is due Dr. Hinman for catching this impostor-W. D. Stafford-by name. Stafford showed Dr. Hinman the name of Dr. Blessing as one of the subscribers, and not receiving his policy as promised, Dr. Hinman inquired of Dr. Blessing whether he had been treated likewise. The police department was notified and the men quietly visited and warned the physicians of Albany. The man was captured at Dr. Mears' office and arrested on the charge of larceny. The proprietor of the hotel where he resided gave bail for $500. On the day for trial the man did not appear. The insurance company, of which Stafford claimed to be agent, sent their representative to assist in his prosecution, but as yet he has not been recaptured.

THE NEW YORK MEDICAL JOURNAL.-This estimable journal, which was established in 1864, and which has been published until recently by D. Appleton & Company of New York, has been purchased and will hereafter be published by the A. R. Elliott Publishing Company of New York. The same general appearance prevails. Dr. Frank P. Foster has been retained as editor-in-chief. The address of the New York Medical Journal has been changed to 66 West Broadway, New York City.

OBSERVATIONS FROM AN OUTBREAK OF DIPHTHERIA AT THE WILLARD STATE HOSPITAL.-July Bulletin, State Board of Health of New YorkQuestions regarding the course and management of diphtheria are at this time the most interesting of any coming before sanitary investigators. Newly observed phenomena and their bearing on the control of outbreaks are of practical application and should find record for the earnest consideration of health officials. The following is a summary of observations of a very interesting outbreak at the Willard State Hospital, by Dr. W. A. Macy, medical superintendent: Early in 1897, diphtheria was brought into the institution through employees who had been in contact with a case nearby. There followed an epidemic, a moderate number of cases developing from time to time for six months, when it ceased without recurrence then or during the following year. In June, 1899, diphtheria broke out again, probably likewise imported, spread rapidly, seventy-five cases occurring, of mild type. It has continued, with intermissions of a month or two, till now, there being at present no actual diphtheria, but a number of germ cases in isolation. The condition is of a long lasting epidemic in an institution of 2,700 population, mostly adults, under resident medical supervision, with a well appointed laboratory used on so extensive a scale that every member of the community had cultures taken over and over again, all of which are recorded. It was observed (1) that the type of the disease varies in different epidemics; in the first 188, nearly every one exposed, even slightly, took diphtheria, but the course of the disease was mild; in the present epidemic it was much less infectious and much more virulent. (2) The germs of diphtheria can maintain activity with much persistence outside the body and resist the action of ordinary disinfectants. Recurrence of the epidemic after all the people were found germ free, was found to occur in rooms which after occupation by the sick had been subjected freely to formaldehyde, sulphur

fumigation, washing with bi-chloride, hot soap-suds or soda solution, both walls and wood work. Twenty-five cultures were often taken before a building was found free. (3) It was found that cases discharged from quarantine after three negative cultures communicated diphtheria, and new cultures showed Klebs-Loeffler germs present; the sick were discharged only after three negative cultures taken on alternate days. None of these thus tested were found afterwards to show the disease germs, but nothing short of this was found trustworthy. (4) Presence of the germs in healthy throats was found; they persisted there for weeks; cultures were almost or quite as pure as from membranous cases; virulence tests in the laboratory showed them to be as dangerous as those from cultures taken from clinical cases. Membranous diphtheria followed exposure to such, and even at second hand, for in one clear instance a person associating with a germ case without sore throat carried in his clothing the disease in virulent form into a family living several miles distant, bearing germs taken from that case. It would appear then that bacteriological diphtheria is as potentially dangerous as clinical. (5) Change in the shape of germs attended convalescence; when these "degenerate" forms occurred the disease generally soon yielded. There was reason to think that these attenuated forms may under conditions favorable to rapid development increase in strength, but that they have not sufficient virulence to be actually dangerous. While in membrane cases the bacilli followed a definite life history, those from a normal throat may differ daily. (6) Immunization by anti-toxin of all employees, through whom almost solely it spread, and of all exposed patients gave reason for satisfaction, and this experience commends its use for all such exposed. A lessened dose on repetition is commended; and to give it in fleshy part of the body not pressed on by clothing, not in the extremities. It was used with great confidence in treating the sick, and of 75 membrane cases there were no deaths.. An epidemic of diphtheria, showing these phenomena of persistence of resistence to common germicide treatment, of extensive distribution among immune adults, of prevalence on so large a scale, and occurring under conditions favorable to so elaborate management and detailed investigation rarely occurs. The use of anti-toxin was tested on a large scale, there was much study of disinfection, and the laboratory work was carried to unusual extent, 21,000 cultures having been taken during the year, all of which with a history of every case have a complete card record. Of the mass of technical study only the mention of some practical observations furnished by Dr. Macy finds room here.

