"Manual of Pharmacodynamics" referred to Dr. Tyrrell's experiences as follows:- "Dr. Walter Tyrrell of Great Malvern, has published a series of cases of epilepsy, in which the curative effects of strychnia were not a little remarkable. He thinks that 'its value lies in the effect it has in deadening that condition of exalted sensibility and activity of the medulla oblongata, which most recent authors consider to be the predisposing cause of the disease.' If it does this, it must be by homœopathic action; and so indeed Dr. Tyrrell admits. His success, as reported by himself, is something marvellous: and the subject may repay investigation. His doses are those usual in the old school."

It is not at all unlikely that Dr. Tyrrell has modified his dosage since the above was written. If so it must be conceded that his experiences and arguments form a very pretty plea for homœopathy.

SOME WESTBOROUGH METHODS AND RESULTS.

It is always encouraging to hear of successful work accomplished by an individual or by an institution, and it is especially encouraging to hear of strikingly successful work done in a state institution which is under homoeopathic management. The records of such an institution being state property, are free from the suspicion of modification to suit partisan pride. The following statements therefore, concerning the work done at the Westbourough Insane Hospital, contributed to a local paper by one who is conversant with the facts, but revised for presentation to our readers, are offered with full confidence that they will receive an appreciative welcome.

Aside from the alcoholics, more than three-fourths of the reported recoveries come from forms of mental diseases which number but a little more than one-fifth of the cases admitted, and which may be called curable.

For the five years of 1897 to 1901 both inclusive, the average recovery rate for the cases classified as curable, was 63.77 per cent. In 1902 Dr. George S. Adams, the superintendent, suffered a severe and long continued illness. The effect upon the hospital work of this interruption in his oversight was very apparent and showed itself in the fact that the curable recovery rate fell for that year to 40.74 per cent.

Then, about three years ago, Dr. H. I. Klopp was made assistant superintendent and was given, under the careful supervision of Dr. Adams, the special charge of the curable cases.

including both the men and the women. The following plan of work also was adopted. Every day when the physicians had returned from their morning rounds, a consultation meeting was held, Dr. Adams presiding. These conferences were established for the special purpose of discussing the diagnoses and management of the cases under treatment in the hospital. These means, with the special advantages and facilities supplied by the new Codman building for acute curable cases, together with the benefit of homoeopathic medication have produced marked improvement in the results obtained, the average curable recovery rate for these three years being 82.96 per cent. This is a gain over the five-years period named above, a gain not only remarkable in itself but one which amply justifies the adoption of new means and methods. Since Dr. Adams has regained his health the curative record has been well redeemed.

The benefit of the improved methods also has extended to less promising forms of mental disease such as dementia præcox, involution melancholia and involution psychosis. Of these cases in 1905 there was the remarkable recovery rate of over 19 per cent., there being 94 cases treated, with 18 recoveries. At the other four hospitals in the state there were 396 such admissions with only nine recoveries, equalling 2.27 per

cent.

In the more curable forms the difference is not so great. In 1905, excluding the alcoholics, if the other hospitals had made a record equal to that of Westborough, instead of discharging as they did, 155 cases as recovered, they would have discharged 308 or very nearly twice the number.

Comment upon such a record can be only commendatory. That such work gives cause for rejoicing goes without saying. It will be interesting to know how permanent these cures are, and what percentage of relapses occur. At Westborough itself there is strong confidence, with much evidence to support it, that no larger proportion of them will relapse than is usual with recovery-discharges from other institutions.

ETHICAL ADVERTISING.

The medical profession within recent years has been reminded frequently by certain advertisers that their goods and advertisements are "strictly ethical." The real meaning of this term "ethical" as used in the instances referred to, may not be apparent on a first glance; the meaning may even elude close scrutiny, but it has a soothing, agreeable and persuasive sound, and may convince the reader that the goods so advertised are of marked superiority over other goods of the same class that are simply advertised in a straightforward way as better than

anything else in their line on the market. An instance of what would probably be called ethical advertising, ethical because it does not transgress any principle of morals, conduct or duty, has been brought to the attention of the GAZETTE by the clergyman who received it. It seems that an enterprising firm of manufacturing pharmaceutical chemists who claim to possess "the largest plant of its kind in the world," not content with such a possession and the evidently enormous druggists' trade which it represents, has distributed to the clergy of our land a very flattering, sympathetic and fraternal circular-letter which shows a deeply solicitous, friendly and almost affectionate regard for their welfare. It reads as follows:

Dear Sir:

Do you suffer from headache as a result of too much thought concentration in the preparation of your sermon, or from nervous fatigue after its delivery, or is a hard day's mental labor followed by a sleepless night as a necessary consequence? If so let us suggest our . . ., as a conservator of energy, the use of which as a tonic to the nerve centres prevents headaches and allows professional men to do an amount of brain work which they are unable to do without its aid. Consult your family physician regarding its use, and kindly glance over the enclosed, and oblige

Yours respectfully.

