medium of publications devoted to the cause. There is no method of spreading broadcast a knowledge of the simplicity and efficacy of the law of similars, or of demonstrating the superiority of a definite therapeutic principle over the teaching of an erratic empiricism save through the medium devoted to that purpose. The reformation inaugurated by Hahnemann was more comprehensive than is generally thought. It included a scientific method of studying drug pathogenesy, and of utilizing the knowledge thus obtained in accordance with a definite therapeutic formula; - a reaction against polypharmacy and heroic posology; the recognition of the importance of dietetic and psychic influences in the production of morbid conditions, and in the treatment of the same. When it is generally acknowledged that the only satisfactory way of studying drug pathogenesy is by experimenting with drugs on the healthy human subject; when it is universally acknowledged that the therapeutic law of similars is of service palliatively and curatively in suitable cases; - when an hereditary and illogical polypharmacy shall have been laid low; — when "die milde macht ist gross" shall be looked upon as worthy of consideration; when humanity shall have become receptive of dietetic, psychic and hygienic truths; then and then only can it be claimed that the GAZETTE'S mission is accomplished.

The first volume of the GAZETTE claimed to be a "monthly journal of homoeopathic medicine, surgery, and the collateral sciences," a field broad enough to satisfy even the modern liberal-minded physician. Perhaps of this volume it may not be amiss to call to mind the fact that on Oct. 11, 1865, at the semi-annual meeting of the Massachusetts Homœopathic Medical Society, Dr. J. E. Linnell of Worcester in making his presidential address first suggested that the "literature of our profession" should receive increased attention; that "homœopathic literature has increased both in value and amount;

that a permanent fund must be established for prizes for essays on medical topics;. . . . that a New England Homo

opathic Medical College should be established," and so forth. The address with its recommendations was referred to the executive committee for consideration, and at the following meeting of the Society in April, 1866, Dr. Talbot reporting for the committee said, "The committee had carefully examined the various suggestions proposed therein, but were prepared to report on one of these only at this time. The committee considered it important that there should be published in New England a journal supporting homoeopathy. This had been accomplished by the establishment of the NEW ENGLAND MEDICAL GAZETTE. This is placed upon a permanent basis by an association pledged to its support. When this report was made to the Society, three numbers of the GAZETTE had already appeared. The first volume of the GAZETTE was under the editorship of Dr. H. C. Angell, New England's homœopathic pioneer in ophthalmology, his work on diseases of the eye being the first of its sort written, and a favorite text-book in our medical schools for years. Dr. Angell is still living, although long since retired from active professional work.

The second and third volumes were edited by Dr. Angell and Dr. Talbot, who, unassisted, edited the fourth and fifth volumes published in 1869 and 1870. Dr. Wm. Tod Helmuth, for many years homoeopathy's "surgeon laureate," assisted Dr. Talbot in editing the volume issued in 1871, but Dr. Talbot without associate edited volumes seven and eight, which were published in 1872-3. Dr. C. F. Nichols held the editorial pen for one year. The tenth volume was edited by Dr. Walter Wesselhoeft with the assistance of Dr. Charles G. Brooks, one of the early promotors of the Hughes Medical Club, and long since deceased. In 1876 Dr. Wesselhoeft had asassistants Drs. H. A. Chase, and John L. Coffin, who together edited the volumes for 1877-8, when Dr. H. C. Clapp assumed the responsibilities of editor and guided the interests of the GAZETTE during the three years, 1879-80-81. During 1882-3 the editorial work of the GAZETTE was in charge of a group of

the younger members of the profession, with Dr. Talbot as director; one member of the group being held responsible for one number, the members of the group taking regular turns as editors. The meetings of this little association will be remembered as particularly interesting, instructive, and inspiring, and as among the pleasant experiences of professional life. That group has been broken up by the death of its director, and Drs. Stackpole and Jackson; but the other members are still active and in the performance of their professional duties. After two years' training in that group the present editor-in-chief assumed the editorial responsibilities, and for fourteen years, until 1898, occupied the editorial chair. Since 1898 Drs. Coffin and Wesselhoeft, singly and together, and Dr. Lovering, have performed the editorial functions. With the present issue, the editor once more salutes his colleagues, officially, and brings a New Year's greeting, and takes advantage of the opportunity to express the hope that during the year he may receive the same courteous assistance, encouragement and coöperation that have so many times in past years helped him to perform his duties.