YALE MEDICAL SCHOOL.-Dr. Charles J. Bartlett, who has been assistant professor of pathology for the past five years, has been elected to the professorship of that department to succeed Dr. Moses C. White, who will be continued as professor emeritus. The chair of Obstetrics and Gynecology, which was made vacant by the death of Prof. George Campbell a year ago, has been filled by the appointment of Dr. Otto G. Ramsay, of the Johns Hopkins University.

NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY MEDICAL SCHOOL, CHICAGO.-Dr. John B. Murphy has accepted a professorship in Surgery and Clinical Surgery in the Northwestern University Medical School-Chicago Medical College. Dr. Murphy has been appointed Surgeon-in-Chief of Mercy Hospital. with the direction of the surgical teaching in that hospital. He will give two clinics each week at the hospital. The hospital now contains 260 beds with abundance of clinical material. A new amphitheatre with a seating capacity of 300 is in progress of construction. Dr. Archibald Church has also been recently appointed Professor of Nervous and Mental Diseases and head of the Neurological Department.

AMERICAN JOURNAL OF NURSING.-This new journal is the official organ of the Associated Alumna of Trained Nurses of the United States and is established as a direct means of communication with its members, presenting the proceedings of its own and auxiliary societies, and giving monthly to the profession a comprehensive digest of the nursing progress of the world. The first number of the journal will appear in October. The names of the editors and promoters are a sufficient guarantee of the high standing of the journal and that this standing will be maintained and advanced. This new journal is published by the well-known firm of J. B. Lippincott Company, of Philadelphia, with Miss S. F. Palmer, of the Rochester City Hospital, Rochester, N. Y., as editor-in-chief. The several departments and editors will be as follows: Practical Points on Private Nursing, Miss Isabel McIsaac, Chicago, Ill.; Hospital and Training-School Items, Miss Linda Richards, State Hospital, Taunton, Mass.; Children's Department, Miss L. Brent, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada; Foreign Correspondence, Miss L. L. Dock, New York City; Official Reports of Societies, Miss Mary E. Thornton, Secretary Associated Alumnæ of Trained Nurses of the United States, 143 East 35th street, New York City, and Miss L. L. Dock, Secretary American Society of Superintendents of Training-Schools for Nurses, New York City; Food, Miss Ella Cox, House of St. John the Divine, Tompkins Cove, N. Y.; Sanitation, Construction, Hygiene, etc., Miss M. E. P. Davis, Boston, Mass.; Educational, Mrs. Hunter Robb, president Associated Alumnæ of Trained Nurses of the United States, Cleveland, Ohio; Subjects of Current Interest, the whole staff; Progressive Movements, Miss L. L. Brown, Boston, Mass.; Prophylactics, Miss Mary M. Riddle, South Department, Boston City Hospital, Boston, Mass.

BRITISH MEDICAL ASSOCIATION.-At the third general meeting of the British Medical Association held August 2nd, a committee was elected to consider and report upon the best means of reorganizing their constitution. The members of this important committee were chosen on a territorial basis, and it was found convenient to arrange that there should be fifteen members for England and Wales, two for Ireland, two for Scotland, and five for the colonies and dependencies of the Empire. Mr. Edmund Owen, of Toronto, was chosen as the representative of Canada. The meeting of this Association for 1901 will be held at Cheltenham, Gloucestershire. Dr. G. B. Ferguson is the president-elect.

NEW HOME FOR J. B. LIPPINCOTT COMPANY.-An important transaction has just been concluded by which a number of old-fashioned dwelling houses on East Washington Square have passed from the ownership of the heirs of the famous lawyer, Horace Binney, and will soon be torn down to make way for a fine building to be occupied by J. B. Lippincott Company, whose old home on Filbert Street, above Seventh, was burned down some months ago. Possession is to be given by September 14, and it is expected that the demolition of the old structures will begin soon after. The site is considered a very eligible one for the Lippincott Company, as it has light on three sides, is very central, and they will be enabled to promptly issue and increase their excellent line of medical publications by standard authorities. By the way, their new catalogue, just issued, is handsomely illustrated with excellent portraits of many of America's leading writers.. Many historical recollections cluster about the properties just sold. They stand on the ground once occupied by the old Walnut Street Prison, built before the Revolution, and in which during the struggle the English confined American prisoners during the former's occupation of Philadelphia.

