scurvy with rickets result. Chapin believes on the contrary that what is gained biologically is lost chemically in the sterilization of milk and has abandoned sterilizing, as the infants fed on such milk get thinner. The percentage system too does not at all solve the problem and many physicians have gone too far in their theoretical exactness of constituents. His experience is that the less cow's milk is manipulated the better are the results and he advocates the use of top milk of milk bottled at the dairy as this contains a sufficiently fixed quantity of fats, proteids and sugars and can be diluted as indicated with a gruel. Vaughan pointed out a condition often overlooked, i. e., that although sterilization may destroy the bacteria, the toxins are unaffected and the toxicity for that reason may be as marked in sterilized as in unsterilized milk. Jacobi thought that this maze of contradictions proved that nature was able to take care of her own under many different conditions; that no single method could be applied to every child and that the difficulties of this subject could not be brushed away by any magical formula. Many years experience has taught him that the one essential element in every mixture was brains and without it no method would be successful.

In Memoriam

LANSING T. Vedder, M. D.

Dr. Lansing T. Vedder was born in Niskayuna, N.Y., on September 24, 1859. His early education was received in the city schools of Schenectady and Union College. The degree of Doctor of Medicine was conferred upon him by the Albany Medical College in 1881.

He practiced for a short time in Niskayuna and then removed to Schenectady where soon came to him a large and remunerative practice. He was much esteemed by the physicians of the city who could not fail to recognize his ability and sterling worth. After a few years' practice in Schenectady Dr. Vedder spent a year in Germany and England in pursuit of knowledge, giving especial attention to the eye and throat.

Being always an ardent student it is thought that close attention to his work with a lack of wanted exercise gave an opportunity for the entrance of ever dreaded tuberculosis. Certain it is that soon after his return to Schenectady the disease developed to such

an extent that in 1890 he gave up his practice and removed to Los Angeles, California, in search of health. After the lapse of two years he returned to his home enabled to again take up his work, although far from equal to the duties of an arduous profession. From this time on he gradually failed until realizing that his strength must soon give way he again sought relief in a southern climate.

In August 1898 he went to Albuquerque, N. M. For a time. he seemed to improve but the change was taken too late and he realized that if he wished to see his friends at home he must hasten. He had overestimated his strength and died when the journey was half completed at Newton, Kansas, May 12, 1900.

Those who have known him intimately realize that we have lost one whom we are all better for having known. A particularly painstaking and careful physician, his work was thorough and successful. His thought was never for himself, ever for his friend.

C. F. C.

Medical News

Edited by H. Judson Lipes, M. D.

ALBANY HOSPITAL.-At a recent meeting of the governors of the Albany Hospital it was decided to return to the former plan of holding the meetings on Sunday, since the attendance on other days was always small. Reports on the progress of the work in "Pavilion E" were received. It was made known that the hospital had a financial incumbrance of $38,000 besides the sums needed for the ordinary running expenses of the institution. The legacy of Abraham Lansing amounting to $1,000 was recently received. The following responses to the annual appeal of the board of governors are acknowledged: previously acknowledged, $4,532; German Hospital Association, $250; Ladies' Auxiliary of German Hospital Association, $250; Anthony N. Brady, $100; Acors Rathbun, $100; Marcus. T. Hun, $100; J. Howard King, $50; Mrs. Adeline P. Kidd, $50; Wm. McDonald, $50; James Gazeley, $25; John L. Godley, $25; A. Bleecker Banks, $25; William Van Antwerp, $25; J. L. Steefel, $25: Mrs. Mary Caldwell, $25; Misses MacNaughton, $20; E. J. Knowles, $15; George Wiley & Bro., $10; Thomas I. Van Antwerp, $10; Mrs. W. S. Egerton, $5; Cash, $5; total, $5,747.

