faith in doctors," and if they must seek relief from pain they prefer a patent medicine or some home-made remedy. The advertisements of patent medicines one finds in the newspapers seem to have been generally written by persons who have "spent fortunes on doctors." One who has been behind the scenes often wonders where the doctors are on whom these "fortunes" have been spent, since a very little observation shows that a large number of physicians not only do a great amount of charity-practice, but have a large number of creditors whose promises to pay are the only remuneration that the physician receives for services rendered. It is safe to say that no class of men are more generous, more philanthropic and less appreciated than physicians. One quack in a community will, in the estimation of the ignorant, be considered proof prositive concerning the unreliability if not positive dishonesty of the entire profession. What is called "professional etiquette" places the educated, conscientious physician at a great disadvantage. He may not advertise, he does not often sue a patient, and he is loth even to present a bill; yet there is no limit to the demands that are made upon his time, patience and sometimes even purse. For example, a well known physician in Denver received a midnight call to a house some miles distant from his own home; as it was not accessible by street cars, he was forced to hire a carriage; when he reached his destination, he found a woman, middle aged, evidently poor, and in great pain; after prescribing for her, she informed him. she had no money to pay for the prescription; there was nothing left for him but to have the prescription filled and pay for it. She thanked him and he returned, after having spent about five dollars to earn her gratitude. Cases of this kind are by no means so unusual as might be imagined. Added to appeals for downright charity, there are not only worthless promises to pay, but also the unreasonable expectations which well-to-do people have in regard to physicians. They expect, of course, to pay for what they get-yet they often demand what is simply impossible. No physician can give a prescription that will make good nursing unnecessary. Carelessness in the sick room, resulting from too much air or too little air, over-heating, over-eating, sudden draughts, together with an undue nervous strain on the patient, will baffle the most skillful physician, and render his efforts to effect a cure null and void. Yet when a patient dies, the question is asked, "Who was the attending physician?" when it ought to be, "How faithfully were his directions followed, and how intelligently was the medicine supplemented by conscientious attention to necessary details?" Medical Trip In view of the success of the medical to Paris. excursion to the Moscow meeting of the International Medical Congress, a voluntary committee has been engaged in planning a similar party to the session in Paris this coming summer. The members of the committee are as follows: Surgeon-General George M. Sternberg, of the United States Army; Supervising Surgeon - General Walter Wyman, of the Marine Hospital Service; Dr. Nicholas Senn, of Chicago; Dr. Thomas Hayden Hawkins, of Denver, Colo.; Dr. John Punton, of Kansas City, Mo.; Dr. Henry Parker Newman, of Chicago, Treasurer of the American Medical Association; Dr. H. O. Marcy, of Boston; Dr. A. M. Phelps, of New York; Dr. B. T. Whitmore, of New York; Dr. George Ryerson Fowler, of Brooklyn, N. Y.; Dr. Harold N. Moyer, of Chicago; Dr. I. N. Love, of St. Louis; Dr. Daniel R. Brower, of Chicago; Dr. Joseph Mathews, of Louisville; Dr. J. B. Murphy, of Chicago, and Dr. T. M. Lloyd of Brooklyn. The trip will begin at New York on June 13, sailing by the Friesland of the International Navigation Company to Antwerp, and thence to The Hague, Cologne, Hamburg and the Baltic ports. From Christiania the party will go through Norway to Trondhjem and take vessel to the North Cape to see the marvelous spectacle of the sun at midnight. The return will be made by way of Bergen, Newcastle, the cathedral towns of England and London. A week will be spent in Paris before the opening of the Congress, and on August 9 the party will leave for Brussels, sailing from Antwerp on August 11, and arriving at New York on August 21. Those who cannot leave at the date fixed, or who may have gone ahead, may join the party at any point up to Christiania on June 30. Ample stop-over priveleges will be accorded, and an experienced conductor will attend to all details of baggage and accomodations. From Paris, excursions, at a cost of $45 to $60, will afford a side trip to the Passion Play. The full extent of this trip will be 70 days, and by special arrangements with Henry Gaze and Sons, who have been in the tourist business since 1844, the committee has been able to secure for medical men, their families and their friends, a minimum rate of $550, which covers first-class accomodations. Those who intend to join this party are expected to lose no time in signifying their intention, accompanied by a deposit of $25, sent to the firm just mentioned, at 113 Broadway, New York. In case of failure to make the trip, this deposit will be nearly all returned on giving sufficient notice, or in the rush to secure accomodations, which has already manifested itself, the privilege may easily be sold for its full value. No more favorable opportunity for a trip to Paris, by way of Northern Europe, offers itself than this. Health Items. Colorado State At the meeting of the State Board of Board of Health in October last, the State Board adopted the recommendation of Dr. H. R. Bull, of Grand Junction, Colorado, who is chairman of the committee on registration and vital statistics, to compel all undertakers doing business in the state, after Dec. 31, 1899, to make complete death returns. The form of death certifi cate adopted by the board contains blanks for all information required by the United States Census Office, thus making Colorado a registration state. The returns for January were remarkably satisfactory for the first month. Those for February are beginning to come in at the date of writing. Physicians are urged to take special care to be accurate in filling out the "Cause of Death," "Contracted where" and "Duration," in order that the vital statistics of the state may represent the exact conditions. All other information required on the certificates is to be secured by the undertaker. Since January 1, small pox has been reported as follows: Denver, January 6, one case, origin unknown, probably Denver. One case, Denver, January 7, origin Folsom, N. M., from this case there developed two others on January 22 and 25, respectively. One case, January 19, Denver, origin Butte, Mont. One case, Denver, January 29, origin unknown, probably Denver. One case, Denver, February 6, origin unknown, probably Denver. Two cases, Denver, February 8, origin unknown, probably Denver. One case, Denver, February 9, origin Denver or Pueblo. One case, Denver, February 25, origin unknown, probably Denver. One case, Denver, Feb. 23, origin Denver. Three cases near Walsenburg, January 9, origin Walsenburg. One case, January 26, exposed to the above cases. Two cases, Walsenburg, January 23, origin Walsenburg. Total for Walsenburg, 6 cases. One case, Hugo, December 15, origin Lawrence, Kansas. One case, Hugo, January 2, origin above case. One case, Leadville, January 17, origin unknown. Four cases, Weston, Dec. 28, origin New Mexico. Three cases, Colorado City, Feb. 17, origin North Carolina. One case, Torres, February 4, origin unknown, probably New Mexico. Total for the state 29 cases. Scarlet fever and measles have been unusually prevalent, and diphtheria has occurred in a number of places. The facilities of the Bacteriological Laboratory may be utilized by any physician who will take specimens and send them to Dr. Wm. C. Mitchell, California Building, and reports will be made by telegraph, if desired. There is no charge for these examinations. Free food and water analyses are offered by Dr. Philip Hillkowitz, 2011 Clarkson St., Denver, Chemist to State Board of Health, who will furnish full directions to any physician interested in the matter.-G. E. Tyler M.D., Secretary. The National The third annual meeting of this important utilitarian association is to be held in Washington, D. C., at Columbia University Lecture Hall, beginning 12 m., Wednesday, March 7, 1900. The National Pure Food Bill, which has been introduced into both houses of the National Congress, stands a fair chance of passage if united effort is put forth by the hygienists of the countı y. The recent investigation into the question of adulteration of foods conducted by Senator Mason, acting for the committee on Manufactures of the Senate, furnishes ample evidence of the necessity of such a law as that proposed. In the apportionment of delegates, in addition to those empowered by the various national departments, the governor of each state and territory is requested to appoint ten, state boards of health three, city health |