THE ROYAL COLLEGE OF SURGEONS OF ENGLAND.-The Centenary celebration of the Royal College of Surgeons, July 25 and 26, was the most notable event in the history of that body, which was chartered in the reign of George III. For the first time, a number of honorary diplomas were presented to the Prince of Wales, Lord Salisbury, Lord Rosebery, and in addition to thirty-four distinguished surgeons of all nations. Honorary degrees or diplomas may be of great or little value; but in this instance, we consider that the recipients were very highly honored, as were also the countries and universities they represented. Dr. Halsted, of Johns Hopkins University; Dr. Keen, of Jefferson Medical College; Dr. Warren, of Harvard, and Dr. Wier, of Columbia University, were the recipients in the United States. In Canada, Professor T. G. Roddick, Sir William Hingston and Professor I. H. Cameron, representing respectively the Universities of McGill, Laval and Toronto, received the honors.

-DR. J. M. DA COSTA DEAD.-Dr. Jacob M. Da Costa, the distinguished physician, who was widely known on two continents, died suddenly at his home near Philadelphia, September 12th, 1900.

-SIR WILLIAM STOKES, the distinguished surgeon of Dublin, died at Durban, South Africa, August 19th, 1900. He was surgeon-in-Ordinary to the Queen, and Consulting Surgeon to the British forces in South Africa. He was born March 16th, 1839.

-DR. HUNTER MCGUIRE, the distinguished surgeon of Richmond, Va., died at his home September 19, 1900, aged 65 years.

PERSONAL.-MARRIED: MOAK-SMEDLEY. At Williamstown, Mass., on Wednesday, September 12th, 1900, Dr. Harris Moak, (A. M. C. '98) and Miss Mary Louise Smedley.

ELTING-LORD. At Mount Jackson, Pa., September 5, 1900, Dr. Arthur Wells Elting and Miss Mary Bushnell Lord.

Book Reviews

Manual of Pathology, Including Bacteriology, the Technic of Post-Mortem and Methods of Pathologic Research. By W. M. LATE COPLIN, Professor of Pathology and Bacteriology, Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia; Pathologist to Jefferson Medical College Hospital and to the Philadelphia (Blockley) Hospital; Bacteriologist to the Pennsylvania State Board of Health. Third edition, revised and enlarged. 330 illustrations and 7 Colored Plates. Octavo, 945 pages. $3.50 net. P. Blakiston's Son & Co., Philadelphia, Pa. The appearance within a comparatively short time of a number of editions of a text book of pathology bears witness to the rapid strides made each year in this department of scientific research and to the steadily growing appreciation of the fundamental importance of the subject to medicine. The fitting popularity of Professor Coplin's Manual of Pathology has permitted a third edition since the publication of the second in 1897. Notwithstanding the many excellent qualities of the previous edition, considerable revision and addition of new matter have been made in accord with newer outlooks. Thus the present book has been increased very materially above the preceding. The chapter on post-mortems has been revised and new methods have been introduced in the chapters on technic. Bacteriologic technic has been placed in a chapter by itself, and the technic of blood examinations has been transferred to the section of the blood with which it properly belongs. Special technic has been added throughout the book. New chapters have been added on the thymus body, ductless glands, muscles, bones, joints, and the nervous system.

But despite the general excellence of the book one cannot escape the impression that too much has been tried and correspondingly found wanting in the scale of criticism. For in a book of this kind the omission of sections on bacteriologic and blood technic, and urinary examinations, would perhaps have added to, rather than detracted from, the merits of the manual. The plan is otherwise satisfactory; and the addition of many new illustrations and some colored plates will no doubt further commend the book to students. AUGUST JEROME LARTIGAU.

A Laboratory Manual of Physiological Chemistry. By ELBERT W. ROCKWOOD, B. S., M. D., Professor of Chemistry and Toxicology in the University of Iowa. Illustrated with one colored plate and three plates of microscopical preparations. Published by The F. A. Davis Co., Philadelphia.

The almost universal agreement, both by teachers and students, in the superiority and importance of the laboratory method of instruction over the didactic has necessitated the preparation of manuals with which to reinforce the practical work. The book before us is just of such a type, containing a detailed account of three hundred and forty experiments in physiological chemistry. For the purpose of making the course outlined flexible, the less important experiments, or those which are not of general interest, have been rightly printed in smaller type. Here and there a few