Correspondence. ALVARENGA PRIZE, 1893. [To the Editor:] The College of Physicians of Philadelphia announce that the next award of the Alvarenga prize, being the income for one year of the bequest of the late Señor Alvarenga, and amounting to about $180, will be made on July 14, 1893, provided that an essay deemed by the committee of award to be worthy of the prize shall have been offered. Essays intended for competition may be upon any subject in medicine, but cannot have been published, and must be received by the secretary of the college on or before May 1, 1893. Each essay must be sent without signature, but must be plainly marked with a motto, and be accompanied by a sealed envelope having on the outside the motto of the paper and within it the name and address of the author. It is a condition of competition that the successful essay, or a copy of it, shall remain in possession of the college; other essays will be returned upon application within three months after the award. The Alvarenga prize for 1892 has been awarded to Dr. R. H. L. Bibb, of Saltillo, Mexico, for his essay entitled “Observations on the Nature of Leprosy." CHARLES W. DULLES, Sec'y. schrift) with remarkable results. Conception of the term immunity has gained in precision very much since clinical observations have been supplemented by laboratory work. From the earlier researches of Pasteur on anthrax and chicken cholera it became evident that there may be different degrees of immunity. After Behring had discovered that an important—if not the most important factor in acquired immunity is the acquired antitoxic property of the blood, Ehrlich taught us how to measure this property and thus express the degree of immunity in terms of mathematical accuracy. Klemperer found it possible to influence the economy by his inoculation with cholera bacilli under the skin to such an extent that one-half to one cc. of the person's serum injected into a guinea pig protected the latter against a fatal dose of a cholera culture. In the natural immunity following convalescence from an attack of cholera Lazarus found the antitoxic effect of the serum 5 to 1,000 times as great as in the blood of the vaccinated person. One-tenth of a milligram of the serum was sufficient to protect a guinea pig against death, while 1⁄2 m. gr. prevented even any transient effect of an otherwise fatal dose of virulent cholera-culture. This antidotal influence occurs only if the protective injection be made before the poisonous cholera-toxines are injected into the peritoneum. After the introduction of the cholera poison protection can be had only from enormous doses of serum up to one cc., and from these only if they are given during the incubation period of the first few hours. After the effects of the cholera poison had become manifest by the lowering of the animal's temperature, no curative results could be obtained from serum in any quantity. Lazarus suggests that trial be made in man of the antitoxic properties of the blood of convalescents during the premonitory diarrhoea of cholera, and before systematic poisoning has set in. ETHER IN INCARCERATED HERNIÆ. Etlinger has revived ("Univ. Med., Mag.") the old procedure of spraying incarcerated hernia with ether. He has excellent results. The penis, anus and scrotum are covered with olive oil to avoid irritation with the ether. ANTICHOLERIN-KLEBS is a newly described "lymph" for treatment of cholera. Am. Gynecological... Am. Laryngological.. Hunter McGuire, Richmo'd W. B. Atkinson, Philadel'a Milwaukee, June 6, 1893. Am. Medico-Psychol'l. J. Curwen, Warren, Pa... H. M. Hurd, Baltimore.... Am. Neurological... Am. Obstetricians.. Am. Orthopædic.. Am. Pædistric.. Am. Physiological. Am. Railway Surgeons STATE. Alabam a Arkansas. California Colorado Georgia.. Idaho Illinois... Indiana Indian Ty. Iowa. Kansas. Kentucky.. Louisiana Maine.. Maryland... Montana.. Nebraska.. New Hamshire.. N. Y. Association.. Pennsylvania.. Utah... Vermont Virginia. West Virginia. Wisconsin.. A. L. Loomis, New York.. H. Hun, Albany...... C. W. P. Brock, Richmond. E. R. Lewis, Kansas City. Omaha, June, 1893. C. M. Hobby, Iowa City... G. T. Welsh, Passaic. J. B. Andrews, Buffalo. W. E. Rinehart. W. H. Narlen, Anderson.. J. W. Jenne, St. Louis.... C S. Chase, Waterloo.... G. P. Conn, Concord.... Little Rock, June 2, 1893. Hartford, May 24, 1893. Topeka, May, 1893. Boston, June 13, 1893. Pertle Springs, May. Spring Lake, June, 1893. New York, Nov. 19, 1892. C. H. Wheeler, Portland. W. P. Porcher, Charlesto'n Sumter, April 3, 1893.. D. C. Hawley, Burlington. Montpelier, Oct. 14, 1892. N. F. Essig, Spokane.. O. G. Shaver, Tacoma..... D. P. Morgan, Clarksburg. D. Mayer, Charlestown... Clarksburg. B. T. Phillips, Menominee. C. S. Sheldon, Madison... Milwaukee, May, 1893. SOCIETIES AND COLLEGES. THE