contact with several cases of late, my attention has been brought more forcibly to scarlet fever.

I noticed an article in the New York Times, recently which is of interest to physicians as well as the general reader, and I will take the liberty to insert it here. The article is in reference to "Tobacco and Physical Health," and is a valuable contribution to the literature of anti-tobacco societies.

"Dr. J. W. Seaver, the college physician and instructor in athletics at Yale, has made a comparative study of the users and non-users of tobacco in the present Senior Class for the past four years, and from his measurements he forms the following table:

Average increase in

Lung capacity, liters.......

(Or an increase 66 per cent greater for non-users.) Inflated chest, meters........

Users of Tobacco. Non-Users of Tobacco. .15

.25

(Or an increase 19 percent greater for non-users.)

Height, meters......

(Or an increase 20 per cent greater for non-users) Weight, kilogrammes......

(Or an increase 25 per cent greater for non-users.)

With regard to the possible effect on scholarship these statistics were given: Of those who received Junior appointments above dissertations, 95 per cent have not used tobacco; and those above colloquies, 87 per cent have not used tobacco; of all who have received appointments, 84 3-10 per cent have used tobacco; of the entire class, 70 per cent have not used tobacco.

Dr. Seaver says that these figures accord with statistics that he has kept for the past eight years, the greatest percentage of gain always being on the side of those who do not use tobacco. The greatest variation in the two years' widest part has not been more than 4 per cent. Some of the students who are classed among the non-users do smoke, but not oftener than once a week or at such long intervals that the tobacco is apt to have little or no effect on them. Dr. Seaver states that the prominent athletes do not smoke or otherwise use tobacco as a rule, Calhoun being the only exception in college. All the candidates for the crew abstain from

tobacco.

As the Academy of Medicine is closed until October, I cannot furnish your readers with items from that most interesting medical body. You must therefore be content with a letter, which is so only in name, until the excessively hot weather is over, when I promise to do better. As "Lydia" says,

"Yours for Health," GOTHAM.

MENNEN'S BORATED TALCUM INFANT POWDER (sterilized) is an article possessed of true merit, and although placed upon the market but a short time, has already received many commendations and indorsements from well-known phyiscians, hospitals and nurseries throughout the country. The question of proper hygiene of the skin is one of importance to the physician, who is often puzzled in his diagnosis or baffled in his treatment from the injudicious use of pernicious toilet powders by his patients. Vegetable powders are always harmful and rough to a sensitive skin, and greatly so when they become wet, either from perspiration or water. They will often lump together and, being enclosed in the folds of the skin and by the natural heat of the body, turn sour. This sour fermentation produces inflammation of the skin and other cutaneous diseases. On the suggestion of eminent dermatologists, the combination of purified talcum with boracic acid has been devised -the former a pure silicate of magnesia, an inorganic and entirely insoluble substance of the most harmless character, while pure boracic acid is favorably known for its mild, detergent, healing, antiseptic, and desiccating properties.

61015 M5 453

THE MEDICAL HERALD.

A PRACTICAL MONTHLY JOURNAL Of the mediCAL SCIENCES.

HIRAM CHRISTOPHER, M. D., Editor.

ASSOCIATE EDITORS: JACOB Geiger, M. D., SURGERY; J. W. HEDDENS, M. D., PATHOLOGY BRANSFORD LEWIS, M. D. (late of the St. Louis Medical Review), European Correspondent.

To contributors of Original Articles, a liberal number of copies of the HERALD will be given (or mailed free of expense if addresses are furnished), and the publishers will furnish reprints at cost, application for same to be made when copy is forwarded.

Illustrations will be furnished FREE for all articles requiring same, if drawings are furnished. Original Articles, Clinical Reports, Society Proceedings, Correspondence and News invited. Address all articles for publication, books for review and exchanges to the Editor. Address all correspondence relating to subscriptions and advertisements to MEDICAL HERALD CO., ISxth and Charles Streets. (See Publishers' Bureau.)

Volume X.
Number 9.

ST. JOSEPH, MO., SEPTEMER, 1891

Sample Copy Free. $2 a Year, in Advanee.

EDITORIAL

THE

The Three-Years Course.

HE State Board of Health has resolved that, after the session of '91-'92, a threeyears course of instruction shall be given by all the Medical Colleges in the State of Missouri, and that the Board will not recognize the diploma of any Medical College, whether of this or any other State, that does not require such a time in Collegiate instruction. The Board also looks to the creation by the legislature of a State Board of Examiners as a further means toward a higher grade of medical education as necessary to the general good of the profession and the welfare of the public.

