magnetic currents of truth that flow ever sunward around the world, and thus enable those who consult it during their voyage upon the sea of medicine to take their bearings and sail safely in spite of wind and weather.

10. If any body, on reading the above, should suspect us of not being an impartial critic, we would suggest that he read the journal for a year and see if we have here come short of the truth. His name, with price of subscription inclosed, will be warmly welcomed in the sanctum.

11. This journal is the oldest medical publication in the State, and one of the oldest in the South. If the reader should doubt that it justifies existence, we trust he may at least allow that it somehow represents the survival of the fittest.

Notes and Queries.

NURSES AND DOCTORS-One of the most commendable movements of the last quarter of a century is the establishment of training schools for the education of nurses in connection with our large hospitals. The hospital trained nurse, since the time when Florence Nightingale went to minister to the sick and wounded soldiers in the Crimea, has made herself an indispensable need, and since the movement of educating women for this high calling was set going, thoroughness of work has been the object of those who have had the undertaking in hand. Not only has the nurse-graduate of to-day had a moral and educational training, but, before she leaves the wards of the hospital disease in its manifold forms and varieties has become familiar to her. She has had opportunities in these wards of studying more than disease; she has spent her whole course of two years in the company of sick persons, and has learned how they think and act, and she has acquired the art of ministering to their everpresent sufferings. Her education, in short, is clinical, but not entirely clinical, for the practical work is supplemented by a modicum of book work, enough to enable her to see the reason why symptoms occur and the principles on which an attempt is made to relieve them.

Under our present system of medical education does the young doctor enter upon his career as well equipped? After his three years' training he is supposed to have learned as much as the nurse, and a great deal more. He is expected to take charge of cases, form the diag nosis, and direct the treatment, hygienic and medicinal, and the nurse is to occupy a subordinate position and obey orders without a murmur. Now, suppose that both start with their first private patient, which knows the most about the case?

Take a case of typhoid fever, for example. The young doctor has read more, he understands the pathology better, and very probably can repeat the list of complications (learned at a quiz-class) more glibly than the nurse can. But he has never watched a case from beginning to end, he has not had an opportunity himself of intimately observing all the ins and outs of the disease, the peculiarities of patients, the frequency of occurrence and significance of complications. In short, he is worried and perplexed over his case and can not help showing it, while the nurse is at her ease and feels at home in her work. This is soon perceived by the anxious friends, and dependence soon comes to be placed upon the words and opinions of the trained nurse, while the reputation of the doctor gradually wanes. The fact is, the educational system by which our young friend was made a doctor is at fault. The nurse spent all her pupilage in the wards, the doctor spent all his time in the lecture-room. He learned science, she learned art; and patients like and admire art, while they, at the time of their sickness at the least, do not appreciate the beauties of science. Bedside experience was not required of him as a student, but nothing else but bedside experience is required of him as a practitioner. A dissectingroom and dead-house experience and training afford no comfort to a living patient.

The moral to be drawn from this comparison is obvious. If we are going to educate our nurses to such a high degree, we must educate our doctors to a very much higher one; to retain the confidence of the patient, the physician must be in supreme control of the case and of every one in connection with it. A nurse is

the assistant of the physician, as woman is by nature helpmeet of man. She understands her position when she accepts her duties, and these we find are done thoroughly; we ought, therefore, to see that our part of the duties is properly performed. Until young practitioners are sent out with more clinical training this happy state of affairs can hardly exist.-N. Y. Med. Journal.

CINCINNATI CORRESPONDENCE. -Dr. E. G. Zinke has been made adjunct Professor of Obstetrics and Clinical Obstetrics in the Medical College of Ohio by a recent action of the faculty. The doctor has been for many years assistant to the chair of Gynecology and in charge of the Obstetric Clinic in that institution, and has rendered good service. During the winter session just passed twenty women were delivered by students at their homes and in the college maternity, situated in the College building; five women were confined before the graduating class. In every instance the mother recovered without serious complication in the lying-in period, and the children were all born alive. This department is in this country the most difficult of all in which to conduct a clinic, and its possibility was not believed by many. The pioneer in this line was Prof. T. A. Reamy, who formerly delivered women before a class of three hundred and fifty students in this same college, creating quite a sensation in both medical and lay

circles.

Cincinnati medical students can not complain of a lack of opportunities to witness abdominal sections. One clinical professor, Dr. T. A. Reamy, has made twelve laparotomies before the class during the winter term.

A case of cephalhematoma was recently under the care of Dr. Wm. H. Taylor in the Cincinnati Hospital.