ALBANY MEDICAL COLLEGE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION OF NEW ENGLAND.— An executive meeting of the New England Alumni Association was held at Hunt Memorial Hall, Hartford, Conn., March 18, 1900. The president, Dr. Crothers, occupied the chair. The secretary, Dr. Murphy, of East Hartford, reported on the list of names of the alumni of the Albany

Medical College in New England, and read some of the gratifying responses and letters from the old graduates showing hearty sympathy with the Association and desire to join the new Association. Dr. Ensign, of Berlin, moved that a summer meeting, with a dinner, be held in July. This was carried. The president formally invited the Association to meet at Walnut Lodge Hospital. This was accepted, and the date of the meeting left open for the committee to decide upon later. Dr. Holmes, of New Britain, moved that the officers of the Association, namely, the president, secretary, and treasurer, be appointed delegates to attend the annual meeting at Albany, May 2d. Carried. Drs. Crothers, O'Flaherty and Murphy accepted the appointment, and were requested to notify the president of the Alumni Association at Albany of their appointment. Dr. O'Flaherty moved that a membership fee of one dollar be collected from each alumnus to carry on current expenses. Carried. After luncheon social remarks were made. The meeting finally adjourned to meet at the call of the secretary for the summer meeting.

DR. SWINBURNE'S GRAVE DECORATED.-On Decoration Day appropriate services were held at the grave of Dr. Swinburne in the Albany Rural Cemetery by the Veteran Boys in Blue Club of Troy. Flowers were placed on the mounds of Dr. and Mrs. Swinburne. Comrade John H. Miller then spoke as follows: "Another year has rolled by and we have again been permitted by divine providence to assemble at the grave of our departed comrade, Dr. Swinburne, to decorate his grave with flowers. As we do this we are deeply grieved on account of his being taken away from this world's usefulness. Yet we ought not to question the doings of Him who rules the universe, but we believe that Comrade Swinburne's noble deeds ought to be commemorated for all time, for, I have no doubt, that in consequence of his intense patriotism and great medical skill many comrades' lives were saved. Fathers were enabled to return to their families, sons to their parents, brothers to their sisters, who, but for his skill, would have found a southern grave. We are also deeply grieved to know that there are scoundrels living to-day who are base enough to violate the wishes of so noble and good a man as our comrade was by stealing the flags which he had at great expense presented to our organization. All things which were given him to do during his life time were well done. The poor were welcome to his services without money or price, and who is more entitled to reverence. Echo answers, none. He has already answered the last roll call here on earth, and when finally the last trumpet of the archangel shall sound his body shall rise in glory, and he shall hear at the great judgment seat the words, 'Well done, good and faithful servant; enter into eternal rest.'"

APRIL BULLETIN of the NEW YORK STATE Board of HEALTH.-After an average daily mortality for the first three months of the year of 382, that of April has risen to 416; the increase however began in March which had a daily mortality of 420. The daily rate for the first two months of the year was 362; of the last two, 418. Compared with the corresponding period of last year, the larger mortality then occurred in January and

February, which exceeded that of March and April at the rate of 50 deaths a day, which is less by six than the increase this year in March and April over the first two months. There were about 2,000 more deaths in the four months this year than last. The epidemic of Grippe of the present season began in December, during which month it was the reported cause of deaths and was estimated to have caused 600 deaths; it continued in January and 1,000 deaths were attributed to it. In February the daily deaths increased from 340 to 385 and those from acute respiratory diseases form 70 in January to 85; it may be estimated that 1,250 deaths occurred from grippe in February. In March there were 420 deaths daily and almost one-fourth of them, or 100 deaths a day, were from acute respiratory diseases, or goo more than the average of the five preceding years. There have been but three months in the records of this Board in which the number of deaths from this group of diseases has exceeded that of March; in February, 1890, there were 3,847, in January, 1892, there were 3,800, and in April 1891, there were 4,357, or about one-third of the deaths from all causes These were months of the height of severe epidemics, and between 4,000 and 5,000 of the extraordinary mortality occurring in them was attributed to grippe. It may be estimated that 3,500 of the deaths of March were from this cause. The acute respiratory mortality of April was very little below that of March, 99 deaths daily, so that comparing the mortality from causes which are increased by this epidemic disease with the averages of those and other co-existing diseases (by which means only its prevalence can be computed since a comparatively small number are reported from it direct) it is estimated that in April there were 3,250 deaths from grippe. It has been unusually prolonged, since the acme of epidemics has seldom lasted at a high rate beyond one month. This has caused a remarkable mortality, amounting on the estimates made to almost 10,000 deaths since the onset of the epidemic in December last. The largest number of deaths credited to one epidemic heretofore in this State was in 1891, when 8,000 occurred from it, likewise the same number in the year following. The subsequent years have been estimated to have had from 3,000 to 6,000 deaths in their annual recurrences of disease. Other groups of diseases increased have been the unclassified, which in the months of March and April exceed those of January and February by 500. Old age has been credited with 300 excess, and in many cases the deaths thus recorded were returned as due to grippe, occurring at quite advanced age. The enfeebled conditions of those placed in these two groups contributed to a fatal result from this disease. For a similar reason in part there were 400 more deaths from consumption, but March and April are commonly months of highest mortality from it.