It will require much knowledge and wisdom on the part of the legislature, and of those who shall aid the committee in charge of the bill looking to these objects, to properly adjust all the conflicting interest that exist or may arise in the prosecution of this work. There should be no personal interests among physicians, nor politics in a legislature allowed any influence in a work so far removed from personal or party ambition or interests. This subject has more than one side and not a few phases which ought to have due consideration before theories or plans or methods are made into law. It is not as evident as the nose on one's face that the contemplated measures can accomplish what is desired, nor is it absolutely certain that the methods already mentioned are the best that can be desired or lie logically in the line of successful accomplishment of objects so greatly and reasonably desired. Not a few journals are expressing general views on the subject of a higher medical education, but this is not enough; we must get down to particulars. No one can deny the fact, even if so disposed, that two sessions for one person may be quite sufficient because of the extent of his collegiate education, while for another just from the manual labor- d of life, with scarcely a good English education, twice the num

ber would hardly suffice. But laws must be so framed as to embrace all who apply, and here lie a few difficulties.

But we propose no more at present than to intimate that the contemplated work is environed with some difficulties, and that no little knowledge will be required in the framing of measures that will accomplish the objects in view. At a future time we propose to speak more definitely on the subject.

D

Legislation in Georgia.

RUNKENNESS in any one is disgraceful and reprehensible, and in some more than others for various reasons. In the physician and druggist it cannot be too severely condemned. One who cannot refrain from intoxicating liquors or narcotics, ought to change his occupation. But so long as many think that a certain physician drunk is as good, or, indeed, better than certain others sober (which may be really the fact), so long will the physician continue prescribing. But an intemperate druggist should be summarily dealt with, because no sober person stands between him and the compounding of a prescription. A family may refuse to have a prescription or a medicine given when prescribed or prepared under the influence of such mentally benumbing agents. How to cure the evil may not be plain; but when the law tries its hand, its action would be received more gracefully and its demands be more cheerfully obeyed, if the law had its origin in a legislature that was above reproach. Deep down in the human heart there is the feeling and persuasion that he who reproves, should himself be above reproof. Such a character sugar-coats the bitter pill, and gives it a surer action. The lower house of the Georgia legislature has passed the following bill:

SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Georgia, That from and after the passage of this Act, no physician or prescription clerk in any drug estab lishment in the State shall be allowed to practice medicine, or fill a prescription who may become drunk from use of intoxicating liquor or opiates. The second section prescribes the penalty for violating the Act.

A few days ago a telegram from Atlanta, dated Aug. 12, was published in the daily papers of which the following is a copy: "Something of a sensation in the shape of a 'blind tiger' was unearthed in the State Capital this morning when the chief of police arrested Peter McMichael, a porter in the State Senate, for selling liquor without license. The chief of police states that he has evidence conclusively proving that McMichael, who is a negro, had a large trade with the members of the Assembly. The members of the house are very indignant, and the matter has created great excitement. Gov. Northen gave the chief of police authority to make the raid into the ante-room where the whisky was sold. Fourteen bottles of whisky and a lot of beer were found."

The public, of course, must regard the members of that august assembly, before whose names Hon. is written, as privileged persons; that they may use intoxicants and enact laws under their influence and no one must say nay. If this body of men were not a legislative assembly, we might regard the passage of these Acts as a huge joke. While engaged in an effort to suppress intoxication among a class of men who are far less addicted to the use of intoxicants than are legislative assem

blies, they were "going in and out" quietly, and reviving their flagging energies by indulging clandestinely in what they were so virtuously condemning before the public. It would not be amiss if the Assembly would turn the light and the law on themselves. It would come nearer suppressing a great evil, if the Acts embraced every member of the Assembly and every officer of the State. Class legislation is offensive and wrong. Drunkenness is no greater evil in a doctor than in a legislator; and if laws may be enacted against the former, let them include the latter. If any set of men on earth need this legislation, we need not go further than a legislative Assembly to find them, as the Georgia legislature has so clearly shown. Drunken doctors, indeed! How much worse or more deserving of fine and disfranchisement than drunken legislators? Gentlemen, try your physic first on yourselves. Take the beam out of your own eye first.

THE

We Will Meet You There.