Charity covereth a multitude of sins. The abuse of medical charities in this as well as in the old country is becoming a burning question. The benevolence of doctors of medicine has never been disputed. Much has been uttered and more remains to be said against the foolish and self-destructive charity of the medical profession. Mercy and medicine go

hand in hand. In several religions the idea of the Divinity is embodied in the Great Physician. Our heartiest thanks and our largest bills often emanate from the same source. If we look over our list and find those who, old dog Tray like, have done us the most good, we will find they have paid their bills. We are seldom taken above our own valuation, sometimes below. Let us, therefore, value ourselves highly. Although unwilling to designate our calling as a trade, yet we must acknowledge that medicine is a profession with a business side. Services which cost nothing are valued at their price. The latest freak of fashionable philanthropy is the multiplication of free hospitals. It is so English, you know. Medical men with axes to grind, who can not grind them in the older ho-pitals, get churches and societies excited, and start up new hospitals for their own glorification. This multiplication of free hospitals and free di-pensaries is disastrous, in that many who are in no way objects of charity are admitted, and the income of the profession is curtailed. Why should not the saving of life, the relief of pain, and the removal of deformity have a value as intrinisic as coffee, sugar, and flour? If philanthropists will give, let them endow professorships and laboratories. Cincinnati has suffered severely from this hospitali-m during the last year or two. She has two large public free hospitals, and seven small private free hospitals, besides some private pay hospitals and numerous free dispensaries. Is this not bidding for paupers? Is it not prostrating the profession? Are we not robbing ourselves?

Dr. C. D. Palmer, Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology in the Medical College of Ohio, and Gynecologist to the Cincinnati Ho-pital, has, with the valuable mechanical assistance of Max Wocher & Son, of Cincinnati, instrument manufacturers, gotten up a new forceps. The following are the points: Long forceps, weight 18 oz., length 145 in., fenestræ 481 in., distance between blades 2.87 in., distance between tips of blades 075. They have a good pelvic curve and a double cephalic curve in blades, and an English lock. The handles have a slight backward curve equal to forward curve of pelvic blades. There

are tractors on the handles, and the handles consist partly of wood and partly of metal.

The short forceps have a weight of only 12 oz., and a length of but 11.27 in. The fenestræ of the blades are 4-4.18 in. long. The shanks are like Simpson's, the lock English. The distance between the blades at their widest part and at the tips is about the same as long forceps; the handles have the backward curve also.

In the selection of Dr. James H. French as secretary of the Cincinnati Academy of Medicine at its recent election, that body has chosen a man who will hold the interests of the Academy above self, who will fill with ability and credit the post assigned him, labor always for peace and prosperity, and avoid strife and deterioration.

The Cincinnati Hospital report, about to be published, will contain the following facts. Whole number admitted during the year, 3,654. Of these 81 were moribund, and died within 12 hours, unamenable to treatment, leaving 3,573, of whom 244 died, which shows an average rate of mortality of 7.1 per cent, which is less by .6 than in 1888. The mortality in the different wards was as follows: Medical 12 per cent, surgical 3 per cent; obstetrical 1.4 per cent, gynecology 7.5 per cent, children 8.7 per cent. The mortality in gynecology exclusive of cancer was reduced to 2 per cent. The average length of time in the hospital was less than last year.

The Clinical and Pathological School of the Cincinnati Hospital had 335 matriculants during the past year. The new amphitheater for clincical lectures is a most elegant one in all respects. The training school for nurses is doing some good work.

At a recent nieeting of the Cincinnati Medical Society Dr. Wm. Carson reported the case of a boy who was alleged to have hydrophobia, but the symptoms were explainable on other grounds. Dr. W. L. Mussey reported a case of feigned hydrophobia, which was cured by the electric brush. Dr. J. A. Thompson was of the opinion that the majority of cases of hydrophobic convulsions in the dog were due to uremic convulsions.

College commencements in Cincinnati this

year resulted as follows: Medical College of Ohio, 91 graduates; Miami Medical College, 31; Cincinnati College of Medicine and Surgery, 22; Ohio College of Dental Surgery, 65; Cincinnati College of Pharmacy, 23. This does not include Eclectics and Homeopaths. The Medical College of Ohio has determined on a four years' course of study.

