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, Chicago, Cincinnati. Jacksonville, St. Joseph, Kansas City, and Pueblo, 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 XVII MAY TWENTY-FIFTH Number 10 Editorial Department. To a lover of the exquisite in literature there is nothing more beautiful than that which was given the literary world by Theophile Gautier, and we The Last Words of Meiamoun. could wish that he had written more voluminously. Whether or not his writings are obscene depends on the breadth of view of the reader. It seems to us that the seeker after the questionable would hardly look for it in such artistic gems. However this may be, Dr. C. A. L. Reed, following the style of Gautier, wrote under the above title. His prose-poem is so like those of Gautier that had it been published in connection with "One of Cleopatra's Nights," it would have been considered a part of the original. This was published in the Medical Mirror of June, 1899. The sequel comes on the 15th of May, 1900, when the postal authorities called on Dr. Love to convince them that it was mailable matter. There is doubtless medical politics behind the complaint, and it is reasonably certain that the right of the medical press to liberty beyond that granted to journals destined for the perusal of children, will be demonstrated. The question distinctly concerns every medical journalist. None of us wishes to cater to hunters for obscenity, or to devote our pages to what is questionable, but we do wish that the intelligence and standing of our readers and contributors be considered, and that we be judged on that basis. The claim that a medical journal may publish only scientific matter is also to be met at this time, and the decision in Dr. Love's case will determine the opinion of the department on the question. It should be the personal business of every medical journalist that this feature of the question be answered decisively, that all sides of the physician's intellectual life may be served through this medium. T. A. H. THE engagement of Miss Anna Caplan and Dr. M. R. Horwitz is announced. Miss Caplan is a sister of Dr. Leo Caplan. THE following from the St Louis Republic, of May 16th, is worthy of all the publicity which may be given it. It is evident Uncle Sam does not agree Uncle Sam after Weltermerism. with our State officials, who have legalized Weltmerism, but he does agree with the intelligence of this and every other community: "Washington, May 15.-The Post Office Department has issued an order forbidding the delivery of mail matter and the payment of money orders to the American School of Magnetic Healing, the order reading that S. A. Weltmer, president; J. H. Kelly, secretary, all of Nevada, Mo., are con ducting through the mails a scheme for obtaining money by means of false and fraudulent pretenses. The official order states: "The evidence before the department showed that the 'absent treatment' scheme for disease and poverty, while predicated upon the proposi tion of S. A. Weltmer, was not conducted by himself, but by the business managers of the scheme. The persons making remittances for treatment of any disease by the absent method were notified that they must assume a passive attitude at certain hours of the day, and at these hours Professor Weltmer's healing thought' would flow out to them. In reality, Professor Weltmer was not in any wise brought in contact with the patient or with his correspondents, and knew practically nothing of the business operations of the scheme." "Nevada, Mo., May 15.-L. L. Scott, attorney for the American School of Magnetic Healing, who went to Washington to argue before the Postmaster General the claim of the institute to the mail matter held in the Nevada postoffice by order of the department, returned today. The following order was received: "Permanent order has been issued, forbidding delivery of mail matter and payment of money orders addressed to American School of Magnetic Healing, for conducting through the mails a scheme to defraud. Definite instructions as to return of mail to senders will follow. Mail addressed to S. A. Weltmer personally may be delivered to him. Action of department does not deal with Weltmer proposition, but manner in which absent treatment scheme was conducted. Letter follows. "HARRISON K. BARRETT, "Acting Assistant Attorney General for Post Office Department.' J MCDONALD, JR., general manager of the International Journal of Surgery, spent a few days in St. Louis recently. "International" is booming in all its departments. Mac reports that the IT IS with sincere regret that we announce the death of one of our esteemed collaborators, Dr. Landon Carter Gray, who died at his home in New York City, May 8, aged 50 years. He studied in Columbia and Heidelberg universities, and in 1873 took his degree in medicine at Bellevue Hospital Medical College. He began practice in New York City, but afterward moved to Brooklyn, where he was made professor of neurology at the Long Island Hospital and visiting neurologist to St. Mary's Hospital. He was one of the founders of the New York Polyclinic, and was its professor of mental and nervous diseases. He served as president of the American Neurological Association, the New York Neurological Society, and the Society of Medical Jurisprudence. He was also chairman of the executive committee of the American Congress of Physicians for three successive sessions, and the author of several medical works, among the most important of which is his text-book on nervous and mental diseases. MISSOURI STATE MEDICAL ASSOCIATION-A pleasant and profitable. meeting of this Society was held in Mexico, on the 15th, 16th and 17th of May, and the program published in our last issue was carried out. Our next number will contain a report of the proceedings. Following is a list of the officers elected : President--Dr. U. S. Wright, Fayette. First Vice-President-D. C. Gove, Marshall. Third Vice-President-R. S. Kelso, Joplin. Fourth Vice-President-Thomas Chowning, Hannibal. Fifth Vice-President--F. E. Murphy, Kansas City. Recording Secretary-B. C. Hyde, Kansas City. Asistant Recording Secretary--W. A. Bracklein, Higginsville. Treasurer-J. F. Welch, Salisbury. The next meeting will be held in Jefferson City. A PHASE OF A. M. A. POLITICS.