JAHRBUCH FÜR KINDERHEILKUNDE The year book for children's dis eases which has previously been published by B. G. Heubner, of Leipzig, has been sold to and will hereafter be published by S. Karger, Verlagsbuchhandlung, Berlin, N. W., Karlstrasse, 15, to whom all communications, and exchanges particularly, should be addressed.

THE BIBLIOGRAPHIA MEDICA (INDEX MEDICUS).-The ANNALS has received four issues of this valuable publication which is very complete and fully up to the standard of the Index Medicus previously published in this country. There is nothing for the most carping critic to find fault with. The subscription is moderate, $10 a year in France, and $12 in other countries, half the price of the Index Medicus. The editors are certainly to be congratulated on their most excellent achievement. France has succeeded in an undertaking where the English-speaking nations failed. The Bibliographia Medica is in every way a credit to both the editors and their publishers, and adds another leaf to the laurel wreath of the great French nation, a nation that has done much for medical science. The extraordinary and unique genius of the French mind for method and classification is conspicuously in evidence in the production of this periodical.

THE BARNARD MEDAL AWARD TO PROFESSOR ROENTGEN.-At the commencement exercises of the Columbia University this year, the award of the Barnard Medal will be made to Professor Roentgen, of the University of Wurzburg, for the discovery of the X ray. As the medal is, on the bequest of the late President Barnard, of Columbia, to be bestowed every five years on the person who during the preceding interval shall have made "the most important step in physical or astronomical science, or a novel application of science beneficial to the human race,” there can be little doubt that Professor Roentgen has earned the distinction.

BETH ISRAEL HOSPITAL.-The corner stone of the new Beth Israel Hospital was laid on May 27, and among these who made addresses on the occasion were Drs. A. Jacobi and Zuisler and Charities Commissioner Keller. The present hospital situated on East Broadway, was founded in 1890. The new hospital is located in the heart of the East-Side tenement district, at the corner of Cherry and Jefferson streets, the most densely populated locality of America. The building will be five stories high and will have accommodation for over one hundred patients, in addition to ample dispensary facilities.

THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF MEDICINE.-At the annual meeting of this Society, held at Atlantic City on June 2d and 4th, the following officers were elected to serve for the ensuing year: President, Dr. Samuel D. Risley, of Philadelphia; Vice-Presidents, Drs. C. M. Culver, Albany, N. Y., Rosa Engell, of Chicago, Ill., G. G. Groff, of San Juan, Porto Rico, Charles T. McClintock, of Detroit, Mich.; Secretary and Treasurer, Dr. Charles McIntyre, of Easton, Pa.;Assistant Secretary, Dr. Alexander R. Craig, of Columbia, Pa.

THE PAN-AMERICAN MEDICAL CONGRESS.-The international executive commission of the Pan-American Medical Congress announces that the third meeting of that body will be held in Havana, Cuba, on the 26th, 27th, 28th and 29th of December, 1900. The original intention was to hold the congress at Carocas, Venezuela, in December, 1899, but on account