apolis. Col. Stevens, still living in the city, was the owner and occupant, with his family. It was builded about forty-seven years ago, and recently placed in the park by the school children of the city. We now wend our way cityward, and are deposited at West Hotel, where we separate, each to make our homeward journey, hoping to see each other at the next meeting of the association.

The officers of the National Eclectic Medical Association for 1897-8, elected at Minnetonka, June 17th, are:

President, E. J. Farnum, M.D., Chicago; 1st vice-president, David Williams, M.D., Columbus, O.; 2d vice-president, John T. McClanahan, M.D., Boonville, Mo.; 3d vice-president, W. L. Marks, M.D., Albion, Mich.; corresponding secretary, Pitts Edwin Howes, M.D., Boston, Mass.; recording secretary, W. E. Kennett, M.D., Yorkville, Ill.; treasurer, W. T. Gemmill, M.D., Forest, O.

The place of next meeting is Omaha, Neb.

E. LEE STANDLEE, M.D.

CHOREA, OR ST. VITUS' DANCE.

When we can find any particular local cause upon which this disease may depend, this cause should be removed as soon as possible. For example, if it is a male patient and the prepuce is long. and narrow, circumcision may help us to cure the case; in fact, we meet with cases of chorea that we cannot cure till we circumcise them. If it is a female patient and there is irritation about the genitals, it should be relieved. If the menses are retarded, suppressed, or irregular, they should have the proper attention. In both male and female patients worms in the alimentary canal, especially pin worms, frequently provoke attacks and prolong cases of chorea. These worms should be expelled.

If no local causes can be found, or after we remove such as we may have discovered, then we direct our attention to the neurosis -the disease itself. Cimicifuga is a good remedy in some cases, but it excites headache in so many patients that we rarely prescribe it. Fowler's solution of Arsenic is one of the best remedies we have for chorea. The doses should be small at first-one drop three times daily, well diluted with water, and taken after meals

and gradually increase to the extent of toleration, which, in many cases, will be about four or five drops; others can take ten drops three times daily for some time-two or three weeks; but then it will sicken the stomach or puff the face, when the doses should be reduced or the remedy suspended for a while. The most successful method of using Arsenic for chorea is by the hypodermic injection of Arseniate of Soda. Commence with about the one-fiftieth of a grain, and increase daily till one-fifth of a grain is used daily, or three times a week may suffice. For small children, onetwentieth of a grain may be enough. Arseniate of Soda is put up in hypodermic tablet form in various sizes. Arsenic is very safe given in this way, and its effects entirely more satisfactory. Depend upon it, in the way of medicines this is the best we have ever used. The combination of Phosphide of Zinc and Nux Vomica pills, one-tenth grain of Phosphide Zinc and one-fourth grain of extract Nux Vomica, is an excellent adjunct in the treatment of chorea; and in cases where Arsenic has to be omitted for a week or so, upon account of constitutional effects, these pills are fine. We frequently use them while we are giving our patients Arsenic, alternating the remedies, three doses each daily.

Of all the measures that we have employed for the relief of chorea, and for its radical cure, galvanism and static electricity produce the most satisfactory results with the least annoyance to us and our patients. I like to see a chorea patient from three to six times a week, and at each visit, after all local causes have been removed, I use galvanism-the positive pole to the back of the neck and along down the spine, while the negative pole rests over the stomach, just at the lower end of the sternum. From four to six cells of a galvanic battery is enough while the positive pole is on the back of the neck, but ten or twelve may be used below the cervical vertebræ. From five to fifteen minutes is long enough for one sitting. After the galvanic treatment, I place my patient upon an insulated stool and administer a static electric bath for ten or fifteen minutes. If I am using Arsenic, I will finish by giving the hypodermic injection above referred to, and my patient goes away feeling better, and always gets better. Indeed, I have not found a single case of chorea that did not yield to a treatment similar to the above outline, with proper suggestions at each interview. Sug

gestion alone is a powerful agent in the treatment of any disease, but more especially is it helpful in diseases of a nervous character. GEO. C. PITZER, M.D.

BOOK NOTICES.

Surgical Hints for the Surgeon and General Practitioner. -By Howard Lilienthal, M.D., Assistant Attending Surgeon to Mt. Sinai Hospital, New York City. New York: International Journal of Surgery Company. 1897. Price, 25 cents.

In writing this little book the author's aim has been to present a number of observations and suggestions whose value has been thoroughly tested at the bedside and in the operating-room. A review of its pages will show how much practical information he has conveyed within a small compass, and this he has been able to do by eschewing all superfluous verbiage, and by writing clearly and to the point. The material is well arranged, the typography excellent, and the little volume is of a convenient size to be carried in the pocket and perused at leisure moments.