—One of our advertisers calls our attention to the telegram which we reproduce below, and which has been sent to all important American manufacturers. We deeply deplore that the methods of the ward politician should even appear to have crept into the Association. The Section on Materia Medica is in no sense an advertising agency, and must be kept clear of any suspicion of favoring any manufacturer to the detriment of others who are equally meritorious; in fact the Section has only to deal with the question of purity and reliability of medicines, their geographical past should "cut no ice." We reproduce the telegram as it was sent to us: "We learn from good authority that the foreign chemical houses will attempt to elect their allies as chairmen and members of Section on Materia Medica of the American Medical Association at the Atlantic City meeting. Many good men are with them, without realizing the underhanded scheme; which is to discard American products and endorse only the foreign. We should expose the plot with all possible haste by communicating with every medical journal in which we and other American houses carry advertisements, and ask their co-operation." The Reviewer's Table. Books, Reprints, and Instruments for this department, should be sent to the Editors, St. Louis A VERY serviceable manual for students. It is explicit, but concise; accurate in its description and in line with modern methods of practice. It is a working manual, and useful as such. As a desk manual for the busy practitioner it is also serviceable and can readily be consulted. THIS manual of six hundred pages is intended to meet the needs of the general practitioner of medicine and the A beginner in ophthalmology. The author has had great experience as a teacher, and lays great stress upon the recognition and management of the conditions. likely to be presented early in practice, rather than to the rarer diseases that may come later. The style is clear and concise, the illustrations fresh, and many of them new and a bibliography at the end of each chapter will be of great assistance to the student. J. E. J. MANUAL OF THE DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT OF THE DISEASES OF THE EYE. By EDWARD JACKSON, A. M., M. D., Emeritus Professor of Diseases of the Eye in the Philadelphia Polyclinic; formerly Chairman of Section on Ophthalmology of the American Medical Association. With 178 Illustrations and 2 Colored Plates. Philadelphia, W. B. SAUNDFRS, 925 Walnut Street, 1900. Price $2.50, net. 4444 THIS is an American book of Canadian authorship. The author has carefully considered the needs of the general practitioner; the discussion of the anatomy is brief, but clear; diagnosis, symptomatology are spoken of with an authority that is pleasing. Again, he has wisdom in limiting his book strictly to his specialty, nose and throat. His independence in expression and care of statement of facts at once indicate his scientific training and reliability as an observer. This book practically represents three monographs, viz., one on anatomy, one on diseases of the pharynx, and one on diseases of the larynx. It is especially valuable to the general practitioner, as the author did not limit his work to this field until he had twenty years' experience in general medicine, consequently he recognizes the needs of the family practitioner, for whom this book was primarily written. The specialist, too, will find in the book sound views and reliable practice of a fellow-practitioner. The book is printed with skill, many of the illustrations are in colors, and as a whole is well proportioned, well printed and well bound. DISEASES OF THE NOSE AND THROAT. By J. PRICE-BROWN, M. B., L. R. C. P. E., Member of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario; Laryngologist to the Protestants 'Orphans Home: Fellow of the American Laryngological, Rhinological and Otological Society; Member of the British Medical Association, the Pan-American Medical Congress, the Canadian Medical Asosciation, the Ontario Medical Association, etc., etc. Illustrated with 159 Engravings, including 6 Full-Page Color Plates, and 9 Color cuts in the text, many of them original. 64 x 9 inches. Pages xvi.-470. Extra cloth, $3.50, net. THE F. A. DAVIS CO., Publishers, 1914-16 Cherry Street. Philadelphia. F. P. N. THE constant increase of valuable medical literature in serial form, and the inability of physicians to review this mass as it appears, has made neces sary the year-book of progress. Saunders inaugurated several years ago the American YearBook, and it immediately met with a hearty welcome by the profession. It has grown in usefulness from year to year, until now it is deservingly the most popular work of its kind. By reason of the quantity of material under review it has become necessary to issue the work in two volumes, dividing it to the best advantage for the physician's use under the two headings, "Medicine" and "Surgery." The subjects considered in the volumes are as follows: Medicine.-General medicine, pediatrics, pathology, nervous and men tal diseases; materia medica, physiology, legal medicine, hygiene and chemistry. Surgery.-General surgery, obstetrics, gynecology, orthopedic surgery, ophthalmology, otology, laryngology, rhinology, anatomy, etc. We have carefully reviewed these volumes; they are useful working epitomies of progress, and every physician needs them to aid him in his daily practice. F. P. N. THE AMERICAN YEAR-BOOK OF MEDI- INTERNAL MEDICINE has a philosophy of its own. It is not founded on empirical conception, but from deductions emanating from a premise founded upon scientific principle. Bruce has in this thoroughly enjoyable and decidedly original book, outlined the principles of treatment as determined by practical, philosophical reasoning. The principles of the science of medicine are here stated, while their application (the art of medicine) is outlined in excellent form. After reading this book one is impressed with the intelligent foresight, the thoroughness of his modern medical research and the broad intellectual training of its author. The author's plan of considering disease is an inspiration; it gives to the tyro in medicine methods for work; it teaches the practitioner in the harness to be more careful, more intellectual and less haphazard in his therapeutics. Indeed, this book has been to the reviewer, a treat, a feast of reason and an inspiration. The young man in medicine should have this book on his table, and let it be his daily companion until he sees crystalizing in his own methods of practice the high ideals which Bruce inspires. The precepts of this book, if mastered and followed, would be the consummation of the ideal, viz., physicians familiar with disease in all of its details, and a broad, intelligent knowledge of therapeutics. Every physician will profit by reading this book, it conveys medical knowledge toward its end, viz., the treatment of disease. It is one of the best books of the year. THE PRINCIPLES OF TREATMENT AND F. P. N. |