It may interest our readers to recall the fact that as contributors to the first volume of the GAZETTE, a twenty-four page number, were Dr. Okie of Providence, whose name is still a cherished household word in Rhode Island; Dr. Henry B. Clarke, the staunch and true, of New Bedford; Dr. Samuel Gregg, the pioneer of New England homoeopathy, and Dr. Conrad Wesselhoeft, inimitable, critical, earnest, methodical even in those early days of '66. During that memorable first year articles were contributed by the scholarly Carroll Dunham, Constantine Hering of materia medica fame, by E. M. Hale, the noted author and teacher, by Gallinger, since senator from New Hampshire, by deGersdorff, W. F. Jackson, Hedenberg, J. H. Woodbury, David Thayer, and others;-names worthy to place in our professional hall of fame. It was to this first volume also that Dr. Talbot contributed his famous article. on tracheotomy.

During its subsequent issues homœopathy's most noted scholars, therapeutists and surgeons have contributed to its pages. Names to conjure by! Hughes, T. F. Allen, J. P. Dake have utilized its pages. Many other names might be recalled, the mere mention of which would be a stimulation and encouragement to continuous and effective work.

During a long series of years, 1873-1904, the entire financial responsibilities of the GAZETTE were carried by Messrs. Otis Clapp and Son. The recent incorporation of the GAZETTE disconnects it with projects and institutions with whose interests it has the close affiliations of a professional family; and places it upon an independent basis, from which it will have the privilege of passing an impartial judgment upon these same projects and institutions.

The GAZETTE in the past has been intimately connected with the growth and development of dispensary, medical school, hospitals, and societies in Massachusetts, and other parts of New England. Its aspiration is to continue in close affiliation with all the public and private institutions and associations, especially in all parts of New England, over which the banner of similia floats.

A SCIENTIFIC USE FOR THE BIOGRAPH.

DR. WALTER G. CHASE's brilliantly successful experiments with medico-biographic photography, are of very great immediate interest and significance to the medical profession, and of still greater future promise. Some years ago, it occurred to Dr. Chase, while watching the "moving pictures," then a popular novelty, that their modus operandi might be utilized in the interests of medical science. Being of those, too rare on the American side of things, who finding the practice of medicine neither a congenial occupation nor a business necessity, yet elect to dedicate their working life to its purely scientific interests, Dr. Chase entered on the painstaking and original labors to which this note refers. After making exhaustive studies, with the American Biograph Company, in the making of the continuous moving picture, and

providing himself with the necessary outfit, Dr. Chase secured permission to make his residence, for a time, in one of the large epileptic colonies in France; and there with infinite pains and patience made biographic studies of epilepsy in its various manifestations. By the aid of these, it is now possible for the practitioner or the student to thoroughly familiarize himself at will, with the phenomena of epilepsy, once among the rarest of clinical opportunities. A valuable feature of these studies is that the motion pictures can be arrested at will, in any point of their course; thus making it possible to secure prolonged observation of any single feature. Dr. Chase has also made in this country similar studies of pathological gaits and motions.

Already this immensely valuable work of Dr. Chase's has set in train like work of great significance. It has been discovered that by the combination of the biograph with the skiagraph, gastro-intestinal peristaltic motions can be vividly and impressively demonstrated.

It is possible, too, that by biographical processes, the necessity of vivisection may be reduced to a minimum; a single experiment being thus susceptible of indefinite duplication, and with no further sacrifice of animal life. Such an effort, originating in the medical profession, and carried to successful issue, would outweigh in value a thousand verbal denials of the callousness of that profession to animal sacrifice and suffering. The possibilties opened up by Dr. Chase's experiments are, as a moment's thought will prove, practically innumerable. The thanks not only of the medical profession, but of humanity at large, are due the experimenter.

ETIOLOGY OF SYPHILIS.

So frequently does the physician come into contact with that most forbidding of all diseases, syphilis, that anything new concerning it should be of interest to all. For years investigators the world over have searched for some microorganism that might bear an etiologic relation to the disease. That some such organism existed was considered probable ever since the modern era of bacteriology began.

Many different structures have from time to time been discovered, and claimed to be the cause of syphilis. Of these