"This is a case in which the most important question before the Hawaiian nation is being tried on its merits. The community have from time to time become alarmed on the question of leprosy, and then the rush of business and other interests have driven it aside, and society with its pleasures and its cares has allowed itself to go to sleep in the face of the greatest danger that has ever threatened it. It is well that society should be awakened from this sleep, and I believe that this case of libel you have been so long considering, in which Dr. Fitch is the prosecuting witness and Mr. Thrum the defendant, will accomplish this.

"Leprosy is the worst known disease of the present and historic times. It has successfully defied medical skill. Physicians have not been able to say whence it comes or to explain its laws. It has always and everywhere been found to be incurable. It attacks all races and all classes; no rank in life is safe, adults and children are alike exposed to its ravages. Medical skill can make no limit, no assurance can be given from the lessons of experience against this most terrible, most loathsome, and most hopeless of all human diseases. But Dr. Fitch has come, like a new Columbus breaking an egg, to tell the people of this nation that leprosy is identical with syphilis, a disease which is remarkably amenable to medical treatment, and is undoubtedly curable. It is for discussing this theory of Dr. Fitch and criticising his statements and methods in applying it, that the defendant is charged with the crime of libel. The subject is one of vast interest to the whole community. Nearly all of the physicians of this country have been studying the disease of leprosy for years; they have not hesitated to expose themselves to its contagion, have patiently investigated its nature, trying to discover some clew that might lead them to some method of treatment which would conquer a disease which has hitherto been found unconquerable. All the physicians here agree, with one exception, and that one exception is Dr. Fitch, that leprosy is altogether distinct from syphilis. All the great medical authorities over the world, without exception, support this view. Upon this question depends the moral, social, and commercial future of the Hawaiian Islands. . . .

"Now the existing management of this matter of leprosy is more important to this commuity than any other question. It goes to the pocket of every taxpayer. It is a menace to property, to society, to health and life. It is the great public question, and Dr. Fitch is its principal exponent. The legislature and the government have given him great powers. He is the chief executive officer in the treatment of leprosy. He is an agent of the Board of Health, with the law and the police at his back. He has more power for good or ill than any other officer in the kingdom; and though his rank may be lower and his salary less than that of other officers, he holds to-day the most important office under the Hawaiian government, for on the proper exercise of the authority of his office depends the health, the wealth, and the future of the realm; and if he may not be held to a strict accountability, if his methods and professional conduct be not fair subjects of newspaper inquiry and condemnation, then there is no such thing as freedom of the press and free speech in the kingdom. We all know something about leprosy. . . . Life to the leper is worthless, and worse than worthless. He is loathsome to others, and most loathsome of all to himself. In the Middle Ages leprosy extensively prevailed, and segregation and nothing else has driven it into the corners of Europe. How is it here? I tell you, gentlemen, the government is playing with this disease. When you see the king and the Board of Health, all laymen, going on a kind of picnic party to the Kakaako Hospital, taking with them one only one physician out of the three medical inspectors of lepers, examining the patients, having them stripped, and, upon the advice of that one physician with his unsupported theories, turning nine of them loose upon the community, and then writing the affair up in a newspaper, I say it is worse than child's play. And they dare to do this when every medical man in the kingdom, except one, says that such action is dangerous to the public at large, and that one is Dr. Fitch, the prosecuting witness in this case. . . . We

have had medical testimony that leprosy is seen daily on our streets, is found in public places of resort, and among government employees. It is the clearly defined duty of Dr. Fitch to carry out the law of segregation. How has he done it? We find him with his two theories, that leprosy and syphilis are identical, and that leprosy in certain stages is not contagious, or is not contagious at all, as he says in his printed statements. If he confined his theories to private practice we might have less ground for noticing them. But to experiment with his theories medical testimony and public opinion, is an outrage. He adat the risk of the whole community, and in defiance alike of mits that Mr. Sumner was discharged upon his recommendation. It was said that Sumner was to be isolated at a private house at Fisherman's Point. But he was not isolated at that place. He remained there a few days, and removed to a house in the heart of the city, near the Hawaiian Hotel; has been to Waikiki; is free, in fact, to go where he likes, and to associate with whom he likes. And there is the unfortunate young lady who, I believe, is a fine school teacher, who has been treated by Fitch for leprosy for more than a year. She has been allowed to carry on a large school of little children for all this time, children who have not the knowledge and discretion of adults in regard to this disease. Is not this almost like murder?" In his charge to the jury the judge said that—