~HE hard worked members of the profession who want to get away from home and take their wives and families with them for a few days of rest, should prepare themselves to attend the annual meeting of the Mississippi Valley Medical Association in St. Louis, October 14, 15 and 16. The daylight hours during the sessions of the convention will be given up to the consideration of science, the reading and discussion of papers (remember no ethical or other extraordinary business, such as medical legislation and medical education will be discussed), the report of interesting cases and the best means of curing the doctor's patients, will be the exclusive topics discussed.

The place of meeting will be the Pickwick theater, Washington and Jefferson avenue. The evenings will be given up to enjoyment and every visitor will be made to have a good time. Every doctor in the Mississippi Valley and the country at large, in sympathy with the American Medical Association and the advancement of science, is invited to go to the meeting in St. Louis and take his family.

The Death of Dr. Frank H. Potter.

TH

'HE August number of The Buffalo Medical and Surgical Journal contains a notice of the death of this brilliant and promising young man, who gave evidence of a successful future. Already had he attained a high rank in his profession, and needed but time to make his mark among men. The loss of a promising child at any age is a severe affliction, which only those who have suffered a like loss can possibly appreciate or know the depth of sorrow and grief that overwhelm the heart of the parent; but when that child is a man with a bright future before him, one who has shown the world what were his capabilities, the loss becomes oppressive and bears down the heart in the deepest suffering. But there is some alleviation of the parents' great grief in the reflection and assurance that they have the sincere sympathy of the profession throughout the land. The editors of the HERALD join in the expression and offer to the bereaved their sincere condolence.

IT is claimed that a teaspoonful of chloride of ammonium in a goblet of water will almost immediately restore the faculties and powers of locomotion to a man who is helplessly intoxicated.

A

Marion-Sims College of Medicine.

Ta recent meeting of the Faculty of the Marion-Sims College of Medicine, the Dean, Dr. Young H. Bond, introduced the following resolutions, which were unanimously adopted:

WHEREAS, The position taken by this College upon the two questions of Medical Legislation and Medical Education has been intentionally confounded, and

WHEREAS, Notwithstanding the fact, at the last meeting of the Missouri State Medical Association, the report on Medical Education offered by Dr. McAlester, and having as its central idea a three years graded course of lectures, was, on motion of your Dean, with the aid of the votes of all the members of this Faculty then present, adopted, it has been sought to have it appear that this College is not favorable to higher Medical Education, Therefore, to the end that our position upon the question of Medical Education be clearly understocd, be it

Resolved, That after the session of '91-'92 the Marion-Sims College of Medicine will exact as a condition to graduation in Medicine of all its students who may not have previously matriculated, attendance upon a graded course of lectures extending over three years. And be it further

Resolved, That our position upon the question of Medical Education does not in the least abate or compromise our objection to what we regard as the attempted enactment of unjust, inefficient and class Medical Legislation, and that this Faculty favors an Examining Board as the fair and rational solution of the problem of Medical Legislation and Medical Education as well.

Mississippi Valley Medical Association.

To the Readers of The Medical Herald:

ST. LOUIS, MO., August 15, 1891.

The Mississippi Valley Medical Association will hold its Seventeenth Annual Session at the Pickwick Theatre, Jefferson and Washington Avenues, St. Louis, October 14, 15 and 16. A full programme of interesting papers has been prepared, and provision for the fullest, freest and most complete discussion of the same. Representative men from various sections of the country have been invited to open the discussions. The local profession of St. Louis is a unit to the end that every visiting physician shall be received and welcomed in the regular warm hearted, St. Louis style. The same qualifications for membership are requisite in this Association as for the American Medical Association, the former being subordinate to the latter. If eligible, yourself and friends, together with your wives and families, are most cordially invited to visit St. Louis and enter into the scientific work and the social pleasures as you may desire.

I. N. LOVE, M. D., Chairman Com. Arrangements.

REMOVAL OF MOLES.-Moles on the face are now being successfully treated by the use of sodium ethylate. The mole is painted with the sodium ethylate, a fine glass rod being used. When the mole has a varnished look, the ethylate is gently rubbed in with the glass rod to make it penetrate more deeply. The mole turns nearly black, and a hard crust forms over it, which is nearly three weeks in becoming detached. When it comes off, the mole is much lighter than before, and this treatment can be continued until the mark is scarcely noticeable.-N. Y. Medical Times.