the ground so fully it was not discussed, but heartily commended by quite a number of those present. Dr. R. Stonestreet read a paper on "Infant Feeding," which was discussed by Drs. Moody, Reagor, Howlett and Cowan, all giving preference to cow's milk where the mother could not nurse the child. Its proper dilution, and giving the baby water to drink, were commended. The last paper was read by Dr. Barton Stone, on "The Mental Aspects of Neurasthenia," which was a most excellent one, and was commended by those taking part in the discussion-Drs. G. P. Edwards and S. S. Crockett. The programme having been completed, Franklin was selected as the next place of meeting, and the following officers were elected: President, Dr. S. T. Hardison, of Lewisburg; Vice-President, Dr. M. C. McGannon, of Nashville; Secretary and Treasurer, Dr. Paul Clements, of Nashville, all being unanimous, and at 3:10 P. M. the Association adjourned. Attractive features of the meeting were the display of Messrs. Demoville & Co., including antitoxin syringes, autosprays, and an abundant supply of the greatest of all beverages, "White Rock Ozonate Lithia Water," which was served in unlimited quantities to all present; the surgical instrument display of Theo. Tafel; medical books by Hunter & Welburn; bandages and surgical dressings by J. Ellwood Lee; and pharmaceutical preparations by Fredk. Stearns & Co. THE QUARANTINE CONVENTION AT MEMPHIS. The outcome of this meeting was not quite as satisfactory by any means as we hoped for. Possibly our people will learn by experience, which, though of all schools the best, yet is a very costly one, and in which the progress in this special line seems distressingly slow indeed. However, everything comes to him who waits, and if the time is not yet ripe for decisive and effective action, we patiently bide our time and hope that it will be in the near future. The attendance on the meeting was reasonably large, and embodied quite a number of representative men. The outcome of the meeting, so far as we learn, was a resolution, that was passed to some extent by parliamentary tactics of a somewhat sharp order, in which the Caffery bill was recommended, coupled with some provisos and attachments. The suggestion of a new Bureau of the Treasury Department may have been intended to overcome the objections of those who are opposed to a national quarantine outright, and, as the Daily American of this city, Nov. 21st, says, "" to seemingly flank the idea that the Government would have the absolute quarantine power and the exercise of that power when quarantines are required." The editorial from which the rectly continues as follows: bove quotation was made very cor "If the advisory council suggested by the resolutions will have the power to veto the plans decided upon by the Bureau of Public Health, which the resolutions provide shall have the administration of all public health functions, clashes innumerable will follow in attempting to enforce quarantines, and the two-headed department will fail of its mission. Quarantines and quarantine laws are obliged to be autocratic and enforced more or less autocratically to be effective. This fact has caused 'shot gun ', quarantines all over the South when yellow fever appears, and the strict enforcement of such quarantines. Different policies adopted in quarantining in different States, and often a difference in method practiced by the Federal Government's quarantine officials and those of the States, have helped to produce 'iron-clad' and 'shot gun' quarantines where they were not needed. "An effective quarantine requires a comprehensive quarantine law, a respontible head to a department having entire control of the execution of the quarantine law, and no interruption to the workings of the department by local committees, or the representatives of local interests. "Too many advisers will be likely to produce discord, especially if they represent localities, and the enforcement of a general law by the proposed Bureau of Public Health would scarcely come up to expectations if the head of that bureau had first to conciliate an advisory council before acting as his sense of duty may dictate. "It is scarcely possible that the team so constituted would pull well together. "Quarantine being an autocratic rule for the public's good, whether enforced by the General Government, the State, communities or individuals, the proper exercise of this power should rest with the General Government, because it could thus be more effectively, expeditiously enforced, producing better and more lasting results than if its enforcement is left to a partnership between the General Government and the States. "In declaring for a quasi-national quarantine, though we fear the convention made a mistake in attempting to set up a compromise, the convention did take a long step forward, for its action shows that the delegates recognize that the present modes of attempting to enforce quarantines are slip-shod, non-scientific, without system, and force States and communities to the adoption of methods which to business and business interests are almost as destructive as the presence of the disease attempted to be kept out. "When the Executive Committee appointed and Congressmen confer, it may be that something more definite and of real advantage may re[sult. As it is, the convention only decided to make some suggestions to Congress, although the intent of these suggestions can be taken to be in favor of a limited national quarantine." As we argued in regard to the National Board of Health, its organization necessitated a divided responsibility, and it was necessarily a failure. We in the South, especially, must get rid of that terrible bug-a boo, infringement of State's rights. Granted that State's rights as well as individual rights are an important feature of our constitutional inheritance, and should be demanded and maintained upon all appropriate occasions and conditions, yet at once they are swept aside with a marked unanimity of accord on the part of each and every one in the event of foreign invasion or domestic insurrection. Where are these rights when on such occasions martial law is declared in any part or parcel of our domain? Temporarily