Transactions of the National Eclectic Medical Association for 1896 and 1897, Including the Proceedings of the 26th Annual Meeting held at Portland, Oregon. Edited by W. E. Kinnett, M.D., Secretary.

This is Volume XXIV. and contains in essay some of the best efforts of Eclectic members. The various topics dilated make it an invaluable volume to peruse. Each member of the Association who has paid up his dues is entitled to a volume.

Transactions of the Ohio State Eclectic Medical Association for the year 1896, including the Proceedings of the ThirtySecond Annual Meeting held at Put-in-Bay, Aug., 1896. Together with Papers and Essays furnished by the several Sections. Edited by the Committee on Publication.

We have received a volume bound in cloth.

Transactions of the New York Academy of Medicine. Vol. XI., for 1894.

This is a large volume of over 562 pages, and contains many invaluable papers on various topics by the best writers of New York.

Transactions of the Illinois State Eclectic Medical Society. Containing Proceedings and Essays of the 28th Annual Meeting, held at Chicago, 1896.

NOTES.

The following are gathered thoughts from members at the National.

Our physicians throughout the country fail to appreciate the self-sacrifice made by those who edit our journals and devote their time to our medical colleges. They imagine these are avenues of riches, but I know they are not, and those who give their time and means to these enterprises are not paid for what they do. Professor J. U. Lloyd.

For the treatment of jaundice, those who have heard me lecture anticipate me. I have a method that proves successful. One ounce of Tincture of Lobelia and two ounces of fl. ext. Wild Cherry. Mixed and given in 20 to 30 drop doses every two hours. Dr. H. K. Whitford.

The sentiment of each of us should be less of individual interest and more of general good. A better and higher appreciation of the actual greatness of true Eclecticism. A faith in its rightness and in the fact that it will ultimately be accounted the true method of healing. Dr. Finley Ellingwood.

from his birth into disease,

It is difficult to trace the microbe and it is more difficult to chase him out.

Dr. Edwin Freeman.

In curetting the uterus I prefer the sharp curette instead of the dull one. A dull curette glides over the structures too freely and does not do the work that it should. With a sharp curette and proper care not to injure the body of the uterus the work is more satisfactorily done.

Dr. A. L. Clark.

In fœtid discharges from the uterus I curette, and instead of washings with antiseptic solutions I prefer to pack the uterus with iodoform gauze, and in twenty-four hours when the gauze is removed there will be no odor. Dr. E. L. Standlee.

I do not take kindly to the operation of curetting the uterus. I believe it is a dangerous procedure. I believe as an uterine antiseptic Echinacea is the best I have ever used. It may be applied without danger and it is an effectual remedy to destroy odors, and I believe the old-fashioned way of getting babies is the best.

Dr. J. W. Hamilton.

This is an age of conventions and combinations. All classes who have interests to advance, wrongs to correct, or theories to explain meet in convention for discussion. We must pay

more attention to the details of our organization. We must build a structure resting on the County, District and State Societies with the National as the supreme medical tribune. There must be harmony of action from the lowest to the highest. It is the only way to become effective and accomplish the object we desire. Dr. D. Maclean.

In his Address of Welcome His Excellency D. M. Clough, Governor of the State of Minnesota, to the National, said in part:

"In the early days when I came from New England to Minnesota and asked after the healthfulness of the people I was told that this country was so healthy that the citizens had to send East to get a subject to start a grave-yard; but the doctors East were so thoughtful as to send their consumptives out here that the people had no occasion to send East.

You call yourselves Eclectic and it is a good name.

*

The world

of business progresses by choosing the best, or by being eclectic. Too many, however, content with the best of their fathers' day and the fathers' achievements. That is not the best that should satisfy any true Eclectic either in medicine or business. We should choose from the best of an advanced science and an ever increasing knowledge of man's nature.

Fostering this association will benefit the race, not alone by the good you do directly to your patients, but by the influence you will exert in causing all schools of medicine to adopt the best as that best is developed by intelligent study and conservative devotion to the needs of a suffering humanity."

Messrs. Lea Brothers & Co., publishers of Philadelphia, sent us a beautifully prepared steel engraving of the late Professor S. D. Gross, the same as appears in the June issue of the American Journal of Medical Sciences.

The Announcement of the American Medical College is now in progress, and will be sent out within the next 30 days. Readers will oblige us by sending in names of educated young men who contemplate the study of medicine.