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ing his excesses. Drunkards, to the contrary intoxicated whenever the opportunity offers."

"are a class who become The attack in dipsoman

iacs is preceded by symptoms usually identical. A feeling of sadness arises which no diversion can dispel. He soon falls a victom to gloomy thoughts, and thinks that speedy disaster awaits him. He becomes irritable and views his dearest friends with indifference. Anorexia with precordial anxiety, burning sensation in the stomach and throat, intense thirst, with an irrisistible longing for stimulating drink soon appear.

Liquor they must have Theft, prostitution or crime

From this time nothing can dissuade them. and will use the basest means to procure it. they will not stickle at to procure it. Thus a father is seen taking the last piece of household property to the dram shop, deaf to every entreaty of the mother and her starving children; or else the mother, who, forgetful of her duty, throws aside all shame and makes a prostitute of herself or sells her daughter for a few glasses of brandy. Louisa B― tells us the following story: "I am 33 years of age, am hereditarily disposed to insanity. My father who was a drunkard, committed suicide; my mother was of ordinary intelligence; a brother died of hydrocephalus at the age of five years; lastly one of my cousins are insane.

At the age of twenty I had intervals of sadness, pains and dragging sensations in the stomach, which were aggravated at the menstrual periods, and which I found were relieved by sweetened wine.

me.

In 1873, at twenty-four years of age, I married a man who had known me for several years and who was very fond of and devoted to The first indications of pregnancy bound us closer to each other until the third month, at which time I began to grow sad, the most trifling duties were a burden; I sought the solitude of my room only to be taunted by the same feelings of ennui and lassitude. An incessant thirst developed which could only be quenched by wine or brandy. I consumed half a bottle in a short time and became profoundly intoxicated. After five days of sobriety my sadness again returned, accompanied by a craving from which there was no escape and at which time I abandoned myself to drink. I now slipped away from my family, taking with me a few clothes which I sold for a song at the first offer; with the proceeds I became gloriously drunk, in which condition I was soon after found by my husband, who believed my misfortune to be due to pregnancy. I kept up this deplorable practice until confinement at full term occured.

Scarcely had I left my bed when all my old practices were renewed and also the use and abuse of absinthe, which soon showed itself in muscular twitchings and attacks of vertigo. In my sober moments I was

very chaste and reserved, but as soon as I began to drink I abandoned myself to the first comer, to whom I would give myself up to the most disgraceful debaucheries with libertines and prostitutes of the worst portions of the city, and many times have been picked up from the sidewalk by my husband and police in a nearly naked condition.

The crisis passed I feel the utmost remorse and grief for what I have done. But the impulse soon returns and I contrive a thousand ways for obtaining drink and to do so I again give way to may ravenous indulgence of appetite.

All persuations, threats, or restraint are to no purpose. When the attacks come on I must satisfy my appetite, and regardless of my affection for my husband and child, I fall back into the old indulgence in debauches of a most revolting character, and pawn my jewels, clothes, corset, etc., until I am in a half naked condition, and become brutishly intoxicated, when I drop to the sidewalk in a stupid condition, to be picked up by my sorrowing husband and his friends."

The Posterior Commissure of THE BRAIN.--By E. C. Spitzka, M. D., (Alienist and Neurologist No. 2, April 1885). Of a number of the brain tracts we know neither the commencement nor the termination, and all surmise regarding their function will be fruitless, until these factors are determined. Nowhere is there more uncertainty than in the thalmic region. The posterior commissure runs across the median line immediately in front of the anterior corpora bigemina.

The thalamus is connected with the fundamental strand of the anterior colum of the oblongate, if not of the cord, by means of the internal fibres of the reticular field, and that this connection is a crossed connection.

Some remarkable results are reported in relief and even cure of certain forms of insanity, by occupation in some kind of work. Most of our asylums for the insane are taking advantage of the circumstances and are providing occupation suitable to particular cases with good results.

Dr. F.E. Daniel, of Austin, Texas, sends us the prospectus of "Daniel's Texas Medical Journal." To those of our readers who were lovers of the editorial writings of the much lamented Gaillard, we commend Dr. Daniels, as the coming "Mephistopheles of Medical Journalism." At least, we will venture to so christen the baby.

It is a fact not so generally known as it should be, that a small stream of water poured from a considerable height on the scrotum will cure any case of simple congenital hydrocele.

EDITORIAL DEPARTMENT.

DENVER SANITARY COMMITTEE.

A conference of representatives of New York, Brooklyn, Philadelphia, Baltimore, New Haven, and Boston, was held at the Fifth Avenue Hotel on the 23rd of May, to discuss quarantine matters, generally, and agree upon uniform regulations for the prevention of the introduction of cholera into the United States. In this connection we notice that Denver—as usual, not to be behind her sister cities-has formed a Sanitary Committee. It is stated by our daily press that this committee intends to use every endeavor to prevent cholera from coming to Denver.

