content ourselves with going one step farther and that in the form of a simple suggestion. Why should not these new provings be made in our medical colleges and be included in the course of instruction? Who so likely to lend himself to this cause as the enthusiastic medical student, and if under proper supervision where could these provings be better conducted? The prover need by no means be a student himself, suitable material could be provided from without. Here the prover could be subjected to all the tests known to the science of the present age. The modifications and changes in all the organs and tissues while under the influence of the drug, as recognizable by the stethoscope, opthalmoscope, and all other modern aids to diagnosis, the microscopical changes, if any, of all obtainable fluids and excreta of the body could be noted, unreliable and phantastic symptoms could be weeded out, and the result ought to be for great good. The objection that the curriculum is so full now that time could not be given to it, should have no weight whatever. Cut out some branches which the student should have knowledge of on entrance to college, if there are any such, and strike off some or parts of some he should really get in post-graduate work. If another year must be added to the course to accomplish this, let it be done. If money is necessary to make this possible, let us go to work and raise it. We have able and progressive teachers who have shown by their broadness in treating these important branches that they fear nothing by comparison of methods, and who are peculiarly fitted for the carrying out of such a plan were it thought advisable to attempt it. We are not practicing old school therapeutics today because we believe their methods to be more empirical than scientific, and we are what we are, because we believe we are right. Let us make this claim good absolutely. It is in no degree a weakness in faith in our principles to manifest a desire for better and more scientific provings, but on the contrary should prove a strength; for, if with the imperfect and often puzzling mass of provings at our command, we have been able to accomplish results so gratifying in the seventy odd years past, what can be done in the next twenty-five years, if all scientific knowledge thus far gained can be taken advantage of in the rearranging of our materia medica? An interesting and suggestive editorial a few weeks ago in the Philadelphia Medical Journal entitled, "Medical Hatred," will bear careful reading. In it homœopathy is given the credit of doing effective work in reducing the dose of medicine given, and modifying the medical practice of the time, but holds us responsible for opening the door for this Medical Hatred to come in. It also brings forward three ludicrous contradictions to which we expose ourselves. A perusal of the article will show how easy it is for a man predjudiced as is the editor of this journal (?) well known to be, to pervert and twist facts to suit his purpose. And yet it does not become us to place ourselves on too lofty a pedestal abrogating to ourselves all the scientific truths and denying the possibility of anything good unless it comes through our channels. We are not combating the crude and empirical medical practice of the eighteenth century, but a vigorous, alert, progressive and scientific body of men, and a most attractive form of practice (and this is due to our existence we think). We should deplore internal dissensions and jealousies. We need a united front and we must have it, otherwise we will be distanced in the race. What of our books and journals? While our list of journals is a fairly creditable one, our list of good books is by no means very long. This can be accounted for in several ways. In the first place, during the early years of our existence, the materia medica engrossed the attention of most of our able writers to the exclusion of almost every other subject. Another reason may have been not only the certainty of no emolument following such efforts, but the fear of great personal expense being incurred in the publishing, for our numbers being so small the circulation must necessarily be limited. Each year as our ranks enlarge. these conditions will not prevail to the extent they have in the past, thus we can certainly look with hope to the future We are making history every year; are we properly preserving the records of the same? Year books, or more properly speaking yearly compendiums containing everything new and of interest, are published by our friends, "the enemy." What do you find of the brilliant records of our surgeons or physicians contained therein? Not a word. How are these records being kept? Where can they be found and consulted? Possibly you know, we do not. Would not some such year book edited by one of our Boston men meet this want, and is not this thought worth considering? We have a very creditable medical library in Boston called the Boylston Medical, but it is not for us, we are not even eligible to membership. Is not this something of a reproach to us as progressive physicians, and is not the time ripe for the remedy to be applied? We have here in the library connected with the college a very fair nucleus for as large and complete a collection of books as we will to make it. Under the accurate and skilful methods of Dr. Lovering, order has been brought out of chaos, and nearly 3,000 volumes have been catalogued by card index. The books we have are now rendered available for use by the students and the profession, and yet a beginning has but been made. With slight effort and pecuniary sacrifice on the part of the physicians of Boston and vicinity a librarian can be permanently retained. Without such supervision the old order or disorder will once more prevail, and all the work accomplished during the past six months will go for naught. A well appointed, comfortably heated and lighted room containing now a fair number of standard books is at the service of the profession, rent free. It can be filled with all the best journals, and within a few years is susceptible of being made a library which will not only be a credit to our city but which will reflect credit on the whole profession. Is not this worth thinking of? and should an opportunity present itself to any of you to aid this cause, do not turn it aside. Regarding the unnecessary and often unjust discrimination against our school in national, state and municipal matters, in our judgment these are mostly political, and must be met by political methods. Nothing worth having is obtained without work. When we, as a school, have given the attention to politics, which we should do if we expect to influence legislation, reforms favoring us may be obtained. Politics is an unknown science to most of us and will bear better and closer study. If nothing else has been accomplished during the past year your president will recall with satisfaction the appointment of a working committee to look after these matters. A committee from whom much is expected, whose duties are not merely perfunctory but who will watch the progress of medical affairs with an alert and jealous eye, and we hope will report from time to time, formulating means and methods by which we as a school can become a recognized power in politics. Having become so, just and reasonable requests, when properly presented, will receive full recognition. Reforms in the management of our hospitals, schools, health boards, and other departments in which we are, or ought to be, interested will then be possible. Then, if ever the time does come in which both schools can join hands cordially and fearlessly, throwing all their influence politically for good, we may hope to see a legislation which will throw a safeguard around our children. growing up and going out into the world. A legislation which will not only punish vice, but will protect virtue. One which will be powerful enough to not only punish that class of wholesale murderers commonly known as abortionists, but will also reach out and prevent these people from flaunting their vice before us in the daily papers, in text so plain that "he who runs may read." Nor do we need to wait for the dawn of the millennium for the accomplishment of these things. We believe they can all come in our day. We feel ourselves to be earnest and sincere in our convictions. Our standards of education for our students are so high that a large number of the dominant school are impressed with our honesty of purpose and are inclined to give us full credit for all we are doing. Let us then progress with our ideal a little beyond, until the majority of the profession has been won over and forced to admit, what many of them now believe, that there is truth in our law and honesty in our purpose. "Lose this day loitering 't will be the same story EYE STRAIN NOTWITHSTANDING ACUTE VISION, BY DAVID W. WELLS, M.D. Eye strain may be defined as a disturbance of the sympathetic nervous system, caused by excessive effort to overcome some abnormality, either in the form of the eye ball or in the power of its muscles. Naturally most of its manifestations are functional neuroses, yet we have the best of evidence to show that pathological lesions are not rare. Among these may be mentioned, in the order of their frequency, conjunctivitis, red and crusted lids, styes, lid tumors, corneal ulcers. Extravagant statements of the production of pathological states in distant organs are often made by enthusiasts. For example, it has been claimed that a number of cases of |