be measured largely by the number of physicians whom we will be able to reach. Our subscribers can help us by sending us lists of names of homeopathic physicians in their immediate vicinity to whom we will send sample copies on their recommendation.

Secondly, our readers can help us by showing more attention to our advertisers. Advertisers like to know when and where they get results and it should be the duty of every reader of a journal, interested in its welfare, to carefully read the advertising pages, and largely, too, for what can be learned from them. If anything is advertised about which you wish information write to the advertiser and do not forget to tell him where you saw his advertisement. If you have used the product of an advertiser, whether the results have been good or bad, write him. In every way possible, let the advertiser know that you appreciate the fact that he has contributed to the success of your local journal.

Just a word as to the question so often raised with the editors of a homeopathic journal, regarding the admission of advertisements of non-homeopathic articles. No homeopathic journal could live without them and yet if it could, we believe that it would be best to admit them to our pages. We believe that whenever merit is claimed for any drug or combination of drugs, the homeopathic physician. is derelict in his duty to his clientele, if he does not at least familiarize himself with the claim set forth and if it appeals to his reason, give it a trial. There are many medical advertisers, whose products do not and never could appeal to homeopathic physicians, but there are many others whose products should and do.

Lastly, you can help the REPORTER by contributing to its pages. If you have prepared an article for your local society, give your local journal the preference in its publication. If there is anything about which you desire help, ask the REPORTER readers. If you know of any news items, such as removals, deaths, society meetings, appointments, etc., see that we get them. In a word, look upon the REPORTER as your local journal and help it whenever and wherever you can.

In conclusion, it is a pleasure for us to be able to announce that the REPORTER has more than paid expenses during the past year. We have established ourselves with the advertisers who use homeopathic mediums and we will undoubtedly be able to increase our advertising receipts during 1906. This means a better journal, as we do not aim at profit, but desire to publish the best that our resources will permit.

MECHANICAL METHODS OF TREATMENT IN ATONY AND ASSOCIATED CONDITIONS OF THE RECTUM AND COLON.

Even with the most careful medication and dietetic treatment there is no class of cases which exhaust the resources of the physician more than chronic constipation. And in a large proportion of the cases, the condition is due largely to atony of the bowel tract, which is nothing more or less than a failure of the peristaltic action.

In addition to the indicated remedy, and proper dietetic changes, methods of treatment by mechanical means, such as gymnastics and massage have been found of value in the treatment of this condition. Such methods, however, owe their beneficial effect primarily to the strengthening of the abdominal muscles so as to aid in the act of defecation. They have no material influence upon the peristaltic movements of the intestines themselves.

Fenton B. Turck, Medical Record, Oct. 7, '05, describes a method of treatment which seems to be reasonable and worthy of careful consideration. He advises the use of massage and stimulation of the atonic intestine by the use of small rubber bags inserted in the rectum and sigmoid flexure and inflated with air. He describes three forms of rubber bags, fusiform, pear-shaped or round and a double pearshaped bag with a double tube, one leading to each bag or balloon. The size of the bags vary according to the special use desired. The bag is attached to a rectal tube and is inflated with an eight ounce Politzer bag with a valve. When the bag is inflated to the desired degree of distension, the finger is placed over the valve opening of the Politzer bag and thus any pressure exerted upon the latter will be transmitted throughout the apparatus, and by alternate compression and relaxation a massage of the intestine is produced.

The bag is easily inserted in the rectum, and if it is desired to have it pass into the sigmoid, the tube is directed with the finger upward above the promontory of the sacrum or a sigmoidoscope can be used. The double bag is devised for use in the sigmoid, the proximal bag being first inflated in order to hold the tube and distal bag high up in the colon.

The treatment consists of (1) slow, intermittent movements of considerable displacement or distension, using a full eight ounces of air in the Politzer bag; (2) rapid vibrations, either compressing the Politzer with the hand or with a special apparatus; (3) massage of the mucous membrane by the friction of the bag against the wall of the intestine.

This method of treatment excites peristalsis of the wall of the intestine, causes contraction of the sphincter, stimulates the local cir

culation and has a salutary effect upon the glands of the mucosa. The nutrition of the entire pelvic viscera is benefited and through the alternate increase and decrease of the intra-abdominal pressure, the splanchnic circulation is affected, and through the vaso-motor reflex upon the medulla, a valuable stimulation of the general circulation is secured. The heart is usually slowed 10 to 15 beats on the distension of the bag in the rectum and a corresponding acceleration follows.

The author has found the method useful in the treatment and cure of hemorrhoids, ulcer, proctitis, sigmoiditis, prolapse of the bowel, and various associated uterine conditions.

AN EXPLANATION.

We note that the editor of the American Physician has taken occasion to fire some more hot shot into the camp of the REPORTER, lauding to the skies the ex-editor, and suggesting that the present staff take a course in some editorial "kindergarten."

Well, the bump of self-esteem of the present staff is not so large but that it acknowledges such a course might result in improvement in technique. Whether it would result in the improvement in morals our friend Kraft so ardently desires-for he accuses us of stealing is a question.