"The importance of the office held by the prosecuting witness could not be overestimated. If, by any means, these islands should become a plague spot, the effect would be more important upon the future of the nation than the withdrawal of the reciprocity treaty. If the medical man in charge of all those supposed to be afflicted with leprosy should assert and believe that leprosy is not contagious, and succeed in producing a general acquiescence in this belief, the public fears would be lulled, and persons be less likely to be careful in keeping themduct might entail is untold. And the Saturday Press could not selves from contagion. The injury which such a course of consustain its character as a leader, or as an exponent of public opinion, or a guardian of the welfare of the country, if it did is in fact contagious. So, also, if the medical superintendent not expose the falsity of such an opinion, that is, if leprosy and the agent of the health, who has by law almost unlimited powers, shall by his published reports to the legislature, or by his other printed articles or spoken words, induce a general belief that leprosy and syphilis are identical, the result would be that those who are living pure and moral lives would become careless as to the exposure of themselves or their children by mere contact with lepers, believing sexual intercourse, by which syphilis is commonly taken, to be the only way in which they could take leprosy, and keeping themselves free from that. So, if Dr. Fitch should persuade people generally that leprosy is curable, people would become indifferent, and say: I have the means of employing a physician; it matters not if I take leprosy. I can be cured. It has been often stated that among people where leprosy is less feared it spreads with greater rapidity than where it is more feared. Now, you have heard the testimony of all the other physicians, except Dr. Fitch, and quoting from medical authorities all over the world, that leprosy is not identical with syphilis, that it is incurable, and that it is in a certain sense contagious; and if they have proved this to your satisfaction the defendant was justified in what he said of Dr. Fitch. Dr. Fitch has said that he believes in a policy of segregation of lepers. If he allows lepers to be discharged who, by the weight of testimony, are not cured, would this be adhering to a policy of segregation?"

The jury brought in a verdict of not guilty.

MEDICAL NOTES.

The remains of the late Dr. Samuel D. Gross were cremated at Washington, Pa. They were brought back to Philadelphia under the escort of the family and friends of the distinguished physician. The ashes weighed about seven pounds, were hermetically sealed in a tin box, and placed in the coffin in which the body was carried to Washington. On reaching Philadelphia the coffin was removed to the late residence of Dr. Gross, and subsequently the ashes were in

closed in a marble urn about three feet high, unornamented and without inscription, and placed beside the coffin of Dr. Gross's late wife in the family vault at Woodland cemetery. Rev. Dr. Charles Currie read the Episcopal burial service at the cemetery.

Mr. Knowsley Thornton recently removed a cystic spleen by abdominal section (median incision) at the Samaritan Hospital, London. The patient was a single girl, aged nineteen, and the tumor had been growing slowly for two years. Latterly it had increased much more rapidly, and caused much pain. The reports up to the end of the first week show that the patient was progressing quite satisfactorily. During the tying of the pedicle the patient suffered severely from shock, and for some minutes her life was in great danger; but she revived immediately, the tumor was cut away, and the drag taken off the pedicle. The specimen will be shown, and the further progress of the case reported, at the Pathological Society.

- In the recent pedestrian match in New York the strain on the bodies of the leading contestants after the first three days of the walk is described as being intense. Even allowing for possible inaccuracies in the description of the newspaper reporters, one is led to believe, in view of the record of the work done, that the picture drawn is not greatly exaggerated. Speaking of the man who won the race, one of the Brooklyn papers says: "His eyes were sluggish, bloodshot, and heavy, and encompassed by huge purple circles. His cheeks had so sunk in that the contour of the teeth could almost have been seen through them, and every movement was an illustration of acute agony. He swung his arms painfully, his head dropped on his chest, his shoulder blades stuck out sharply from his attenuated body, his legs dragged lamely one after the other, and the muscles of his neck twitched nervously with every step. He dragged himself steadfastly ahead, never turning his eyes to the right or left, until he came to the scorer's stand, when he painfully and laboriously turned his face toward the figures to see that they were correctly given." The change in the Englishman who held the second place is described as even more pronounced and pitiable.

