Capsicum also favors the stage of irritation. There is an ultimate narcotic effect on the cerebrum, but the persistent chilliness shows a constant irritation of the sensory portion of the cord. Dulcamara passes through all the stages quite rapidly, the narcotic condition of the cerebrum appearing early and continuing. Depression of the medulla and pneumogastric nerves is an early symptom. Paresis of the tongue and jaws, cough with inability to expel phlegm, oppression of the chest, and slow respiration occur so early we are prone to regard them as first effects of the drug, when they are really secondary. Belladonna, Hyoscyamus and Stramonium present the same general characteristics. They differ principally in their effect upon the bodily temperature. Belladonna affects the heat-producing centers in the medulla, giving high temperature. Stramonium has in some cases a rise of temperature, but this does not occur in all. Hyoscyamus may have the temperature increased or decreased. In the muscles of hollow viscera, so prominently affected by these three drugs, the stage of irritation is short, in some cases almost imperceptible, and paralysis occurs early, particularly so in Belladonna. In the cerebrum we have the opposite condition, the stage of irritation producing an exaltation which continues for some time, being most marked in Stramonium. So, in poisoning by these agents the patient will present a serious condition of paralysis of the involuntary muscles, and at the same time. an exalted state of mind in which he seems quite oblivious to such conditions. When these poisons are being eliminated from the system the nerves return to normal by way of a second stage of irritation. There is at first hyperesthesia of the special senses, and later paralysis of one or more of the special senses. It is quite probable that special parts of the cerebrum become, in the later stage, partially paralyzed, or at least anæsthetic, if this term can be used in connection with cerebral functions. The centers for memory become impaired, the patient cannot remember day of the week or month, can only dimly remember events which took place at the time of, or just preceding the taking of the drug.

Then there are produced hysteria, melancholia, and various kinds and conditions of mania. The hysteria, like all other cases of hysteria, is preceded by a considerable period of time in which the perceptions are abnormally acute, and the emotions greatly exaggerated. Hence, that part of the cerebrum used in this regulation and repression of feelings is overworked and unduly irritated, and finally passes into. a paralytic condition. The crisis which accompanies this derangement marks the first hysterical symptoms. The patient may have great desire to control his emotions, but finds, on making the attempt,

that he has lost the ability to do so. The suspension of correct reasoning and judgment, the perversion of perception produced by taking Hyoscyamus or Stramonium seems most readily explained in this way. Conditions occurring in a normal individual from the ingestion of drugs, can scarcely be attributed to a change in the ego, but rather to some derangement of the brain, which must be its avenue of impression and expression, so there is much evidence leading to the conclusion that, in poisoning by these drugs, parts of the cerebrum become partially paralyzed, while other parts are suffering various degrees of irritation.

The tomato and potato belong to this family of plants, but we have long ago forgotten the poisonous properties. Considering the acrid and nauseous taste of these plants, a tincture of either, made from the whole plant at the time of flowering, would doubtless possess marked medicinal properties. Some years ago tomatoes were used with considerable caution, but since they have become a daily article of diet on most tables at all seasons of the year, we have developed a decided tolerance to their poison. Taken in large quantities they produce extreme ptyalism, nausea without vomiting, increased peristalsis, pain, and gastro-enteric irritation, showing marked resemblance to Belladonna in these symptoms. Some physicians of the old school use small quantities of the juice of tomatoes as one of the first articles of diet after acute gastro-enteritis. It is successful, quite grateful to the patient, and is certainly good Homeopathic prescribing.

COMMENCEMENT EXERCISES CLEVELAND HOMEOPATHIC
MEDICAL COLLEGE, 1904.

Wednesday evening, May 4th, the commencement exercises were held at the Euclid Avenue Baptist Church. The large audience room was filled with friends of the graduates and the College, who were enthusiastic in their reception of the men and women as they entered the room preparatory to receiving the degree and their diplomas.

After prayer by Rev. Charles A. Eaton, the degrees were conferred upon the members of the class and the diplomas presented by Dr. D. H. Beckwith, who was delegated by the Board of Trustees to act in the place of Judge Henry C. White, President of the Board, who was detained by illness.

The graduating class was composed as follows:

Rosa Gould Barr, Frank Hudson Barr, Harry Clarence Barr, Melvin Leighton Battles, William Wesley Campbell, Robert Burns

1

Chamberlin, D. D. S., William Joseph Francis, James E. Flinn, John Van Horn Hartman, Wesley Harrington Ketchum, Walter Harrison Loomis, Frederick H. Mersfelder, Raleigh Robert Parcher, Maurice Eugene Roasberry, Albert Nelson Robinson, Plummer D. Russell, Carl Von Arx Schneider, Harvey Allen Snyder, A. B., William Milton Wallace, Rosa C. Turnbull, Charles N. Welles.

