting journal; it is the most intensely original journal published. It takes money to do it. I do not know how I could get along without it, and yet by jingo! I haven't paid my subscription, notwithstanding the doctor has politely reminded me, several times. I must go tomorrow and send him a postal note. I've had pretty good luck collecting."

Pretty Wife "Do, don't forget it, my dear; here, let me tie a string around your finger as a reminder. Remember-Do unto others as you know how it is yourself'—'the rolling hen never gets moss,' or words to that effect."

Doctor-"I'll do it, sure! That is the man I am of a kind." (Exit doctor for the postoffice.)

THE RESULTS OF THE TREATMENT OF FOUR HUNDRED AND EIGHT CASES OF TYPHOID FEVER, WITH A REPORT OF EXPERIMENTS WITH A NEW METHOD.-H. C. McCormick states that the local application of guaiacol for the reduction of temperature has proved so effective and safe a remedy, that after having applied it 3,150 times, he heartily recommends it. The right iliac region is cleansed and dried, and alcohol applied. From five to ten drops of guaiacol are slowly dropped on the surface and rubbed in with the hand from ten to fifteen minutes. The part is then covered with oiled paper. The antipyretic effect lasts from two to four hours. The author treated four patients with acid sulphate of sodium. They were admitted on or before the seventh day. The temperature charts showed, from the time they came under the influence of the sodium salt, a fall of about one degree, and the morning remission was almost entirely abolished. The author finds that in a solution of 1 to 300 the acid sulphate of sodium is germicidal to typhoid bacilli, increases leucocytosis, and thus helps nature to combat the disease, neutralizes typhotoxin, and in a measure lessens delirium and other symptoms attributed to this poison, prevents, to a great degree, the congestion of Peyer's patches, and by this means prevents to some extent hemorrhage and perforation. It will resist bacilli or toxin in any part of the body, and greatly lessens the complications of the disease. It is a prophylactic, and is not neutralized in the stomach. It replaces physiologically the deficient hydrochloric acid. It furnishes an abortive treatment. It may be used to purify contaminated drinking water by allowing the solution to stand from twelve to fifteen minutes before being taken.-The Theraputic Gazette.

IT IS NOW DEFINITELY SETTLED that strabismus is not caused by cocci. Bangs says the cases of cock eye he sees have been produced by spasmodic and frantic efforts to see the point of some of the "Red-Back's" jokes.

THE DOCTOR'S RECREATION SERIES.-12 vols., octavo. The Saalfield Publishing Company, Cleveland, Ohio, will very shortly issue twelve volumes of books under the above title. They are not, strictly speaking, medical books, but they are, nevertheless, books that all doctors will enjoy reading-for "recreation." Among them (Vov. VI) is "Passages from the Diary of a Late Physician, by Samuel Warren, author of the immortal story, "Ten Thousand a Year" I have received a letter from Dr. S. W. Kelley, late editor of the Cleveland Medical Gazette, who is managing this business, saying these books will be sent the "Red-Back" for review, Then I'll tell you more about them. I'll bet they are good. SUBSCRIPTION BILLS have been sent to all my subscribers. I will appreciate prompt remittance. Add 10 cents if personal check is sent. Costs me 10 cents for each $1 check. See?

soon.

MISSISSIPPI has at last established a medical college. The Medical Department of the University of Mississippi began its first session September 17th. It is located at Oxford, I presume, the seat of the university. Our Mississippi contemporary, in an editorial on the subject, is a little nebulous. He leaves readers in the dark as to location, faculty and other important details. account of lack of hospital facilities, it is to be presumed, the new school will not attempt clinical instruction, but will give only the first two years course, teaching thoroughly "the so-called scientific branches of medicine," says the Mississippi Medical Record.

On

ANOTHER LANDMARK GONE.-Dr. J. Y. Bradfield, retired physician and banker, of Daingerfield, Tex., died at his home October 5th, aged 68 years. He was a graduate of the Medical Department University of Georgia, class 1858.

NEW ORLEANS POLYCLINIC.-Seventeenth annual session opens November 2, 1903, and closes May 28, 1904. Physicians will find the Polyclinic an excellent means for posting themselves upon modern progress in all branches of medicine and surgery. The specialties are fully taught, including laboratory work. For further information, address New Orleans Polyclinic, post office box 797, New Orleans, La.

"COSTIC." The St. Joseph Medical Herald says the "Red-Back" is "too costic," whatever that may be.

FOR SALE. In small town, four room cottage, wind mill and separate lot; $3000 practice thrown in; No opposition. Price $600. U. E. G.

outbuildings; office on collection 90 per cent. DYER, M. D., Star, Tex.

WILL REPAIR YOUR ELECTRICAL MACHINES.-Static and all electrical medical apparatus put in running order. I am also agent for electrical and X-ray apparatus. Oliver Brush, 710 Colorado Street, Austin, Texas.

DR. G. FRANK LYDSTON, of Chicago, will shortly publish a work on sociology, entitled "The Diseases of Society," which will embrace the crime question, the social evil, etc.

ATTENTION is called to Mrs. Hagerty's card, "Deep-breathing and Physical Culture." The editor personally endorses and recommends Mrs. Hagerty to the confidence and patronage of the readers of the JOURNAL.