— The medical world is represented in the little volume entitled English as She is Spoke, by the following new rendering of an old story, which, though it may leave something to be desired in elegance of diction, is yet admirable in its philosophy: "A physician eighty years of age had enjoyed of a health unalterable. Theirs friends did him of its compliments every day: Mister Doctor, say they to him, you are an admirable man. What you make then for you to bear you as well? I shall tell you it, gentlemen, he was answered them, and I exhort you in same time at to follow my example. I live of the product of my ordering without take any remedy who I command to my sicks."

tained to be the head of the tibia somewhat altered. Mr. John Wood, discussing the case, said that about twenty years ago a man who went by the name of the man-monkey was well known in London; the femora were absent, but he was exceedingly agile, and this, combined with the fact that his hands reached to the ground, had earned him his sobriquet. He thought that one moral might be drawn from such cases, and that was how exceedingly useful one section of a limb might be; it was, he thought, an argument in favor of the operation of excision.

-The following remarkable cases of longevity in husband and wife, at Cleveland, Yorkshire, England, are given by a correspondent of the Lancet. James Miller died lately of senile decay. He was ninetyfive years old, and was in good health until a few days before his death. He smoked to the last. He wanted his bed removed just before he died, and his wife, Mrs. Miller, who had "an advantage," as will be seen, in point of seniority, and would at the same time appear to have had considerable "force" of character, although she was ill at the same time, remarked, "Ay, he was always first and foremost all his life in everything, and now he wants to be so in death." Mrs. Miller did not long survive her husband, but died on March 17th last of senile decay. She was returned as one hundred and four years of age, and her doctor thinks she might have been living yet had she not refused taking medicine. She had no movement of the bowels for three weeks before her death, and refused the doctor's help. A short time before her husband was taken ill Mrs. Miller wanted him to go to Hinderwell, a good stiff walk. He said he was not able to go; Mrs. Miller replied, "It was nothing but idleness of him." Mrs. Miller, like her husband, was a lover of the "weed," and enjoyed a smoke up to time of her death.

NEW YORK.

- Dr. A. Randolph Mott, resident physician at the Riverside Hospital, Blackwell's Island, died May 6th, of typhus contracted two weeks previously in the discharge of his duties at that institution. He was twenty-six years old, and was born at Leesburg, Va., where his father is a prominent physician. In 1878 he was graduated from the University of Virginia and came to New York, where he obtained an appointment to the medical service of the workhouse on Blackwell's Island. From there he went to the Randall's Island Infant Hospital and Hart's Island Hospital, also under charge of the Department of Charities and Correction, and in 1881 was appointed to the Riverside Hospital, where he remained up to the time of his death; at the same time holding a position in connection with the chair of gynecology at the New York Polyclinic. The Board of Health has passed suitable resolutions in reference to his untimely decease and the loss of his efficient services.

of one hundred and one years. He was born in Ireland in May, 1783, and fought under Bolivar for the

independence of Venezuela in 1818. His father is said to have lived to be one hundred and one, his grandfather to be one hundred and two, and his grandmother

to be one hundred and ten.

Correspondence.

LETTER FROM WASHINGTON.

WASHINGTON, May 10, 1884. MR. EDITOR, -The thirty-fifth annual session of the American Medical Association has been participated in by nearly 1300 members (registered), is now over, and the vast body dispersed. The meeting was characterized by good temper, earnestness, and an amount of material for work in the Sections which it was impossible to dispose of. The general tone and character of those in attendance was of the best type, and it was a subject of general remark that the appearance of the delegates generally was that of fairly prosperous city men, although here and there were still evidences of very primitive manners, especially at some of the receptions, at one of which two gentlemen? (God save the mark!) spent a large portion of their time in the supper room with their hats on.