Possibly the first portion of the last sentence of this letter contains the cream of the ethical part of the ad. The "enclosed' refers to a seven or eight page tract, which sets forth with the vividness of "yellow journalism" the very serious dangers of using any of the hundreds of modern headache remedies, with one single exception; the exception being of course the one and only effective and "harmless remedy" manufactured by the writers of the letter. It is especially the coal-tar derivatives that in the tract are ethically condemned as "undesirable," 'unsafe," "dangerous," "depressing;" as productive of "alarming depression of the heart;" and even numerous sudden and untimely "fatal results." All these remedies "are not only not safe, but dangerous to human life to an alarming degree.'

Contrasted with this sorrowful picture is the following concerning the "one harmless remedy" which "is unlike any other headache remedy on the market. It is a very pleasant, effervescing draught, delightfully refreshing, imparting buoyancy of spirits, vivacity of thought and increased activity of all the intellectual functions. The formula of . . . . was arranged with the special object in view of overcoming the headache, mental depression, lassitude, languor, and mental hebetude following upon nervous exhaustion in brain workers.

"Its prompt action in the relief of headache and its stimulating influence upon the heart and nerve centres make . . . .

especially adapted to the use of physicians, lawyers, ministers, dentists, teachers, bankers, brokers, financiers, accountants and all engaged in intellectual pursuits who must follow the 'streruous life' to keep pace with the rapid race we are running. Ladies will find. . . . very restful and refreshing after the exhausting pleasures, etc."

All this may be very ethical, philanthropic and praiseworthy when applied to things medical, but it seems no more altruistic and on no higher plane than the plain, unpretentious commercial advertisement which states, "that Whiskey distilled in Pot Stills contains valuable medicinal properties and ethers which cannot be produced in a Patent Still, owing to the quicker distillation and greater condensation in the latter, producing a spirit of much higher proof, and destroying the delicate ethers and flavors which are characteristic of the slower process of the Copper Pot Still which product with age, mellowness, and quality, makes Whiskey a wholesome and healthful drink.”

What a pity it is that any mortal, from any cause, should be deprived of the benefits of these so ethically advertised sub

stances.

AN EVENT IN MEDICAL HISTORY.

Will be the meeting of the American Medical Association to be held in Boston, June 5 to 8, inclusive. It is stated editorially in the Journal of the Association for May 5th, that without doubt the session "will be the largest gathering of medical men ever held in this or any other country. And not only will it be the largest, but it will bring together the leading men in our profession from the the United States, as well as many from abroad." The preliminary program indicates that upwards of three hundred and fifty papers will be presented to the meeting; the titles of these papers covering highly scientific and abstruse as well as exceedingly practical subjects. Not all the authors of these papers are physicians, for one finds the name of Miss Eva Booth, Commander of the Salvation Army of America, and that of Jacob Riis among them. The scientific work of the Association is distributed among twelve sections, and of these sections it is interesting to note that six, or one half of them, are to hold their meetings in the new Harvard Medical School buildings, where also are to be held three afternoon entertainments and the scientific exhibits.

It was in 1865 at the end of the Civil War, forty-one years ago, that the Association last met in Boston. At that meeting the total number present at roll call was six hundred and sixteen, Massachusetts furnishing two hundred and sixty-one of this number. At the 1906 meeting there will probably be in atten

dance more than twice as many thousands as there were hundreds in 1865. According to the Jour. A. M. A., at that '65 meeting, "Much of the time was devoted to argument and discussion over two questions:-First. The action of the Association in expelling from membership Dr. Montrose A. Pallen of New York, who was accused of complicity in the plot to poison the water of the Croton reservoir. Second. Criticism and arraignment of Surgeon-General Barnes, who was accused of consulting with a homoeopath in the case of Senator Seward and his son."

No topic for argument such as this last one was will be offered to the coming meeting. On the contrary among the "Scient:fic Exhibits" will be one from Boston University School ci Medicine, a homoeopathic institution. This exhibit will include much that won for the school a gold medal at the Louisian Purchase Exposition at St. Louis and later another medal at the Lewis and Clarke Exposition. Twice before, at Saratoge and at Atlantic City, Boston University School of Medicine has had exhibits from its pathological laboratory for inspection by the Association, and it is, matter for congratulation that the gelatin method of preparing and preserving gross specimens perfected by Prof. Watters has been adopted by the leading medical schools of the country, and there will probably be thousands of these gelatin specimens in the Scientific Exhibits of the coming meeting. Such are some of the changes wrought by Time. What changes will the next forty-one years bring?

THE MILK SUPPLY OF LARGE CITIES.

The milk supply of large cities is a subject not beneath the notice of the United States Department of Agriculture. A report from this source has just been made public in which we find the statement that Greater Boston's monthly consumption of milk is 1,250,000 cans containing 8 quarts each. This is equivalent to 12,625,000 quarts per month, or over 420,000 quarts per day. It is estimated that 60,000 cows are necessary to supply this quantity. These figures sound rather enormous, but the per capita consumption per day is only about three-quarters of a pint, that is, about one and onehalf tumblerfuls. Considering the free use some families make of milk, it is very evident that a good many other families go without!

In the same report it is claimed that Greater New York's daily consumption of milk and cream amounts to 1,500,000 quarts, for the supply of which 200,000 cows would be required. The pasturage for these cows has not been figured in

acres.