We say to those interested, that every effort of the good citizens of this, our beautiful Queen City of the Plains, toward the betterment of our sanitary condition, will receive the earnest and hearty support of THE TIMES. We have always advocated strict sanitary precautions as being highly conducive to the welfare of this, as well as other cities. Nevertheless it strikes us as extremely ridiculous and premature for both physicians and citizens-living at an altitude of 5,200 feet above the sea, and two thousand or more miles from a sea-board free from cholera-to take upon themselves a cholera of the brain, and by their public meeting raise the hue and cry that "cholera is coming to our home and for this reason, and this reason alone, we must have cleanliness of our streets, etc., etc."

Many medical men, of many climes, have been in the past, and are now, working toward a solution of the cholera question. These men tell us to beware of cholera and recommend most emphatically that cities should be in the best sanitary condition; but they don't cry cholera ! cholera !! cholera !!! unless cholera is at least within the borders of their country. The action of the health authorities of our Atlantic cities, is sensible and right, because of climatic causes and liabilities to contagion. This, however, cannot be said of Denver with its healthful mounttain air and water. Hence we say to our committee: Go slow, and don't seek to create in the minds of Denver people unnecessary alarm about a disease we have not, nor have real cause to believe will visit There is another reason why we should not become alarmed. It is to our interest that the traveling and health seeking people of the East may remain in the correct belief that they now possess, to wit: that Denver is The Sanitarium of America, and not-as this committee would make us believe—a vile, stinking city, ready to breed the comma bacilli as

us.

a dog breeds fleas. Every physician knows that all our climatic resources are such that did we have cholera in America, Colorado and Denver would be the last place it would visit. At least from past epidemics (and we in writing thus have in mind that sporadic cholera did visit the Rocky Mountains 2,000 feet higher than Denver) we think that one is warranted in such a conclusion, together with the belief that sanitary work at an elevation of 5,200 feet, with a dry air, and pure water, is of little avail in stopping the onward march of a disease essentially epidemic in its character.

SMALL POX AND OUR HEALTH BOARD.

Denver medical men have been for several weeks much interested in small pox and in its relations to our local health laws. A case arose recently in which it was claimed by the health authorities that there was a violation by the attending physician of our health laws, he neglecting to report an existing case of small pox in accordance to local statutory enactments. The physician was brought before the police magistrate and made his defense by claiming an inability to diagnose, to a certainty, small pox in this case, before the stage of pustulation. Many physicians were cited to appear, and as usual many opinions were given, both in support of, and against the opinion of the defense.

We think, to say the least, that there should have been no conflicting testimony. It seems clear to our mind that most of our best authorities on this disease, are very emphatic in saying that after the eruption has appeared there is no difficulty in making a diagnosis of small pox. Much has been printed by the daily press, and wide notoriety given to the outside public of the existence of small pox in Denver. We believe that if the facts were known it would be proven that Denver is more free from this disease than most cities, and that our health authorities have made a mistake in calling public attention to the supposed negligence of the physician in this case, not that we wish to be understood as defending our fellow physician, or of judging in this case whether he ought or ought not to have told small pox. We think that in all such cases the laws should be such that justice and punishment could and would be rendered, unto the law breaking physician, without the necessity of a whole city knowing what only the health authorities should know. It is just such cases as this that we believe we might with advantage return to the old ways of secret justice. Then, and only then, would a community, a city, and a state, be freed from this everlasting cry

of fear, that ignorant but worthy citizens raise when they hear of the existence of even an isolated case of contagious disease. We do not blame our health board for obeying the laws that are, and for teaching the physicians of Denver that they, too, must obey law.

Nevertheless, we feel that its a very poor law indeed that, in order to satisfy the demands of justice, our health authorities must give far and wide publicity of a case of contagious disease. This is wrong, and we hope that in view of the past fright—yes, panic in some quarters-we may soon find a better way not only of bringing about justice, but at the same time properly protecting our good people from liability to contagion.

STATE MEDICAL SOCIETY.

The Colorado State Medical Society held its annual session in Denver on June 16th, 17th and 18th, President Hawes, of Greeley, in the chair. Owing to want of time before going to press with this number of THE TIMES, we cannot report the proceedings in full as intended. As a representative body of the medical men of Colorado we believe that the past meeting was most successful and would compare favorably with any other State. Indeed, an observer could say nothing but in commendation of their personal appearance. This alone, however, is not what constitutes an efficient and useful medical gathering. Original investigation, work, discussion, personal interest, and not banquets and the election of officers, should be the thought and deed to govern and stimulate our activities to a higher and nobler professional manhood. We agree most heartily with the President who says in his address, that the Society should be divided into sections, the work epitomized and made more comprehensive.

There were numerous papers read, the major portion of which were mere re-hashes of the work of men that are foreign to Colorado. This is all wrong. Why is it that Colorado physicians cannot of themselves contribute to the world's literature, the results of personal experience and investigation? We are certain that every member of our Society could, if they would. Certainly the attendance would be larger and and the interest greater, if this were done. A few of the papers, we are glad to say, contained much new and useful information to the profession at large. THE TIMES will from time to time publish them if possible.

Judicious and wholesome criticism is at all times salutary to a medical society as well as the individual, therefore we venture the comment and suggestion that the incoming president, Dr. J. C. Davis, will take

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