The meetings were held in the Congregational Church, which is in the centre of the business portion of the city, and near to the various branches of the street railroad. The church was kept constantly filled, and the acoustics were bad, that is, for some voices. Dr. Flint in reading his address as President could be heard by but very few. The place of registration was, unfortunately, in the main hall, through which every one had to pass to get at the general session, while opposite to those engaged in this duty was a man selling tickets for an excursion to Mount Vernon who kept constantly calling out, "Secure your tickets for Mount Vernon!" About four hundred availed themselves of this opportunity on the last day of the session. The janitor of the church was also busying himself by hanging up placards of "Please do not smoke in this church," and exerting his personal influence to the same effect, which was resented as an impertinence by some, quietly ignored by others, while the good-natured strolled out to the front steps with their cigars. Among the delegates there was quite a sprinkling of women, and the galleries were fairly filled with interested spectators; disgusted, however, on one occasion when the roll-call of the 1200 was ordered and proceeded with, which being so much like many of the proceedings of Congress, they left without ceremony.

The Sectious were all well attended, and it spoke very well for the earnestness of the delegates to see this large attendance in a city which, especially at this time, presents so many attractions to the stranger. They also had the weather in their favor, for although it was warm the sky kept overcast, with fresh breezes. The Masonic Temple was set aside for the exhibit of drugs, books, and instruments. It was well filled and tastefully arranged. Men would walk in quietly and soberly to come out with their pockets bulging in the most significant manner, and with their arms filled with bundles. Here you got a cup of hot phosphatized cocoa; there a glass of Hoff's malt extract, in one corner the American preparation, and at the opposite end of the room the German imported article; in an

other place milk was digested for you after the most approved plan, and you took a glass of that. In other words, one found there a concentration of the book and drug fiends who come into your office with that little black bag, and that "hope-I-don't-intrude" air, to just leave you a little sample of their goods. Talk! Well all you could do was to stand still quietly and look hopelessly at the other end of the room until there was an end to the description, and another victim was secured. Yet the men would go there; almost all went. At the close of the exhibit Dr. D. C. Patterson, who had charge of caring for the exhibitors, was presented by them in a neat little speech with several handsome pieces of silver, and he certainly deserved it for the labor involved.

It was expected that the question of the Code might crop out at this meeting, but there was little said regarding it. The blanks signed by those registering were of the same character with those used in Cleveland last year, and if there were any protests they were not loud enough to excite comment. New York was well represented by some of her best men, L. A. Sayre, Isaac E. Taylor, J. C. Dalton, Flint, Jr., Janeway, C. L. Dana, Gouley, and a number of others, and the impression seemed to be that their new Society organizations would enable them to be independent of their erring brothers, so far as their affiliation with the Association was concerned, and that these might depart in peace. There was very little temper shown about the matter, and the idea was expressed that a large number would see the folly of their ways and come back into the fold. On the last day the committee to whom proposed changes in the Code had been referred made a verbal report, that in view of the departure of so many members it had been decided not to recommend any changes, but a committee was appointed to make such an explanatory declaration of the Code as might be deemed necessary. This was thought advisable, owing to the misrepresentations of certain provisions.

When the question regarding certain resolutions bearing upon the manner in which medical colleges were conducted, and upon medical education, was considered, for a time there bid fair to be a lively discussion, and Dr. Henry, of New York, made some forcible remarks with considerable warmth, but the discussion did not proceed very far, and was closed by the adoption of a resolution offered by Dr. Benjamin, of Maryland, urging upon all medical colleges to require a preliminary education, a three years' course, a register of attendance, and practical demonstrations of diagnostic skill.

The question upon the continuance of the journal of the Association, and the mode of conducting it, caused, as may well be imagined, considerable interest. A great deal of dissatisfaction was expressed as to its general management, which culminated in a printed circular issued by Dr. Packard, who was Secretary of the Board of Trustees, and an attempt was made to transfer the place of publication and editorial management to Washington, Philadelphia, or New York. The friends of the Journal as upon its present basis took the ground-and it would seem with reason that Dr. Packard should have brought forward his objections within the body of trustees, to be discussed there rather than to go forth as his printed circular did; that while there was a desire to meet the best interests of the Association no positive, feasible plan

had been proposed, and no assurances given of any special individuals suitable to take charge of the Journal. Dr. Davis resigned his position as editor, but his resignation was not accepted by the trustees, and he was induced to continue the management of the Journal for one year longer only, so that it is hoped that by the next meeting of the Association some definite plan for his successor will be determined upon.