CHICAGO ACADEMY OF MEDICINE met October 28 in the Sherman House. Dr. E. S. Talbott was elected chairman. Drs. J. S. Marshall and E. L. Clifford were elected fellows. After the usual banquet, Dr. H. N. Moyer read a paper on "Responsibility in Alcoholic Insanity as illustrated by the Redmond case," which was discussed by Drs. R. Dewey, G. F. Lydston, J. G. Kiernan, E. W. Weis, and ex-Assistant State's Attorney Elliott. The discussion was closed by Dr. Moyer. The Academy then adjourned until November II. At the November 11 meeting Dr. H. N. Moyer was chosen chairman. Drs. H. C. B. Alexander, J. B. Murphy, A. W. Sully and W. H. Wilder were elected fellows. Dr. S. Windrow was proposed for fellowship by Drs. Paoli and Pearson and referred to a committee, consisting of Drs. Talbott, G. F. Lydston, and Kiernan. Dr. N. Senn was proposed by Dr. Kiernan and G. F. Lydston and refered to Dr. Moyer, J. A. Lydston and Verity. After the usual banquet, Dr. G. F. Lydston read a paper "Recent Bio-Chemistry and Bacteriology in GenitoUrinary Surgery," which was discussed by Drs. N. Senn, R. D. McArthur, Moyer, Kiernan, Cuthbertson, Weis, Pearson, Evans, Paoli, Thomas, Christopher, and J. A. Lydston, the discussion being closed by Dr. G. F. Lydston. The Academy then adjourned until December 9, when Dr. W. A. Evans will read a paper on "Phagocytosis" and Dr. L. Hektoen one on "Tumors of the Pons and Cerebeum." on THE VIRGINIA MEDICAL SOCIETY elected the following officers: President, Dr. Herbert M. Nash, of Norfolk; vice presidents, Drs. Wm. P. McGuire, of Winchester, T. J. Taylor, of Brunswick county, and A. Z. Koiner, of Roanoke. The following incumbents were unanimously re-elected, viz: Dr. Landon B. Edwards, of Richmond, recording secre ary; Dr. J. F. Winn of Richmond, corresponding secretary, and Dr. Richard, T. Style, of Hollins, treasurer. THE WARREN Co. (MICH.) SOCIETY has elected the following officers: Dr. O. S. Armstrong, president; Dr. E. B. Smith, secretary, and Dr. C. Henri Leonard, treasurer. THE LAKE CO. (ILL.) MEDICAL SOCIETY elected the following officers: President, Dr. W. M. Sweetland; vice president, Dr. O. P. Maxon; secretary and treasurer, Dr. A. C. Haven. Drs. Girard, Haskins, Barney and Bergen were selected to present papers at the next meeting. LAKE FOREST, ILL. A. C. HAVEN, Sec'y. CHICAGO COLLEGE OF PHYSICIANS AND SURGEONS.-The following officers were elected to fill the vacancies due to the death of Professor A. Jackson: Dr. Henry T. Byford was elected professor of gynecology; Dr. C. W. Earle was elected president 177 of the board of directors, Dr. A. K. Steele being made vice-president; Dr. J. B. Murphy was made a director of the board. THE NEW YORK STATE MEDICAL ASSOCIATION elected the following officers. President, Dr. S. B. W. McLeod of New York; vice-presidents, Dr. R. N. Cooley of Hannibal Center, Dr. J. C. Hannan of Hoosick Falls, Dr. N. Jacobson of Syracuse, Dr. S. J. Lusk of Warsaw; secretary and treasurer, Dr. E. D. Ferguson of Troy; director of library, Dr. John W. S. Gonley of New York, and member-at-large, Dr. John Shrady of New York. THE ESCULAPEAN SOCIETY of the Wabash Valley elected the following officers: Dr. L. J. Weinstein, president: Dr I. L. Fire baugh, vice-president; Dr. Z. J. Baum, secretary' The next meeting will be held in Oakland, Ill.' next May. THE PEORIA CITY MEDICAL SOCIETY elected the following officers for the ensuing year: President, Dr. T. M. McIlvaine; vice-president, Dr. R. D. Bradley; secretary, Dr Geo. A. Zeller; treasurer, Dr. J. W. Hansley; censors, Dr. L. A. McFadden, Dr. Coniber of Morton, Dr. J. T. Stewart. THE CHICAGO GYNECOLOGICAL SOCIETY elected the following officers: President, Dr. E. J. Doering; vice-presidents, Drs. F. Henrotin and Franklin Martin; secretary, Dr. I. P. Newman; editor, Dr. W. S. Christopher; treasurer, Dr. A. H. Foster. THE NORTHERN CALIFORNIA MEDICAL SOCIETY elected the following officers: Dr. W. R. Cleveland, president; Dr. T. W. Huntington, first vice-president; Dr. G. W. Stratton, third vice-president; Dr. E. E. Stone, secretary; Dr. O. Stansbury, treasurer; Dr. J. T. Harris, Dr. Reardan, Dr. C. E. Stone, Dr. O. C. Hawkins, Dr. A. E. Biggs, board of censors. THE DETROIT MEDICAL AND LIBRARY ASSOCIATION elected the following officers: President, Dr. F. W. Mann; vice president, Dr. George E. Frotheringham; secretary, Dr. Don M. Campbell; treasurer, Dr. Angus McLean; librarian, Dr. G. Y. Becelaere; member of advisory council, Dr. H. A. Gerry; member of publication committee, Dr. C. W. Hitchcock; member of the library committee, Dr. E. S. Sherrill; member of finance committee, Dr. F. Hudson. THE AMERICAN ELECTRO-THERAPEUTIC AssoCIATION elected the following officers: President, Dr. Augustin Goelet, New York; vice-presidents, Drs. William J. Hutchinson, Providence, R. I., and W. J. Herman, Ann Arbor, Mich.; secretary, Margaret A. Cleaves, New York; treasurer, R. J. Munn, Savannah, Ga. MEDICO CHIRURGICAL COLLEGE.