cording to the cause of the discharge. It is often necessary to examine the fluid under the microscope to make a positive diagnosis of its source.

The M. M. of the vagina consists of basement membrane with stratified epithelium, and gonococci also often found; the cervix is lined with cylindrical epithelium which are ciliated; the interior of the uterus is lined by a single layer of prismatic cilliated epithelium.

Treatment. The treatment of leucorrhea is divided into constitutional and local; the constitutional treatment consists in building up the system, and as a general rule anemia is present, which should be overcome. Hare recommends the following prescription: Acid arseniosi Ferri redacti Quinia sulph..

.gr. 1/4

.grs. 5

grs. 20

Ft. in pill No. 20. Sig.: 1 pill t. i. d. P. C. for adult.

Of the local forms of treatment, hot astringent douches for the vulva and vaginal forms have given the best results, in conjunction with the constitutional treatment above named.

In the cervical variety, the first step should be to correct the cause. If due to a displacement or laceration, this should be properly attended to, which will relieve the condition, and if of a catarrhal character, curettage and the application of equal parts of iodine and carbolic acid, and the prescription as stated to overcome the anemia, will usually effect a cure.

The same applies to the intra-uterine. The canal after curettage should be dried as thoroughly as possible, and a solution of iodine and carbolic acid introduced on a cotton wrapped applicator, if necessary, carrying it into the interior of the uterus and making the application cover the entire mucous membrane.

This is usually followed by a copious discharge containing shreds of mucous membrane, epithelium and blood cells; this discharge subsides in a few days.

Three applications, as above described, is usually sufficient; these applications should be made about a week apart.

Boric Acid in Goiter.

In American Medicine, February 8th, D. Braden Kyle, M. D., gives a preliminary account of his experience with the internal administration of boric acid in eleven cases of goiter in which the

enlargement of the thyroid was due to increase in its cellular elements and not to listended vessels, a septic condition, or new growth. In 1895 he observed that a goiterous patient who had been taking boric acid for some other condition improved rapidly in general health, and that the goiter became much smaller. He explains this on the theory that goiter is caused by the precipitation under certain conditions of a material within the body (due to perverted chemic reaction) which has a selective action upon the thyroid gland, stimulating its blood supply, etc. Boric acid he believes either corrects the faulty secretion or serves to neutralize the material precipitated or formed by the faulty chemistry of the secretion.

Dr. Kyle's treatment of the eleven cases was correction of any deficiency in the organs of elimination and the administration of ten to fifteen grains of boric acid in capsule form with a full glass of water every three hours. The reduction in the size of the gland occurred from simple atrophy. R.

The Hygiene of the Mouth.

An article in the February 1st number of Pediatrics by Dr. S. M. Goldsmith contains much valuable advice with reference to the care of the teeth, especially in children. To begin with, infants mouths should be kept clean by the aid of a piece of clean linen wrapped around the finger and immersed in a solution of boric acid. (31 to Oj. of boiled water). As soon as possible this should be replaced by a tooth brush made of irregular tufts of bristles and slightly curved to conform to the dental arch. The ordinary tooth brush in common use is worthless. A suitable tooth powder should be used every time the teeth are brushed. A good antiseptic antiacid mouth wash may be used after the brushing is finished. A dentist should examine the mouth every six months. Cavities in children's teeth should be filled as soon as they appear for the following reasons: "To prevent pain; to preserve a proper masticatory surface; to secure retention of the temporary teeth until the proper time for their exfoliation and bring about a proper development of jaw-bone, so that when the permanent teeth appear they will have sufficient room and erupt in their proper positions."

R.

THE

TEXAS MEDICAL JOURNAL.

AUSTIN, TEXAS.

A MONTHLY JOURNAL OF MEDICINE AND SURGERY.

EDITED AND PUBLISHED BY

F. E. DANIEL, M. D.

ASSOCIATE EDITOR:

WITTEN BOOTH RUSS, M. D.,

San Antonio, Texas.

Published Monthly at Austin, Texas. Subscription price $1.00 a year in advance.

Eastern Representative: John Guy Monihan, St. Paul Building, 220 Broadway, New York City.

Official organ of the State Association of Health Officers, the West Texas Medical Association, the Houston District Medical Association, the Austin District Me dical Society, the Brazos Valley Medical Association, the Galveston County Medical Society, and several others.

