Issued Tenth and Twenty-fifth of Every Month by the Fortnightly Press Co. UNDER THE EDITORIAL DIRECTION OF FRANK PARSONS NORBURY, M. D. AND THOS. A. HOPKINS, M. D. Secretary: CHARLES WOOD FASSETT, M. D. A COSMOPOLITAN BIWEEKLY FOR THE GENERAL PRACTITIONER Editorial Offices in St. Louis, Jacksonville and, St. Joseph, where specimen copies may be obtained and subscriptions will be taken. Address all business communications to the Fortnightly Press Company. Address all contributions and books for review to the Editors, Suite 312, Century Building, Saint Louis. Volume XXII DECEMBER TWENTY-FIFTH Editorial Department. The Illinois Conference of Charities. Number 12 The seventh annual conference of this body was held in Peoria. The body itself is perhaps the most influential organization in the state dealing with public interests relating to custodial, penal, correctional and benevolent work in the State. Any citizen of the state can become a member and take part in the proceedings and help to shape the action of the conference. Every organization interested in benevolent and educational work or any matter pertaining to the'welfare of children is entitled to representation. Judges, county commissioners or supervisors, superintendents of county alms houses and members of women's clubs are especially invited to attend these meetings. While a program is prepared in advance bearing upon important reforms, the platform is free, and the fullest expression of opinion is desired. Some of the best laws of the state relating to the welfare of children have been placed upon the statue book through the efforts of this body. No recommendations are embodied in the resolutions adopted by the conference which do not command practically unanimous support, and this gives weight to the recommendations which find their way into the report of the committee on resolutions. Attention is invited to the resolutions adopted by the Peoria conference which will undoubtedly have a potent influence in shaping important legislation in the next general assembly of the state. Seventh Annual Illinois Conference of Charities, REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON RESOLUTIONS. Your Committee on Resolutions beg leave to submit the following: I. Resolved, That the thanks of this Conference of Charities are hereby extended to Mr. Joseph P. Byers, General Secretary of the National Conference of Charities, for his address upon "Some Social Burdens: What they are and how we may lighten them;" also to Dr. William P. Spratling, Superintendent of the Craig Colony for Epileptics, for his illustrated address upon "How to build, organize, and conduct a colony for epileptics." 2. Resolved, That this Conference most earnestly reaffirms the unanimous action of the Conference held at Lincoln last year, which was as follows: "Resolved, That reaffirming the position of this Conference of a year ago, we favor the elimination of partisan political influence from the administration of the state institutions of Illinois, in order that the state may retain the services of faithful and efficient officers and that we will cooperate with all public agencies in having placed upon our statue books a merit law which will bring about such a result." Be it further resolved, In the belief that hasty or ill considered legislation is to be deprecated, this conference heartily commends the recent action of Governor Yates in appointing a non-partisan commission to investigate this subject, and to report upon the same in season to aid the next legislature in framing a statue to accomplish the ends indicated above. 3. Resolved, That the action of the State Board of Charities in appointing non-partisan auxiliary boards in every county to inspect poor houses, jails and lock-ups of every description, and to report upon the condition of the same, meets with our approval, and we recommend that the State Board of Charities give wide circulation to the reports of these auxiliary boards for the information of the public. Be it further resolved, that the recent declaration of Judge Humphrey of the United States Circuit Court calling attention to the jail system in this state justifies a thorough investigation of all jails, prisons, work-houses and lock-ups for the detention, confinement or punishment of prisoners. All judges and grand juries are hereby urged to make a thorough personal examination of all places in which prisoners are confined within their jurisdiction and to forward copies of their reports upon the same to the secretary of the State Board of Charities, which Board is requested to secure, compile and publish accurate information covering the entire subject of the sanitary condition of all places in which prisoners are confined in the state of Illinois, the provisions therein to secure the repression of immorality and vice among prisoners in confinement, and the practical workings of the jail system and its effect upon the life, health and morals of prisoners. We request that the committee upon legislation give special attention to such remedial legislation affecting the entire jail system of the state as the facts developed by these enquiries may demand, bearing in mind that mandatory provisions should be made for labor, exercise and fresh air for the benefit of every prisoner. 