-Dr. W. Erdman has accepted the chair of gynæcology. THE CHICAGO MEDICAL SOCIETY adopted the following resolutions at its last meeting: Whereas, The work of the coroner's physician can best be done by an experienced pathologist, and Whereas, Dr. Ludwig Hektoen has performed his work with marked ability, and to the satisfaction of both the medical profession and the people of this county; therefore be it Resolved, That it is the sense of this society that he should be reappointed, and we therefore heartily recommend him to the coroner-elect; and, further, be it Resolved, That the secretary be instructed to send a copy of these resolutions to the coroner and to the daily press of this city. THE SOUTHERN ILLINOIS MEDICAL ASSOCIATION met at Nashville, Ill., Nov. 17th at 10 a. m. Dr. C. H. Mitchell of Mount Vernon, president; Dr. J. G. McAnally of Carbondale, secretary; Dr. J. B. Rosson, phonographic reporter. Owing to the inclement weather, the attendance was small, but the session was interesting and profitable to the members present. The local profession of Nashville and the citizens welcomed and entertained the members royally with music and banquet. Association adjourned to meet ia June, 1893, at Belleville, Illinois. have examined the above entitled work with more than usual interest, not only on account of the fact that it has gone through numerous editions and is well-known to the profession, but because in the preface of the learned American editor it is stated that much rew matter has been added and a large number of authorities cited to aid council in preparing briefs, etc. A careful examination of the work shows that its value has indeed been enhanced, but we confess to a feeling of disappointment that the work has not been more thoroughly and exhaustively done. The author and English editor have cited very few American authors and those not always correctly. While perhaps this was to be expected of English authors, still the profession have a right to expect that an American who holds himself out as a member of so many learned societies as does Mr. Bell on the title-page, should remedy this defect and relieve the book of it insular character. The legal side of the editorial work has been more thoroughly done than the medical side, which is what one would naturally expect, considering the fact that the editor is not a medical man. We are constraint to state, however, that much matter is included in the legal notes which, while valuable and interesting, has no earthly bearing upon the subject of medical jurisprudence. This is notably the case with the note on expert evidence beginning on page 52, in which we learn among many other interesting but irrevelant things that "masters of vessels or experienced seamen may give their opinions on questions pretaining to nautical science or affairs," to sustain which proposition, which no rational man would ever think of disputing at the present day, no less than twentytwo cases are cited. On the other hand, matters which, by reason of their importance, merit an exhaustive treatment are merely touched upon or not even mentioned. The subject of malpractice, for example, receives at the hands of the American editor only one and one-half pages, and even these show traces of hasty preparation. References to American medical literature which abound in valuable and instructive cases (not in courts of law) are very few, so few as to lead one to believe that the field of periodical literature has not been explored by the editor. For example, the subject of hypnotism is not mentioned in the index, and we have not found it treated in the text. Instances like the above might be multiplied. Notwithstanding all these indications of hasty or inadequate preparation of this edition, the work is still valuable, but by no means so valuable as the profession have a right to expect. The edition, in short, is a disgrace alike to its American editor and publishers. It is worse than useless as a medico-legal guide. BALTIMORE UNIVERSITY MEDICAL SCHOOL.Dr. A. Whitehead has resigned the chair of anatomy and clinical surgery. Reviews and Book Notices. MARTIN'S ELECTRICITY IN OBSTETRICS AND GYNECOLOGY* is the work of an enthusiastic disciple of Apostoli, hence an element of error arises which must be eliminated in its results. Twothirds of the work are devoted to a discussion of electricity and electric apparatus. This is a fault from the standpoint of many practitioners, but an equal merit from the standpoint of physicians unacquainted with recent researches. The remainder of the work is devoted to the application of the principles laid down in the first part, to electrotherapy as applied to gynecology