The report of the Board of Trustees showed that 3800 copies had been issued, and that after the payment of all possible expenses incurred, including salaries, etc., there would remain in the treasury $500, so that the Association would begin its year from July, 1884, with the whole of the income from the present meeting as a financial basis. Dr. Packard, from the Board of Trustees, read his minority report, embodying what has already been stated, and exciting considerable discussion, during which some rather amusing scenes occurred. A rather small and excitable member upon the platform jumped up to second the call for the ayes and noes, with the remark that he had done so the day before in connection with some other point, but Dr. Sayre had sat upon him and squelched him, when a ponderous member from the other side of the platform hoped Dr. Sayre would sit down again. The ayes and noes, by a vote of 191 to 74, laid the minority report upon the table.

The report of the librarian showed that the library has grown to 6000 volumes. This report should receive more consideration than has heretofore been given to it. With the publication of the Journal, exchanges are increasing to a marked degree, and it is time that the library should be utilized in some way. It has outgrown its quarters in the Smithsonian Institution, and if some provision is not made for its proper care it might as well be done away with. The librarian, Dr. Kleinschmidt, states that he has numerous calls for books from all over the country, and as yet has lost none by sending them by express to members.

On the last day of the session a number of resoultions were offered, among which was one by Dr. Gihon, that the Association erect a statue to Rush in Washington. There was a great deal of force in his remarks, but there was no discussion of them. Some one suggested that Simms and Gross, as national representatives of medical science in this country, should be similarly honored.

Dr. Von Klein, of Ohio, offered a resolution to abolish the opening of the sessions with prayer, as the body was composed of so many infidels, free thinkers, materialists, etc., but this was instantly laid on the table. And so, with a number of important motions and resolutions, which will of course be fully reported in your pages, the American Medical Association closed its sessions to meet next year in New Orleans, with Dr. H. F. Campbell, of Georgia, as its president.

The entertainments which took place in the evening were varied and enjoyable. The hospitals generally were not thrown open, with the exception of the Government Hospital for the Insane, upon the invitation of the superintendent, Dr. W. W. Godding, and the Columbia Hospital for women, upon the invitation of Dr. P. J. Murphy, the surgeon in charge, who prepared

a lunch there for the use of the Obstetric Section each day of its meeting. Dinners and lunches at the houses of physicians were largely attended. Of the special entertainments the President's reception was the most extensive. As is the rule, there were no refreshments

offered, but the whole house, up stairs and down, with the conservatory, was thronged with people, too much thronged for comfort, some ladies being overcome with the crowd and the heat. One very bad feature was the fact that the Marine Band was stationed in the hall-way and gave blast after blast through its brass instruments right into the ears of the packed and jammed crowd of visitors. The President had quite a party of people about him, supposed to be assisting him to receive, but apparently looking on with curiosity at the crowd; to step out of the ranks and into this little party for a few moments and watch the ushers leading people by was quite amusing. The new Siamese embassy was there in full court regalia.

On the second day there was a reception by the profession of Washington in a large hall, with music and dancing, and with abundant refreshments. This was very enjoyable, but it was noticed that there was a marked lack of ladies of the families of the receiving physicians. The few who were there made themselves very agreeable.

On the third day the Corcoran Art Gallery was illuminated, and the venerable W. W. Corcoran, now eighty-four years of age, received the guests with his usual affability and cordiality.

On the fourth day the Surgeon-Generals of the United States Army and United States Navy, with their respective staffs in full uniform, received at the Army Medical Museum, and the President of the Senate and Speaker of the House of Representatives received at the Capitol. There were also receptions at the private houses of Mr. Leiter, of Chicago, who occupies Mr. Blaine's house, the Commissioner of Agriculture Dr. Loring, Mr. Hildrup, and Chief Justice Waite.

Miscellany.

IMPORTATION OF RAGS FROM EGYPT.