AN INTERNATIONAL MONTHLY REVIEW OF CURRENT MEDICAL LITERATURE

ESTABLISHED 1895

Edited by DANIEL LEWIS, M. D., LL. D.

PUBLISHED BY THE

trite to write a paper condemning the use of these remedies.

One statement in Dr. Schamberg's article can be accepted as a valid cause of complaint if it be indeed true, viz.: "At

TERMS OF SUBSCRIPTION:

TWO DOLLARS A YEAR, when paid in advance, otherwise, $2.50, in the United States, Alaska, Cuba, Porto Rico, Mexico, the Hawaiian and Philippine Islands. In Canada, $2.50. In Great Britain, 10 Shillings. In France, 12 Francs In Germany, 10 Reichsmarks.

These rates include postage only on subscriptions paid in advance. Extra postage will be charged on subscrip tions not paid within four months, to conform with the new postal laws and regulations pertaining to the second class of mail matter.

The address tab on the wrapper of each copy sent by mail shows the date to which the subscription has been paid.

Money can be sent safely by registered letter, bank draft, check, postal or express money order.

Make all remittances payable to the order of MEDICAL REVIEW OF REVIEWS COMPANY.

JULY 25, 1908.

ARSENIC IN THERAPEUTICS. An article in the Therapeutic Gazette by Dr. Jay Frank Schamberg of the Philadelphia Polyclinic discusses the abuse of arsenic in the treatment of diseases of the

skin, and is calculated, with its flagrant illustrations, to cast discredit upon a very efficient remedy in many affections of the skin. No one can deny that there is now and then, though very rarely, to be found a patient with an idiosyncrasy which precludes the use of arsenic as a therapeutic agent. The same is equally true of quinine, iodide of potassium, resorcin, iodoform and many other potent remedies. which are constantly employed by physi

practitioner's friend; it is with many the sheet anchor of cutaneous therapy. A great many practitioners still employ it indiscriminately whenever a skin disease presents itself."

We are slow to believe that physicians employ arsenic indiscriminately for all skin diseases, for such practice would be senseless. It should be employed as all other powerful remedies are used, viz., when it is indicated.

Regarding the terrible ill-effects portrayed in this article, they are so extremely rare that we may safely disregard their existence. We have administered it in steadily increasing doses for a large number of skin diseases until 15 drops three times a day of Fowler's solution have been given to a child under one year of age. We have employed it for long periods in general neuritis, in chorea and other nervous affections, and have employed it extensively as a caustic in cutaneous cancer. Its action must be carefully watched, just as you would carefully observe the effects of digitalin, and if that be done no trouble will follow. We regret to see Dr. Schamberg, inadvertently perhaps, maligning a most excellent remedy even in dermatology.

GROVER CLEVELAND.

Grover Cleveland, former President of the United States, died at his home in Princeton, N. J., on the 24th of June, aged 71 years.

The members of the medical profession of the country, with all their countrymen,

were shocked by the announcement of his death, for the latest reports given to the public had been reassuring. No public man has ever been more profoundly and universally respected or more sincerely mourned.

Physicians have especial occasion to cherish the memory of Mr. Cleveland. While Governor of New York he favored as far as possible the movement then under way for elevating the standard of requirements for the practice of medicine. His influence was always exercised in favor of the best interests of the medical profession. This interest was notably shown at the celebration of the semicentennial of the New York Academy of Medicine. At that time his physician and friend, Dr. Joseph D. Bryant, was president of the Academy. Mr. Cleveland was the honored guest at the celebration and delivered the oration, an address which was typical of the speaker and revealed to the vast audience an intimate knowledge of the aims and purposes of the Academy which few of its own fellows possessed.

A few great men like Mr. Cleveland would today direct medical thought and action toward the adoption of more safe and sane methods than those which are most conspicuous at the present time.

INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS ON

TUBERCULOSIS.

We call the especial attention of the readers of the REVIEW to the meeting of this Congress, which will open at Washington on the 21st of September and extend its session to October 12, 1908. The work of the Congress has attracted worldwide interest and enthusiasm.

