moon's penumbra or the relation of the asymptote to the hyperbola is necessary to the differential diagnosis of yellow fever and malarial or the anatomical resection of the hip joint? We should be far from throwing cold water upon collegiate education, and perhaps would hes

itate to write thus boldly if we had not "gone through the mill" ourselves, but we do "say it without hesitation, and say it boldly," that a master's degree never will, never can be, a sine qua non of a thorough medical man.

There has been so much nonsense written under the name of Bacteriology that the very name is sufficient to nauseate the plain practical medical thinker. Like all things which are somewhat obscure-out of the reach of the ordinary observer-Bacteriology kicks up a learned dust under which the pseudo-scientist may run away. It is very easy to refer the pathology of any case to a special bacillus, but it would sadly confuse the BOMBASTES FURIOSOS of medicine if they were called upon to differentiate between the several varieties of these bacilli or even to explain

the working of any particular one. Now the sturdy old practitioner is not going to be humbugged by any of these Bacterio-pathogenic Sesquipedalia that are used by the modern medical wiseacre

"To make the wonder grow That one small head could bear what he might know."

There is a grand purpose in practical bacteriology, and it is a lamentable fact that it should be set at naught by "science falsely so called." There is a tremendous reaction brewing in the modern medical pot, and the day of its serving is well at hand.

A prompt answer is desirable in order that the programme may be arranged and freely disseminated

MY DEAR DOCTOR:-The Annual Meeting of the Missouri State Medical Association will be held in Sedalia, on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday; May 19, 20 and 21, convening at 10 A. M. on Tuesday, the 19th. As you know, Sedalia is the most central point of the State, easily accessible from every section. One of the largest meetings in the history of the Association is anticipated.

You are most cordially invited to read a paper on said occasion. Kindly notify the Chairman or any member of the Committee on Scientific Communications immediately.

to encourage a liberal discussion. Very truly yours,

M. P. SEXTON, M. D.,
Kansas City.

A. B. SHAW, M. D.,

St. Louis.

I. N. LOVE, M. D., St. Louis, Chairman, Committee on Scientific Communications.

We should be glad in any and every way possible to emphasize the importance of rallying to the State Institutions. The integrity and power of the National Association is derived from the several State societies, and we do trust that the doctors of Missouri will turn out

en masse.

Officers for 1896.-Robert H. Babcock, M. D., President, Venetian Building, Chicago; A. H. Cordier, M. D., 1st Vice-President, Rialto Building, Kansas City; W. A. Todd, M. D., 2nd Vice-President, Chariton, Iowa; G. W. Cale, M. D., Secretary, 4403 Washington boulevard, St. Louis; C. S. Chase, M. D., Treasurer, Waterloo, Iowa.

Committee of Arrangements.Hugh T. Patrick, M. D., Chairman; W. L. Baum, M. D.; W. H. Wilder, M. D.

Meets in Chicago April 7, 8 and 9, 1896.

Meetings will be held in the club room of the Great Northern Hotel. Hotel rates $1.50 per day and upward, on the European plan. Cheaper rates rates at other hotels in the vicinity. Reduced rates on all railroads. One and one-third fare for the round trip. The membership fees are $3.00 for the first year and $1.00 for each succeeding year. The public address will be given by Dr. J. M. Mathews, of Louisville,

Ky., in Handel Hall. Subject: "Some Needed Reforms in the Medical Profession." Surgical Clinics will be held by Dr. Nicholas Senn and Dr. J. B. Murphy. Gynecological Clinics will be held by Drs. J. H. Etheridge and Fernand Henrotin jointly.

moscopic Findings in Reynaud's Disease;" Webb J. Kelly, Galion, O., "The Treatment of Unreduced Fractures of the Lower End of the Radius;" Merrill Rickets, Cincinnati, "Anal Fistula, Peritonitis, Laparotomy, Recovery;" Adolph Meyer, Worcester, Mass., "Etio

Dr. Nicholas Senn, Surgical Clinic; Dr. J. B. Murphy, Surgical Clinic; Dr. J. H. Etheridge, Gynæcological Clinic; Dr. F. Henrotin, Gynecological Clinic; Frank Allport, Minneapolis, "The Relation of the Oculist to the Optician;" Wellington Adams, St. Louis, "A New and Practical Method of Opening and Dilating the Eustachian Tube;" J. J. Brownson, Dubuque, Ia., "Chest Drainage in Empyema;" J. M. Ball, St. Louis, "Eye Symptoms in Brain Tumor;" G. W. Barr, Quincy, Ill., "The Use of Patent Medicines;" G. Wiley Broome, St. Louis, "The Diagnosis and Surgical Treatment of Cancer of the Cervix;" D. C. Brockman, Ottumwa, Ia., "Points in Surgical Practice;" A. H. Cordier, Kansas City, "Pregnancy Complicated by Cancer of the Cervix-Report of Case;" G. W. Cale, St. Louis, "Surgical Treatment of Brain Tumor;" F. B. Dorsey, Keokuk, Ia., "Fracture of Pelvis, Complicated with Pregnancy;" C. Travis Drennen, Hot Springs, Ark., "Gonorrhoeal Rheumatism;" H. C. Eschbach, Albia, Ia., "Colles Fracture;" R. C. Heflebower, Cincinnati, "Foreign Bodies in Crystalline Lens" and "The Ophthal