The Cincinnati Academy of Medicine did itself the honor of electing to a second term of service as president, Dr. C. D. Palmer. The doctor was elected to fill this position two years ago, and after serving but two months was disabled by an almost fatal accident. The doctor will fill the chair with dignity, and his rulings will be those of wisdom. Under his management the scientific interest in the society will improve, and it is to be hoped the attendance will be greater. The doctor said in his inaugural address that the Academy became a school of instruction, to teach and to learn. Each member becomes a teacher and a pupil. He recommended special attention be given to bacteriology, the etiological and bacteriological origin of many diseases; in medicine the subject of phthisis in some of its points, and in surgery the pathology of cancer and the special field of brain surgery; in obstetrics, ectopic gestation, its best management in the different forms and durations, also the degree of pelvic deformity requiring the performance of podalic version or the use of obstetric forceps, craniotomy or cesarean section; in gynecology, the limitation and extent of the justifiability of vaginal hysterectomy, and the special utility of some form of the electrical current in the treatment of some forms of female pelvic disease-the frequency and justifiability of ovarian extirpation. These subjects, he thought, should be entertained and elucidated. Of the new remedies which come before the profession many are not worthy of the powers accredited to them. We owe our part to do what we can to fix the correct status of the medical power of each new remedy. Also some old remedies have been found to possess new uses. Electricity is as yet not fully understood. He called this society and its place of meeting our chamber of commerce, and said it should be our place of meeting and exchange

of views and conference on business matters. It should be a social reunion of its members once a week. E. S. M'KEE, M. D.

THE CRIME OF MEDICAL NEGLECT.-Dr.. Rooney, coroner of Brooklyn, having in his district a settlement of those fanatical believers in faith-healing and disbelievers in medicine called the "New Evangelists," has observed with concern the growing death rate among these people, not alone by diphtheria, but by other affections. of the non-contagious class. Fortunately, it would appear the highly infectious diseases have not attacked them; but in view of the havoc that might be wrought in the community if such an attack should occur, and in view of the defects in our laws bearing upon the crime of medical neglect of minors and others, it is reported that Dr. Rooney has under consideration the subject of more stringent and explicit regulations. These will probably be provided for in a bill which is to be framed to meet the newly risen dangers to the public health. These people, for the most part, profess to be obedient to the laws of the land, and it might be well to enact a law that will make it plain to them that it is a criminal thing to neglect to employ agencies of known curative power where infants and other helpless persons are involved, and criminal, also, to wantonly neglect isolation and quarantine in cases of contagious disease. Within a few days past fresh cases of this kind of neglect have been called to the attention of the grand jury of Kings County, which has found bills of indictment against the accused faith-curers, and has urged the immediate prosecution of the charges. New laws must be made as emergencies arise; the punishment must be made to fit the crime, even if that crime is an outgrowth and perpetrated in the name of a religious belief. Salus populi uprema lex.

Since the foregoing was written it has been announced that the persons in question have informed the authorities of their intention to provide medical attendance for their sick in the future.-N. Y. Med. Journal.

THE Kentucky State Medical Society meets at Henderson, May 14th.

IMPORTANT RESEARCH.-We ask the attention of our readers to the following important circular from Dr. Belfield:

I am collecting, for publication, cases of operation upon the prostate, particularly those for the palliation or cure of the so-called prostatic hypertrophy. To this end I venture to presume upon your courtesy with the request. for information concerning cases within your knowledge, where the operations named below or others designed to secure the same result have been performed. If already published, a simple reference to the periodical will enable me to secure the information; concerning unpublished cases, I would be thankful for the following items:

Date, age of patient, previous use of catheter, complications (stone, etc.), nature of operation, immediate result, subsequent history, operator (reporter).

The operations about which information is requested are:

1. Supra-pubic prostatectomy.
2. Perineal prostatotomy.

3. Mercier's or Bottini's operation.

4. Incidental removal of portions of prostate in operations for stone, etc.

5. Institution of artificial urinary channel in cases of prostatic obstruction.

6. Operations for malignant or tubercular diseases of prostate or bladder.

7. Operations on seminal vesicles.

8. If supra-pubic operation, whether bladder wound was left open or sutured; whether special incision for drainage was made, to what extent bladder was distended or distensible, whether rectal bag was used, whether peritoneum was injured.

The source of information will of course in every instance be printed.

W. T. BELFIELD, M. D., 612 Opera House Building, Chicago, Ill.

THE only Chinese physician in the United States has just registered at the Health Office in Brooklyn, N. Y. He is Dr. Joseph C. Thoms, and has his office at 336 Greene Avenue. He graduated from the Long Island College Hospital with honors at the last commencement. He is about twenty-five years of age.