Mr. Roosevelt has accepted the presidency of the organization. Dr. E. L. Trudeau has been elected honorary president, while Vice-President Fairbanks, Speaker Cannon and the Governors of many States will be vice-presidents. The committee from Germany alone numbers 150, among whom are Dr. Robert Koch, Dr. Emil von Behring, Dr. A. Frankel and Dr. Richard Neisser. Every civilized nation almost without exception will be worthily represented. This great convocation, which Dr. J. S. Fulton, the secretary-general, has arranged, will prove of the greatest educational value, and all physicians who can possibly do so should visit Washington during the meeting, for it must not be forgotten that upon the family physician rests the responsibility of making effective any and every public health measure which science has demonstrated to be of value.

The American Academy of Medicine elected Dr. Helen Putnam, Providence, R. I., president for the ensuing year, and Dr. Charles McIntire, Easton, was reelected secretary at the recent meeting in Chicago.

Dr. S. Wier Mitchell was elected president of the American Neurological Association at its annual meeting in Philadelphia.

Mississippi Valley Medical Association. The thirty-fourth annual meeting of the Mississippi Valley Medical Association will be held in Louisville, Ky., October 13, 14 and 15, 1908, under the presidency of Dr. Arthur R. Elliott of Chicago.

Regulation of Advertising Proprietaries in Switzerland.-The Board of Health in the canton of Zurich has notified all the periodicals published in the canton, in

cluding the daily papers, that the advertising of drugs and remedies for certain affections is forbidden unless a special permit is presented with the "copy" for the advertisement. This permit is obtained by the would-be advertiser after a sample of his remedy, in the original package, has been analyzed by the Board, his methods investigated and the proposed advertisement inspected. A special fee for this is also imposed. R. Bing of

Basle relates this in a letter to the Deutsche Medizinische Wochenschrift, adding that these measures in Zurich are excellent and worthy of imitation elsewhere.

Pan-American Medical Congress. The fifth Pan-American Medical Congress will take place in Guatemala, C. A., August 5 to August 8, 1908.

Dr. Meyer Director of the Henry Phipps Psychiatric Clinic. The trustees of Johns Hopkins Hospital and University have elected Dr. Adolph Meyer of New York professor of psychiatry and director of the Henry Phipps psychiatric clinic which is to be erected and maintained out of the $750.000 fund donated for that purpose by Mr. Henry Phipps of Pittsburg. Dr. Meyer has served as director of the clinic at the Hospital for the Insane in Worcester, Mass.; director of the pathological institute of the New York State Hospital on Ward's Island; since 1904 has been professor of psychiatry at the medical department of Cornell University, and is now president of the New York Psychiatrical Society.

Consumptive Workers Need Night Camps.-Dr. Livingston Farrand, secretary of the National Society for the Prevention of Tuberculosis, in addressing the School of Philanthropy on the subject of "The Prevention of Tuberculosis," said

years.

KITCHEN.-In Saginaw, Mich., June 9. 1908, Dr. Samuel Kitchen, aged 75 years.

KITZMILLER.—In Taylorville, Ill., June 8, 1908, Dr. Joseph H. Kitzmiller, aged 59 years.

KNEER. In Indianapolis, Ind., June 13, 1908, Dr. Charles B. Knerr, aged 43 years.

KUNSTLICH.-In Passaic, N. Y., June 21, 1908, Dr. Alexander A. Kunstlich, aged 63 years.

LAMB.--In Philadelphia, Pa., June 6, 1908, Dr. Henry Grant Lamb, aged 44

years.

LAMBERTH.—In Springfield, Mo., June 7, 1908, Dr. Robert Lamberth, aged 77 years.

LOCKHART.-In Freedom, Pa., June 15, 1908, Dr. James Robert Lockhart, aged 66 years.

LYNCH.--In West Bend, Wis., June 25, 1908, Dr. Daniel W. Lynch, aged 60

years.

MCCARTHY.-In Rockville, Conn., June 11, 1908, Dr. Timothy W. McCarthy, aged 24 years.

MCCAUSLAND.-In Toronto, Ont., June 21, 1908, Dr. Thomas McCausland, aged 72 years.

MCNEEL.-In Waterloo, Wis., June 20, 1908, Dr. James S. McNeel, aged 67

years.

MERCER.-In Pittsfield, Mass., June 10, 1908, Dr. William M. Mercer, aged 65 years.

MICHEL-In Ferndale, Cal., June 15. 1908, Dr. William M. Michel, aged 58

years.

MILLIRICK.-In Stoneham, Mass., June 18, 1908, Dr. Daniel Edward Millirick, aged 52 years.

MURPHY.-In Boston, Mass., June 13, 1908, Dr. Charles Oscar Murphy, aged 38

years.