4. Resolved, That a legislative committee be appointed by this conference, which committee is hereby empowered to act in behalf of the conference in all matters relating to correctional, charitable and educational legislation during the coming winter. This committee shall consist of Mr. T. D. Hurley, President of this Conference, Chairman, Hon. Harvey B. Hurd, Hon. T. C. McMillan, Hon. Jolfn T. McGoorty, Hon. Ephraim Banning, Hon. Henry T. Rainey, Judge O. N. Carter, Judge O. P. Thompson, Judge R. S. Tuthill, Hon. George W. Curtiss, Hon. J. Sanger Brown, and Col. Henry Davis, with power to fill vacancies and to add to its membership. 5. Resolved, That the State Conference of Charities recommend to the next legislature of this state the passage of a law making it a penal offence for any man without good cause to willfully desert, neglect or refuse to support his child, or children under fourteen years of age, the present laws being inadequate and the evil of wife and child desertion being reported as adding to the burdens of society. 6. Resolved, That this conference approves of the colony system for the care of epileptics, and we further urge action in furtherance of the establishment and maintenance of a state colony for this purpose by the next general assembly. 7. Resolved, That in recommending reforms in administration and by legislation this conference does not wish to be considered as censuring faithful servants of the public who are directly responsible for the welfare of the wards of the state, but we recognize the fact that this is a progressive age and it is the earnest wish of this conference that the state of Illinois should be abreast with the most progressive states of the Union in maintaining the highest possible standards of efficiency in all correctional, charitable and educational work for which the commonwealth is held responsible by the public. 8. Resolved, That the hearty thanks of this conference are due and are hereby extended to the local executive committee of the city of Peoria, to the Woman's Club, and to Mr. Walter L. Cosper, Secretary of the Associated Charities of Peoria for the perfect arrangements made for the sessions of the conference, and for courtesies innumerable extended to its members. Our thanks are due also to the Peoria & Pekin Terminal for transportation to and from Bartonville, to Dr. W. E. Taylor, acting superintendent of the Hospital for the Insane at Bartonville and to his assistants, and to the officers and committees of the educational and benevolent organizations of Peoria for hospitalities and courtesies extended to the conference. Respectfully submitted, J. C. GORDON, Chairman, This report was adopted by a unanimous vote. Committee. THE CHOLERA SITUATION IN EGYPT.--For some months past the press of the country has contained grave reports of the widespread prevalence of cholera in Egypt. Both the lay and medical press have severely commented on sanitary conditions in that country. A circular from the Medical Congress of Egypt, which is just received, contains an authoritative statement of the cholera situation, which places the subject in an entirely new light. It states that on the day of the report, November 8th, there had been absolutely no cholera in Cairo for fifteen days, and only 17 cases in all the rest of Egypt with its 10,000,000 population. It is so under control that it in no way menaces the social or commercial affairs of the country. STREET CAR FATALITIES.-Nineteen hundred and one was the banner year for mortality from street car accidents in this city, but in this, as in many other things, the record has already been passed this year. Our street railroads need regulation, and that badly. THE FORTNIGHTLY MAKES A MOVE.-Need of additional room, and more convenient quarters, has prompted us to remove our editorial and business offices to the suite directly opposite that which we have occupied for four years past. Please correct your address list, and when you wish to find us look for suites 318, 319 and 320 Century building. TRIP TO THE INTERNATIONAL MEDICAL CONGRESS.-It is reported that many physicians will attend the International Medical Congress at Madrid, April, 1903. Arrangements have been made for a party of physicians from the United States. The trip from New York and return will require about one month. Physicians and members of their families who join this party will be entitled to the special rate of $265 for the round trip, including first-class passage on the steamer and railway, hotel accommodations for fourteen days in Spain, including room, meals, all handling of baggage, special interpreter and fees. The trip will be via Gibraltar and Cordova to Madrid. There will be side trips to interesting parts of Spain at extra cost, and also returns by other routes for those who desire. Party sails from New York City April 11, on the new twin-screw steamer, "Princess Irene," North German Lloyd line. Physicians may secure information and itinerary from Dr. Chas. Wood Fassett, St. Joseph, Mo., or Dr. Ramon Guiteras, 75 W. 55th St., New York City. THE "CIRCULAR" METHOD OF REACHING THE DOCTOR.