and obstetrics. The work as a whole can be heartily recommended. In many parts a wise conservatism is evident, which adds to the value of the work. Dr. Martin has found electricity of especial value in the treatment of inflammatory exudates. It is evident, moreover, that he does not rely on electricity to the exclusion of other adjuvants. This has been the great fault of most works on electricity. The practitioner unacquainted with the gynecological uses of electricity will find the purchase and perusal of this work amply rewarded. SHAW'S MENTAL DISEASES is an excellent summary of existing literature. Its chapters are: I. Definitions of Insanity and Classifications of Mental Diseases. II. Index of Symptoms Somatic, Physiological, and Psychical, with the Mental Diseases in which they occur. III. Index of Mental Diseases with their Synonyms and Symptoms. IV. Etiology. V. Diagnosis. VI. Prognosis. VII. Pathological Anatomy, Pathology, and Pathogenesis. VIII. Therapeutics and Hygiene. IX. Legal Regulations and Forensic Psychiatry. There is a general index of 23 pages. Invidious distinctions are made between American alienists. Some widely known both in England and on the continent are dismissed with contemptuous mention of their less important contributions to psychiatry. Despite this defect, the work merits a place in the library of every physician. MODERN MATERIA MEDICA. BY H. HELBING. — The good impression received when this little work made its first appearance, only two years ago, has been fully confirmed by closer acquaintance. In its *Electricity in Obstetrics and Gynecology. By Franklin H. Martin, M. D., Chicago. W. T. Keener, 1892. +Epitome of Mental Diseases, including their Classification, Synonyms, and Symptoms, their Etiology, Diagnosis and Treatment, with the Present Methods of Certification of the Insane. By James Shaw, M. D., formerly Medical Superintendent and Co-Licensee, Haydock Lodge Asylum, London. New York: E. B. Treat, 5 Cooper Union. 1892. #Modern Materia Medica for Pharmacists, Medical Men and Students. By H. Helbing, F. C. S., London. Third English Edition. New York: Lehn & Fink. 1892. Cloth, 8vo., pp. 212, $1. new and revised edition it has no equal as a complete and reliable work on modern materia medica, although the two preceding editions achieved great popularity and received high praise generally from the pharmaceutical and medical press. The present revised edition is larger by forty pages; the monographs have all been rewritten; every new remedy up to date is described, including even asaprol and diaphtherine, novelties introduced but two weeks before the day of publication. The index contains over 600 references of names of new remedies and symptoms. As has been pointed out on a former occasion, the various preparations are considered as to mode of preparation or source, physical and chemical properties, and medicinal uses, including dosage. This book cannot be too highly recommended as meeting the practical wants of pharmacists and physicians alike. LEONARD'S PHYSICIAN'S DAY-BOOK* is in its fifteenth year of publication. The front part of it is occupied with dose tablets and other useful pocket memoranda. It is good for thirteen months, from the first of any month that it may be begun, and accommodates daily charges for fifty patients, besides having cash department and complete obstetric records. There are also columns for the diagnosis of disease, or for brief record of the treatment adopted, following each name-space. Name of patient needs to be written but three times in a month. The book is 71⁄2 inches in length and is 31⁄2 inches wide, so that it will carry billheads or currency bills without folding. It is bound in flexible covers, and weighs but five ounces, so that it is easily carried in the pocket. POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY FOR NOVEMBER.— This number is of unusual interest to pharmacists and medical men, as an enumeration of some of the titles will show. One article treats on the "Natural or Scientific Method in Education." It contains diagrams of the brain and the various centers of activity. Another paper is by Dr. Lauder- Brunton, illustrated, on "Posture and its Indications." Other articles are, "Modern Nervousness and its Cure," "Problems of Comparative Psychology," "The Synthesis of Living Beings," "Color in Flowering Plants," "Economical Trees," "Reasoning Animals," "First German Paper Maker" (illustrated), "Are Business Profits too Large," etc. There also is given a biographical sketch, with portrait, of Henry Walter Bates, the propounder of the doctrine of protective mimicry. *Leonard's Physician's Pocket Day-Book. Bound in Red Morocco, with Flap Pocket, Pencil Loop and Red EdgesPrice, post paid, $1.00. Published by The Illustrated Med cal Journal Co., Detroit, Mich. |