THE QUARANTINE "IRREGULARITIES."-It is now said that the shortage in the quarantine funds will far exceed the amount reported by the expert accountant, and will reach ten thousand to twelve thousand dollars, or even more. Dr. I. J. Jones, the defaulting secretary, is thought to be in Mexico, and was recently reported to be keeping books for a mining company in the State of Durango. It is generally known that he "blew in" this large sum of the State's money gambling; and his wife and several children are in Austin, reported to be in a destitute condition. The Investigating Committee appointed by the last Legislature to overhaul the books of all the departments are at this writing, going over the Quarantine Department books. They will go back of the Jones defalcation, and look into the matter of the purchase of the bark Rhizetto, for a fumigating plant, which created some stir a year or so ago. The Rhizetto is at the bottom of the bay, meantime, it having been sunk during the storm of September, 1900. The Governor is very anxious to locate Dr. Jones. Dr. Blunt appeared before the committee on the 24th of February. He "courts the fullest investigation." It will be interesting to know who, if anybody, is responsible to the State. Nous verrions.

A SUIT FOR DAMAGES for $49,075 was recently tried in the Austin district court, the defendants being the well known firm of Drs. T. D. Wooten & Sons, of Austin. One William Welmer broke the left femur very high up. Dr. Goodall Wooten, with the assistance of Drs. Hamilton and Graves, adjusted the fracture and applied proper splints and weights for extension. The measurements were all right up to the eleventh day, when the attending physician found the weight removed and the dressings loosened. On measurement, there was found to be one and one-half inches shortening. About the fiftieth day, the physician was discharged, and another one called to take charge of the case. The result was great deformity and shortening. Welmer was

operated on, later, by Thompson, of Galveston, for correction of the deformity, and the ends of the bones, having been freshened, were screwed together with silver screws. They "pulled out," and Welmer died of septicemia. The family brought suit against the Wootens for $49,075 damages. The jury deliberated about ten minutes, and brought in a verdict for the defendants; upon which happy and just termination of this vexatious suit the JOURNAL Congratulates the Drs. Wooten.

THE LATEST.-After our forms are closed, comes a press dispatch that Dr. I. J. Jones has been arrested in Tennessee. A detective has gone on from Austin to identify him and bring him back.

THE REGISTRATION OF DEATHS.-The Census Bureau, realizing the imperative necessity for a uniform system of vital statistics, is making an intelligent and earnest effort to bring about such uniformity. But a great obstacle is found in the fact that some States have no law requiring the registration of births and deaths at all; there is, in those States no way of proving, should it be necessary to prove, that any citizen ever was born, or ever died. Texas is prominent amongst these benighted States. She "has a system of vital statistics for pigs, but none for people" (Smith). This obstacle must therefore be overcome before the census people talk about uniformity. This they will seek to do, as will be seen by reading Dr. King's letter herewith published, by "bringing the subject to the attention of Governors and Legislatures." I wish them better success than we doctors and the Red-Back have had; for we have been urging, for twenty years, the creation of a Bureau of Vital and Mortuary Statisties, as a basis for sanitary reform legislation. The JOURNAL has preached it in season and out, but it had as well sung psalms to a dead horse. I regret that I have not room to

print the "paper of the committee" referred to by Dr. King. Interested persons may get a copy by simply asking for it.

WASHINGTON, D. C., February 14, 1902.

Dr. F. E. Daniel, Editor Texas Medical Journal, Austin, Texas. SIR: I have the honor and pleasure to invite your personal attention to the enclosed Census Circular No. 71, on the registration of deaths, in the earnest expectation of enlisting your active interest in the matter.

You will find in the circular an account of the effort of the Census Office to extend the registration of deaths: the widespread interest that has been aroused; the practical results attained in the way of uniformity and quality of data; the co-operation now being given by the American Public Health Association; and, also a paper prepared by a committee of that body stating the essentials of a registration law, which bears the endorsement of the Census Office and the Commissioner of Labor, and which, too, contains model forms of death and burial permit certificates.

This circular is designed by the Census Office and the American Public Health Association to give the necessary additional and official impetus to the extention of the registration of deaths into the cities and States that are now non-registration areas, and also is intended to furnish the authorities of States and cities possessing such systems the most authoritative information to guide them toward the goal of national uniformity of systems, methods and results.

It will be brought by the Director of the Census to the immediate attention of the Governor and Legislatures of the non-registration States, and every effort will be made to procure the introduction and passage of the desired laws. In this direction your journal can render a great service to the government, humanity and science by exerting its powerful influence toward increasing public and professional interest in the present movement. Reproduction of such parts of the circular, particularly of the committee's paper, together with such editorial discussion as your columns will permit, will certainly fill the measure of my desire and be gratefully appreciated. Be good enough, also, to send me a copy of the issue in which the matter appears.

Thanking you, I remain,

Very respectfully,

W. A. KING, Chief Statistician.