The

Following this Dr. Eaton delivered the annual address. faculty valedictory was delivered by Prof. B. B. Viets. This we take pleasure in publishing in the present number of the REPORTER.

The benediction was pronounced by Rev. Dr. Mersfelder, the father of a member of the graduating class.

During the evening Dr. G. J. Jones, Dean of the faculty, presented a report, to which considerable interest was attached. One of the requirements of the College curriculum was the presentation by each member of the graduating class of a thesis of not less than two thousand words upon any appropriate subject, the same to be chosen by the graduates. These theses were submitted to a committee of three members of the faculty, composed of Profs. Hudson D. Bishop, W. E. Trego and E. O. Adams, who were instructed to make a careful examination of them and report to the faculty the titles and authors of the three best. Their report is as follows:

Gentlemen:-Your committee appointed to examine the theses presented by the graduating class of 1904, beg leave to report the following three as being the best presented:

"The Halogens," Wm. M. Wallace.

"Diseases of the Lymphatics," W. H. Loomis.
"Homeopathy vs. Allopathy," W. H. Ketchum.

We desire to call attention also to the following, which, in our

opinion, deserve honorable mention:

"The Medico-Dental Standard," Robert B. Chamberlin.

"A Few Points in the Differential Diagnosis of the Exanthemata," C. N. Welles.

"Solanaceæ," Rosa C. Turnbull.

Respectfully yours,

HUDSON D. BISHOP,

W. E. TREGO,

E. O. ADAMS.

It gives us much pleasure to present to the readers of the REPORTER all of these theses, as we feel sure they are worthy of this prominence.

The Medical and Surgical Reporter.

A Journal Devoted to the Science of Homeopathic Medicine and Surgery.

Published Monthly by the Cleveland Homeopathic Medical College, 226 Huron Street, Cleveland, O.

JAMES RICHEY HORNER, A. M., M. D., Editor.

HUDSON D. BISHOP, M. D., Managing Editor.

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Editorial

SECOND ARTICLE-WHY STUDENTS OF MEDICINE SHOULD SELECT
THE HOMEOPATHIC SCHOOL.

The second article in the series, the first of which we reviewed in our May number, is by R. E. Baldwin, M. D., Amboy, Indiana. It is a masterpiece of logic. It is analytical and synthetical, the author making for himself a firm foundation and upon that foundation building his superstructure of convincing logic. It is such a paper as we delight to read. More like it could be published with benefit to Homeopathic interests. If we might say one word of adverse criticism it would be that the article is one that appeals to those grounded in the faith rather than to the immature, the high school graduate seeking help. Some parts of it presuppose a knowledge of medicine, anatomy and physiology not possessed by the average layman. We venture to say that this is one of the reasons why the examiners gave Dr. McConkey's article first place. In no other respect, in our estimation, is it superior to that of Dr. Baldwin.

In a logical way, preparing for the reasoning which follows, the author speaks of the immutability of Truth,-that it is the same yes

terday, to-day and forever-that once demonstrated, it stands fixed for the ages to come, that a scientific truth cannot be affected by discoveries. "The greatest thing in the world is to know the truth, the bravest thing is to live up to it." "Men are made free by truth.' "The truth seeker is liberal; he has a reverent conservatism, is judicious in accepting new things; he proves all things, holds fast that which is good, presses forward."

"It is taken for granted that this is the attitude of the prospective student, especially the student of medicine. Principles rather than policy, conviction rather than tradition or environment, should decide the course of the prospective physician. His first aim should be to know the truth, what is true regarding health, what is true about disease, what is true about curative medicine."

That makes a pretty good foundation, doesn't it? Can't get a much firmer foundation than truth, can you? But of course the foundation does not amount to much if you do not cover it properly.

Here are three axioms-"Confidence is an essential factor of enthusiasm." "Law is an essential factor of science." "Science is the key to progress. All true, surely. The author shows that in the dominant school of medicine much progress had been made in anatomy, physiology, chemistry, pathology and the allied sciences, "yet how loose, how indefinite, how uncertain is the practice of our art." (Williams' Principles of Medicine.) That's a severe indictmentmade not by one of our own school, but by a recognized authority in the old school. The famous Brown-Sequard said the same thing practically, so did the editor of the Dublin Medical Journal. To come nearer home, so did one of the professors of Internal Medicine in a college right here in our own city. Looks like as if the statement is quite generally admitted to be true. It seems as though medicine was the only science for which a law had not been discovered. A lot of things had been found out. Archimedes, Galileo, Newton, Harvey, Dalton are mentioned to show that exactness was to be the order of the future. It does seem, when reviewing all these facts, as though it was quite true that something should be doing in medicine-as though the time was ripe for some definite conclusions as to therapeutics. And so it came about.

Do you realize that the law of the similars was the first definite law of therapeutics ever asserted? Dr. Baldwin calls attention to this fact in his discussion of "A Law in Medicine." In this paragraph he