When Dr. Horner withdrew from the editorship of the REPORTER last June he turned over to the present staff a number of papers read at the meeting of the Ohio State Homeopathic Medical Society, and a pile of clippings, as "journal property." The staff, very naturally believing that these papers had been secured with the knowledge and consent of the authors, proceeded to publish them in subsequent numbers of the REPORTER. It so happened that one of these papers, by Dr. Geo. W. Spencer, had been given by the author to the American Physician for publication, so as soon as it made its appearance in the REPORTER, a howl as from a pack of gray wolves arose-its echoes are still ringing the fur began to fly and Kraft lost a few suspender buttons in his frantic efforts to snatch the tou-pee from the head of our senior editor. It really became necessary for the said editor to remain at home for a few days until Kraft's confreres could cool off. Then silently, one morning, he tip-toed out to Kraft's house and with. his hand on the door-knob and a chair and waste-basket between him and the enraged editor, he made explanation and promised to send Dr. Horner out to further elucidate the matter.

It is evident that the ex-editor has a high regard for his hair for he never went near the fiery gentleman, contenting himself with the

statement that the paper was obtained for the REPORTER with Dr. Spencer's knowledge and permission. Meanwhile Dr. Spencer denies it and the present staff, not feeling called upon to decide who is what, and believing itself not only guiltless but not even a party to the affair, hereby withdraws from the arena, and in the future will sit in the grandstand among the spectators.

As regards the Clinical Reporter's article, quoted in the American Physician, we humbly kow-tow to the REPORTER's editor. This, also, was a bequest to us from our predecessor. There was no endorsement to show from whence it came but we acknowledge it should have been marked "exchange." We also acknowledge our error in failing to state that Dr. Spencer's paper was read at the meeting of the Ohio State Homeopathic Society meeting.

LABORATORY TEACHING IN HOMEOPATHIC COLLEGES.

In a recent conversation with a prominent physician who has had exceptional opportunities to learn the opinions of individual homeopathic physicians regarding our colleges, the statement was made that the chief reason for the falling off of students in homeopathic colleges is the prevalent idea that better laboratory teaching can be secured in allopathic colleges.

That this has been true in some instances in the past is beyond question, the homeopathic colleges as a whole have not been as prompt to put their laboratory teaching upon a thorough systematic basis as their competitors. But at the present time a comparison of the curricula of homeopathic colleges with those of the old school as well as a comparison of the standings before State boards will show that such conditions no longer exist. In our own college the laboratory instruction in the first two years is now given by paid instructors who devote a large portion of their time to it and throughout the junior and senior years practical application of the methods of clinical diagnosis is made in the hospitals and out-patient departments. This practical application of laboratory methods is really the most important part of the whole matter and yet it is one which has hitherto been crowded into the background by the undue prominence which has been given to the laboratory teaching of the first two years of the college course. So much time has been given to purely fundamental teaching in the first two years that it has crowded necessary didactic teaching into the third and fourth years which should have been given earlier in the course. The time will probably come when an applicant for matriculation in a medical college will be compelled to

present credentials showing that he has done the technical part of the laboratory work which is now done in medical college and thus give more time to other subjects.

It is the practical application of clinical methods of diagnosis which distinguishes the graduate of to-day from the one of fifteen years ago and the college which fails to drill its students in these methods is not doing the best work. In our own college, every effort has been made by those in charge of the educational work to so present the clinical work that the best results in this respect will be secured.

THE NEW ANÆSTHETIC, “SCOPOLAMINE-MORPHINE."

The new anesthetic, scopolamine, bids fair to take a high place in the armamentarium of the physician. It has been used for a sufficient length of time to prove that its action is a fixed one and the reports of its use show that it has no disadvantages and as far as known, no dangers. This cannot be said of chloroform and ether anæsthesia and although the dangers of local anesthesia have been reduced to a minimum, yet its success can never be depended upon from the fact that the technique is often faulty in hands not familiar with its use. The new method should prove of great advantage to the general practitioner who often wishes to induce anæsthesia when it is impossible for him to secure a skilled anæsthetist.

Scopolamine is an alkaloid closely related to hyoscine. Combined with morphine, it counteracts the depression of the circulation produced by large doses of the latter. The solution used for anæsthesia is one-half grain of morphine mixed in water with one fiftieth grain of scopolamine hydrobromate. This is divided into three equal doses which are injected hypodermically,-one dose two and one-half, and one dose one and one-half. and one dose one-half hour before the time set for the operation (Ries, Surg. Gyn. and Obs., Oct. '05). The patient becomes drowsy after the first dose, sleeps fairly soundly after the second and is fast asleep and insensible to pain after the third. The duration of surgical anesthesia extends over several hours, and the patient awakens but slightly confused as after a deep sleep. Operative anæsthesia, it is said, can be secured in one-half of the cases and in the rest a small amount of chloroform or ether or local anesthetic can be used to supplement the scopolamine-morphine anæsthesia. The diminution in the amount of the latter anæsthetics which is necessary is pronounced.

The method has also been used extensively in obstetrical work,