Factors in Diagnosis and Rational Classification of the Infectious and Toxic Diseases of the Peripheral Nerves, Spinal Cord and Brain;" C. B. Nancrede, Ann Arbor, Mich., "The Operative Treatment of Jacksonian and Focal Epilepsy, as Illustrated by Selected Cases;" Paul Paquin, St. Louis, "Some Recent Criticism on the Serum Therapy;" Roswell Park, Buffalo, N. Y., "AutoInfection in Surgical Cases;" J. F. Percy, Galesburg, Ill., "Special Education as a Means of Treatment in Chronic Neurasthenia;" F. Reder, Hannibal, Mo., "Remarks on a Partial dislocation of the Axis;" D. S. Reynolds, Louisville, "Local Treatment of the Eye;" E. O. Sisson, Keokuk, "Ulcerative Inflammation of the Cornea;" T. O. Summers, St. Louis, "Leucocytosis, Its Relation to Modern Therapy;" W. W. Wathen, Louisville, "Pathology of Cystic Tumors of the Ovary and Broad Ligaments;" O. B. Will, Peoria, "Dysuria in the Female;" Alex. Hugh Ferguson, Chicago, "Pylorectomy in America;” D. R. Brower, Chicago, "Anæmia and Its Relation to the Nervous System, with Suggestions as to Treatment;" John Ridlon, Chicago, "Flat Foot;" J. B. Bacon, "Conservative Surgery

in the Treatment of Hemorrhoids;" T. J. Shuell, Parnell, Ia., "The Relation of Fæcal Impaction to Appendicitis;" L. H. Dunning, Indianapolis, "Diffuse Pelvic Inflammation."

Papers will also be read by

Drs. J. J. M. Angear, Chicago; J. R. Ash, Brighton, Ill.; Emory Lanphear, St. Louis; John Punton,

Kansas City; R. Harvey Reed, Columbus, O.; Weller Van Hook, Chicago; Wm. Allen Pusey, Chicago; Arthur Edwards, Chicago; Frank Billings, Chicago; Gustav Fuetterer, Chicago; Otto Sutter, St. Louis; A. E. Mink, St. Louis; G. H. Thompson, St. Louis; Harry Wells, St. Louis.

Subjects to be announced later.

We have been badgered almost into profanity and insanity by continual questions upon the subject of the Cathode Rays. "What do you think of it?" "Will it prove of practical use?" "What is the principle of the X Rays?" etc., etc. Well, we have waited until it was "done snowing" before we delivered ourselves, and we can still say that we are not yet prepared to pronounce decisively upon it from a practical standpoint. It is very remarkable that among so many statements made by men of authority upon this subject, the fact has been entirely overlooked that the theory as well as the experimental demonstration of the X Ray is by no means a new principle in Physics. We believe that it was in 1885 that Mont Cenis was photographed at midnight with success, and often in the laboratory of Prof. Tyndall the principle was put to use in optical experiments. We have often wondered why it had not been put to some practical use, especially when the principle of vibratory adjustment was so fully

demonstrated by the improvements in the telephone. The correspondence of wave distance renders practically possible the transmission of actinic rays upon electric currents to any point upon which the current can be expressed. Light, as . generally understood, is but a subjective idea-it is our appreciation of the results of the impact of the wave upon the retina. Light itself is a force-a correlated form of the common force of nature, and operates independently of any mental recognition of its existence. The light falls upon the eye of the blind man with no less force of expression because of his inability to perceive it, but chemical agents receive its expression, and are capable by the effect produced, of recording the interruptions in the wave course which render photography possible. This is the whole thing in a nutshell. Because we cannot receive a light wave through an opaque object, is no reason why that vibratory force may not be carried by electricity through that object to a sen

sitive chemical plate and record there its permanent expression or impression.

We therefore feel safe in the assertion that the day is not far distant when the practical issues of this process will revolutionize the whole surgical world. "But, like poor Othello, the Anatomist's occupation will then be well nigh gone." But still we are conservative enough to believe that it is not yet time to cry, "Lordy, Lordy," as Dame Quickly said to Falstaff.

In concluding we cannot do better than direct attention to the following excellent editorial in the Pacific Record, by the way a most admirable journal:

Prof. Le Conte of Berkeley has something to say about Roentgen's discovery, and, like everything else he says, it is worth listening to. He tells us that the new ray of light in which opaque substances become transparent is improperly called the cathode ray.

The latter is old-it

is the ray which proceeds from the negative pole of an electric current; the Roentgen ray is new, and even Roentgen himself does not appear to understand it. He seems to think that it originates at the point where a cathode ray from within impinges upon the glass tube in the instrument, and that it is a direct ray. Others think it is the ray known as the ultra red ray. It is known that a ray of light coming from a very low temperature, as for instance, 100 or 150 degrees below zero, is a long ray, which will pass through clothes, flesh or

At

Prof. Le Conte was one of the first to realize the importance of the new discovery in surgery, and to discern its possible extension. present the flesh of the hand is invisible in the Roentgen ray, and the latter is only absorbed by the bones, so that an impacted bullet, the line of a fracture, the dimensions of a bony tumor, the existence of a sequestrum or any similar pathological condition of a bone, becomes as plainly visible as a ring on the finger. But with a stronger application of the light the whole body may be similarly illuminated and the fanciful pictures of skeletons. now appearing in the papers may become real. become real. For the purposes of

surgery, the human frame may be denuded of its fleshy envelope and lesions of the interior organs may be exposed to the naked eye. A gunshot wound, in which the most skillful surgeon is unable to detect with the probe the location of the bullet, may be photographed with such minuteness that an operation. for its excision may be conducted with mathematical certainty.

Nor is this all. A correspondent of the London Lancet draws attention to the germicidal power of violet rays. An ultra red ray, which is produced in an extremely low temperature, becomes, when the