--The "circular" plan of reaching the practicing physician is rightly named, for it certainly is a roundabout and unreliable method of reaching the busy doctor. Chas. Hopkins Clark, of Hartford, said in an address recently, that "if advertisers could visit ten thousand homes and see the yawning waste baskets which were doing duty in disposing of their expensive advertising matter, they would agree that it was 'love's labor lost;' or if they would call upon the people to explain the merits of their wares, they would find in many offices the sign "This is our busy day." This is more than true regarding the busy doctor. Thousands of circulars are consigned to the waste basket by the office girl, under order of the physician, without being opened, and in many offices in the city of St. Louis this sign will be found in the reception room: "Solicitors and book-agents will be charged regular consultation fees." How then is the enterprising manufacturer to reach the eye and ear of the doctor? Through the legitimate channel, the medical journal. Continuous, persistent, yet ethical announcements in the medical press, are sure to reach the eye of the doctor, and will penetrate into the privacy of his office, be he located in the great commercial centers, or at the crossroads beyond the reach of the railways. Every week or every month the announcement is carried to him in a way which he cannot escape and if he is a progressive doctor, he will take advantage of every improvement and invention which will enable him to cure his patients, and to establish a reputation for himself.-Med. Herald. The Reviewer's Table. Books, Reprints, and Instruments for this department, should be sent to the Editors, St. Louis. REGIONAL MINOR SURGERY.-By George Gray Van Schaick, M. D., Attending Surgeon French Hospital, N. Y., etc., etc. Bound in cloth. Heavy book paper, 226 pages. Profusely illustrated. New York: International Journal of Surgery Co. (Price $1.50.) This work occupies a unique position. Although devoted to minor surgical technics, the same amount of care has been bestowed upon the treatment of each individual condition that is in text-books accorded only to subjects of major surgery. The aim throughout has been to provide the general practitioner with a book that will afford him such practical information as he can utilize in his routine surgical work. No space has been taken up by theoretical discussions, each subject being treated in a clear and concise manner, yet omitting no detail of the least importance. While in many surgical affections a number of methods are applicable. the writer has selected only those which in an extensive experience of nearly twenty years in hospital and private practice have proved most satisfactory. The book is profusely illustrated with original sketches. A MANUAL OF DISSECTION AND PRACTICAL ANATOMY FOUNDED ON GRAY AND GERRISH. By William T. Eckley, M.D., Professor of Anatomy, and Corinne B. Eckley, Demonstrator of Anatomy in the Medical and Dental Departments of the University of Illinois. In one octavo volume of 400 pages, illustrated with 220 engravings, 116 of which are colored. Philadelphia and New York: Lea Brothers & Co., Publishers. (Cloth $3.50, net.) The present work has a two-fold purpose; first, to provide the student with a detailed guide for dissection, and second, to meet the requirements of the physician or surgeon who may desire to review the anatomy of any region. The directions for dissecting and for identifying the various structures of the body have been given in careful detail with particular care as to sequence, so that each item of instruction appears in its natural and most useful relationship. The arrangement of the volume is rational; first, the landmarks are given, then the integumentary incisions, and lastly, the descriptions and relations of succeeding anatomical entities. To increase its usefulness the volume has been developed along the lines of regional anatomy, and it is believed that the careful and complete treatment of the various areas will adapt it to the needs of the surgeon and the postmortem pathologist. Much care and attention has been bestowed upon the tables because of the advantage this method offers for the presentation of anatomical knowledge systemically and clearly. The illustrations call for particular comment, colors have been freely used, and the engravings are so large that in most instances the names of the parts have been printed directely upon them, thus furnishing the utmost aid as well as maximum convenience to the student. |