they are laid aside until the dauger is past. There is but one way practical for a quarantine to be effective, and that is to put it under control of the Federal Government, and hold that government responsible for the results. A divided responsibility will accomplish nothing. The inefficient and disconnected local and State quarantines cannot be made effective. There are too many conflicting local interests, that should be made subordinate to the welfare of the masses of our people. The matter is one that in its very nature requires central control by a strong hand. Exaggerated and archaic ideas of State sovereignty should not be allowed to stand in the way of practical measures which alone can accomplish satisfactory results for the need of which this country, and especially its southern portion, has so often and so sorely suffered in the past. In conclusion, we reiterate our endorsement of the Spooner bill, which has been brought before our national lawmakers after earnest recommendation at the hands of the two national organizations having more cognizance, and having given the entire subject closer discriminating study and investigation-the American Medical Association and the American Public Health Association. Possibly nothing can be done with our present Congress-the many other matters of both national and international import will occupy to the full the short time left it. But the next Congress, whether it meets in March or December, 1899, should have this matter brought before it in such a way that it will not only demand but command the earnest attention and thorough consideration that it deserves. THE SOUTHERN SURGICAL AND GYNECOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION. The eleventh annual meeting of the Association which was announced to be held in Memphis, Tenn., Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, November 8th, 9th, and 10th, has been postponed till Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, December, 6th, 7th and 8th, 1898, on account of the quarantine regulations in some parts of the South. The Gayoso House has been selected as headquarters for the Association. The following is a partial list of the papers to be read: 1. President's Address, Richard Douglas, M.D., Nashville, Tenn. 2. Gunshot wounds, W. E. Parker, M. D., New Orleans, La. 3. Electro therapeutics in medicine and surgery, Jas. McF. Gaston, Atlanta, Ga. 4. The normal position of the uterus defined, A. H. Buckmaster, M.D., Charlottesville, Va. 5 Abdominal opening for intra-peritoneal surgical work, Jos. Price, M.D., Philadelphia, Pa. 6. The choice of material for ligatures and sutures in gynecological surgery, L. S. McMurtry, M.D., Louisville, Ky. 7. Repair in cases of complete tear of the perineum, Howand A. Kelly, M.D., Baltimore, Md. 8. Conservative treatment of the diseased ovary, Jos. Taber Johnson, M.D., Washington, D. C. 9. Thoracotomy for tumors involving the ribs, F. W. Parham, M.D., New Orleans, La, 10. The use and abuse of normal salt solution, J. W. Bovee, M.D., Washington, D. C. 11. A report of fifty prostatectomies, with remarks on the treatment of prostatic overgrowth in the aged Jno. P. Bryson, M.D., St. Louis, Mo. 12. Remarks on the surgery of the gall-bladder and bileducts, A. V. L. Brokaw, M.D., St. Louis, Mo. 13 Past and present surgery of the gall-bladder and bileducts, Wm H. Myers, M. D., Fort Wayne, Ind. 14. The pelvic floor, its functions, injuries and repair, M. C. McGannon, M.D., Nashville, Tenn. 15. When should we operate for appendicitis? A. M. Cartledge, M.D., Louisville, Ky. 16. Ureteral anastomosis, Geo. H. Noble, M.D., Atlanta, Georgia. 17. Ovarian cysts as a complication of pregnancy and labor, J. W. Long, M.D., Salisbury, N. C. 18. Incised wounds of the larynx, Edwin Walker, M.D., Evansville, Ind. 19 Tubal pregnancy; primary rupture into the broadligament and secondary into peritoneum, laparotomy, convalescence complicated by septic diarrhoea and metastatic abscess of the liver, R. Matas, M.D., New Orleans, La. 20. Removal of partially descended, infected, strangulated testicle, complicated by hernia, R. R. Cline, M. D., Atlanta, Ga. 21. The diagnosis of tubercular peritonitis and indications for surgical treatment, W. L. Robinson, M.D., Danville, Va. 22. Foreign bodies in the oesophagus with report of cases, A. Vander Veer, M.D., Abany, N. Y. 23 Penetrating wounds of the abdomen, Floyd W. McRae, M.D., Atlanta, Ga. 24 The management of pregnancy complicating intra-abdominal tumors, with cases, Rufus B. Hall, M.D., Cincinnati, O. 25. The rarity of ovarian tumors in negresses, I. S. Stone, M.D., Washington, D. C. 26. Tumors of the breast, W. F. Westmoreland, M.D., Atlanta, Ga. 27 Penetrating wounds of the chest, J. B. Murfree, Murfreesbro, Tenn. 28. Surgery of the pelvic organs without speculums or retractors, W. H. Wathen, M.D., Louisville, Ky. 29. Report of a case of splenectomy for wandering hypertrophied spleen. Wyatt Heflin, M.D., Birmingham, Ala. 30 Coeliotomy in the treatment of retroverted pregnant uterus when incarcerated, Henry D. Fry, M.D., Washington, D. C. 31 Odds and ends in pelvic surgery, Walter B. Dorsett. M.D. St. Louis, Mo. 32 Treatment of pelvic inflammation, Jas. A. Goggans. Alexander City, Ala. 33. Mechanical aids in intestinal surgery, J. D. S. Davis, M.D., Birmingham, Ala. 34. The history of myomectomy, Chas. P. Noble, M.D., Philadelphia, Pa. 35. Observations upon cranial operations with report of cases, Wm. Perrin Nicholson, M. D., Atlanta Ga. 36. Plastic surgery in gynecology, W. D. Haggard, Jr., M.D., Nashville, Tenn. 37. Ventro-fixation for retro-displacements of the uterus, R. J. Trippe, M.D., Chattanooga, Tenn. 38. Removal of five gallon ovarian cyst from girl seventeen years old, R. R. Kline, M.D., Atlanta, Ga. 39. Transpleural hepatotomy by resection of the rib and free incision; recovery, R. Matas, M.D., New Orleans, La. 40 Subject to be announced W. S. Elkin, M.D., Atlanta, Georgia. 41. Surgery of the stomach, W. E. B. Davis, M.D., Birmingham, Ala. Members of the medical profession are cordially invited to attend. Dr. R. B. Maury, of Memphis, is chairman of the committee of arrangements. W. E. B. DAVIS, M.D., RICHARD DOUGLAS, M.D., Secretary, |