THE MEDICAL PROFESSION OF THE STATES OF NEW YORK, OHIO, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, AND IOWA. The undersigned requests the members of the medical profession in the above named States to forward, at their earliest convenience, the following points: Name in full, School of graduation and year, Post office address, State. This will be used in the pages of the Medical Register Directory and Intelligencer, Dr. William B. Atkinson, editor. A copy of the book, printed on good paper, nicely bound, will be forwarded to each physician whose name appears in its pages, without charge.

The matter in preparation for it is of value to the profession for constant reference. Its list of national and local medical organizations and post-office addresses of physicians will be complete to date of issue, besides other valuable information. George Keil, Publisher, 1214 Filbert Street, Philadelphia.

THE State Medical Society of Arkansas will hold its fifteenth annual meeting at Little Rock, Ark., Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, May 14, 15, and 16, 1830. Special attention is called to the following extract from the Transactions for 1889: "On motion the Committee of Arrangements was instructed to prohibit, in the future, the exhibition of secret or proprietary articles in connection with the meetings of this Society." L. P. Gibson, M. D., Secretary. Officers: President, Zaphney Orto, Pine Bluff; Vice Presidents, First, T. E. Murrel, Little Rock, Second, J. T. Clegg, Siloam Springs, Third, R. M. Wilson, Columbus, Fourth, W. P. Owen, Hazen; Assistant Secretary, Edward Meek, Argenta; Treasurer, A. L. Breysacher, Little Rock.

SPECIAL NOTICES.

IN the March number of the London Medical Recorder appears the following article, commendatory of a well-known American product:

Listerine is an antiseptic and deodorizing preparation which has for many years been a favorite with American surgeons. Its qualities are due to the essential antiseptic constituents of thyme, eucalyptus, baptisia, gaultheria, and mentha arvensis, in combination with which is associated a stated quantity of benzo-boracic acid. Experience points to its reliability in obtaining that condition of asepsis which is the ideal of every surgeon, and it has the distinct advantage of being

fragrant and non-poisonous. Its antiseptic and anti-fermentative properties are not confined to lesions of the surface structures, and it is largely used for internal medication, in doses of a teaspoonful, in suitable cases. It does not coagulate serous albumen, and it is thus free from the drawback which so markedly limits the action of such agents as corrosive sublimate, most of which are, moreover, extremely poisonous. Listerine, then, is an agreeable and powerful antiseptic and deodorizer, well adapted for ordinary surgical work, available for internal administration, and useful for gargles, mouth-washes, and lotions, for which purpose it may be employed without hesitation, seeing that no mishap can occur, even in unskilled hands."

says:

of

DR. PREVOST, Cambremer. Calvados, France, I tried Aletris Cordial in the case of a young lady twenty years of age, who for the last seven years ever since she attained the age puberty, had been most irregular in her periods. She had consulted various doctors who had all prescribed for her, but none had succeeded in affording her relief. She is a girl of irreproachable character, and is certainly not enceinte. Sometimes her periods occur at intervals of four months, sometimes three, and at others six. Eventually she came to consult me, and I prescribed Aletris Cordial, having already used it in another case with very good results. She is already very much better. I have also used it for a young woman of twenty-two years of age, who was suffering from peritonitis consequent on her confinement, which, although it passed off well, was not without subsequent centretemps of a serious nature. Three months elapsed and her periods had not resumed. I gave her the Aletris and her periods reappeared copiously. She is now in excellent health. I also gave it to a young girl of seventeen or eighteen, who was similarly situated as the first named, and in this case it answered admirably.

URIC DIATHESIS-Please accept my best thanks for the Lithiated Hydrangea (Lambert) you for warded to me for the purpose of making trials in my practice. To know that this pharmaceutical product contains the Benzo-Salicylate of Lithia, sufficed to induce me to prescribe it in full confidence to a certain class of my patients, and I have obtained most satisfactory results from its administration, especially to those suffering from Gout and Rheumatism, improvement being rapid, and manifested after but a few doses of the Lithiated Hydrangea had been administered. I am continuing my observations with said preparation in order to gain a more thorough knowledge of its therapeutical effect in cases of Cystitis, Hematuria, and Renal Calculus.

F. VIDAL SOLARES, M. D. Calle de Vergara, num. 12, Barcelona.

THE REPORT OF THE NEW YORK ANALYST OF DRUGS shows that the chances for getting drugs of good quality on prescription is 43.8 per cent; fair, 17.4; inferior, 26; NOT AS CALLED FOR, 11.6; excessive strength, 1.2.-Times and Register, Philadelphia, Dec. 7, 1889.