THE AMERICAN CONGRESS OF TUBERCULOSIS will meet in St. Louis, October 3, 4 and 5, 1903. It has been incorporated into the program of congresses to be held there during the great exposition, and the American government has taken a hand in it officially. It will become an International Congress. Acting Secretary of State Adee writes Hon. Clark Bell, Chairman of the Executive Committee (September 21, 1903), informing him that instructions have been sent by that department to the diplomatic officers of the United States, accredited to the Central and South American States, Mexico, Hayti and San Domingo, and also to our ambassadors at London and Paris, and ministers at the Hague and Copenhagen, with regard to the British, French, Dutch and Danish colonial governments, to invite all these governments to send representatives to the great congress at St. Louis. It is believed that these instructions will result in a full representation by all American States and our colonial governments, as well as from other governments, and Secretary Adee expresses the hope that it will

be so.

SWALLOWED AN ELEVATOR.-Farmer Peachstone: Gosh a mighty, doctor, can't you do sumthin' for a feller more'n you're doin'? I'm plumb tired of six meals a day, three goin' up and three goin' down."-Ex.

A POINT IN DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS.-Mrs. McGinnis: "Mrs. Murphy, dear, how do you distinguish them darling twins of yours, the one from the other?"

Mrs. Murphy: "I'ts dead easy; I just puts my finger in Dennis's mouth, and if he bites,-I known it's Mike!"

Books and Magazines

A TEXT-BOOK OF LEGAL MEDICINE AND TOXICOLOGY.-Edited by Frederick Peterson, M. D., Chief of Clinic, Nervous Department of the College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York; and Walter S. Haines, M. D., Profesor of Chemistry, Pharmacy, and Toxicology, Rush Medical College, in affiliation with the University of Chicago. Two imperial octavo volumes of about 750 pages each, fully illustrated. Philadelphia, New York, London; W. B. Saunders & Co. 1903. Per volume: Cloth, $5.00, net; Sheep or Half Morocco, $6.00 net.

This work presents to the medical and legal professions a comprehensive survey of forensic medicine and toxicology in moderate compass, yet with sufficient detail. For convenience of reference the treatise has been divided into two sections, part I and part II, the latter being devoted to toxicology, and all other portions of legal medicine in which laboratory investigation is an essential feature. The introduction, of expert evidence, is especially instructive to the lawyer and medical expert. Medico-legal post-mortem examinations comprise an interesting chapter at the beginning of the volume. The Bertillon and Greenleaf-Smart systems of identification are concisely and intelligently described, and the advantages of each stated.

The chapters on the signs of death deal with the various causes and effects in a most comprehensive manner. An instructive and important chapter is devoted to the destruction and attempted destruction of the human body by fire and chemicals. A chapter not usually found in works on legal medicine is that on medicolegal relations of the X-ray, which throws out valuable suggestions and encompasses all the facts now known on the subject. In dealing with the insane, the various State laws regarding same, we find a chapter which every practitioner of medicine should read.

In fact the entire work is overflowing with matters of the utmost importance and expresses clearly, concisely, and accurately the very latest opinions on all branches of forensic medicine and toxicology. R. & L.

QUIZ-COMPENDS-Anatomy (No. 1).-By Saml. O. L. Potter, M. A., M. D., M. R. C. P., London. Seventh edition, revised and enlarged. One hundred and thirty-eight wood engravings. Sixteen plates of arteries and nerves.

A COMPEND OF DISEASES OF THE SKIN (No. 16).-By Jay F. Schamberg, A. B., M. D. Third edition, revised and enlarged. One hundred and six illustrations. Both published by P. Blakiston's Son & Co., 1012 Walnut Street, Philadelphia. Price of each, 80c net.

These little volumes contain a brief but thorough outline of the

subjects discussed and are invaluable for hasty review. The series is too well known to need discussion at our hands, but suffice it to say, to the student preparing for a medical examination, or to the practitioner who desires to make a thorough but hasty review of dermatology or anatomy, these books are of material assistance. J. M. L.

THE BOY'S VENEREAL PERIL.-By F. C. V. Reprinted from the Journal of the American Medical Association, July 4, 1903. Published by press of A. M. A., 103 Dearborn Avenue, Chicago. In this little pamphlet to the public, written unquestionably in a good cause, the author has wisely concealed his name and address as an evidence of his philanthropic motive. Alive to the dangers to which our American youth is subjected, uninstructed, he elaborates in this paper the dangers of self-abuse, the various venereal diseases, and warns against being "duped" by the various patent medicine advertisers.

Following the paper are impromptu discussions by prominent medical men. We read the paper with a good deal of pleasure, and are heartily in sympathy with the author. J. M. L.

TRANSACTIONS OF THE MEDICAL ASSOCIATION OF THE STATE OF ALABAMA. Published by the Brown Printing Co., Montgomery, Ala.

We have reason to congratulate the profession of our sister State on its excellent work for the past year, as shown by the reports read at the annual State meeting.

The volume contains beside the routine reports of the committees, the excellent annual oration delivered by Dr. C. L. Morris, and various papers of merit by the most prominent doctors of the State. There is much material in it for profitable reading.

J. M. L.

SEXUAL DEBILITY IN MAN.-By F. R. Sturgis, M. D., formerly Clinical Professor of Venereal Diseases in the Medical Department of the University of the City of New York, etc. 381 pages, illustrated. Price, $3.00. Published by E. B. Treat & Co., 241-3 West Twenty-second Street.

In getting out this work the author seems to be actuated less by a desire to theorize on the statistics of others than to state to the medical public some conclusions which an exceptionally large venereal practice has forced upon him. He combats the very generally accepted statements-originated largely by "quacks," patent medicine advertisers, which have insidiously crept into the minds of many of our more enlightened medical men-that masturbating in childhood and youth must necessarily be followed by mental and bodily decay, etc.

In discussing the castration of masturbating lunatics, the author believes in its propriety in certain well selected cases.

He has succeeded in bringing enough clinical evidence forward to justify the separation of spermatorrhea and pollutions into two